Getting to the Doctor On Time- or at all

I'm sure all of you know at least one person who hurt themselves this winter and found themselves scrambling to get around. Last year WCSS had 22 requests for long distance drives through our volunteer based 'Helping Hand' Program. Helping Hand is a program that can help in more ways than just driving- food prep, light housework, new parent support, senior support are some examples. For the this blog post, I'm going to focus on the driving. Getting to a doctor/specialist appointment in Vancouver can be a big problem. Even if you own your own car, many procedures require you to leave with a friend. For many Whistlerites asking a friend to take a day off work and drive to the city and back feels like an imposition. For some, there isn't a friend who even has a car and/or the means to skip a day of work. Thankfully, due to the ongoing funding source of the Re Use It and Re Build It Centres WCSS has some money available to cover costs for volunteer driver's gas. And even more thankfully, Whistler has some dedicated volunteers who will drive people to these essential appointments (big shout out to Carleen Leidal and David Oakes). Unfortunately our dollars at WCSS can only stretch so far and we can't offer this service to residents of neighbouring communities. And truly, as Whistler grows with more permanent residents we're uncertain as to how sustainable the program is long term.

So, what to do? Well, over the past year this issue has been brought up in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and representatives from health, social services, nonprofits, First Nations, and community groups have had multiple meetings to discuss our perceived needs as service providers on behalf of our clients. The trouble is, while we all agree that there is a need, we are not sure how big it is and if given certain options, would people in need of health transportation even want the style we've discussed? Realizing before we can really come up with solutions, we need to research the facts. In comes, Vancity with some funding for a researcher. Margaret Forbes in consultation with the Sea-to-Sky Health Transportation group designed an online survey to find out what is going on for people.

It is our hope that the online survey will be distributed widely to people who may be impacted by this issue. Please share this survey with your networks, family and friends as the more people who fill it out, the more comprehensive our information will be. This survey will remain active until May 31, 2013.  The online survey can be accessed at:

http://fluidsurveys.com/s/Sea-to-Sky-Health-Transportation-Need-Survey/

If you'd rather to a pen & paper survey, Margaret can get one to you if you email her at  s2s.htsurvey@gmail.com or call 604-902-3647.

If this blog has inspired you to become a volunteer driver with the WCSS Helping Hand Program, please contact Melissa Deller- helpinghand@mywcss.org or 604-902-0865. WCSS is always recruiting for extra drivers and the commitment is really based on your schedule.

Why I believe in Community Thrift Stores

I am a thrift store shopper from way back. As a child, I raided my parents wardrobes for "dress-ups", and eagerly awaited the bags of clothes outgrown by my older cousins to dress myself in something "new".
As a teenager, my thrift store habits were driven by both the need to look different and the lack of money to afford to look the same (the latter fed the former).
So as I left home, I had already formed a strong love and appreciation for all treasures second-hand, and the collection of these treasures which fed my identity as an Arts student who wanted to make a statement, along with all the other 10,000 Arts students at my university.

Since making Whistler my home and taking on the amazing opportunity to work at what I feel is one of the very best thrift stores I've seen, I have learned to consider thrift stores in a different light. So often in the past I had failed to ask the question "Where is my money going?". There is nothing wrong in simply shopping at a thrift store for the great deals, but there is so much more to the decision to spend your money with a store such as The WCSS Re-Use-It Centre and The WCSS Re-Build-It Centre.

By shopping at stores like ours you are supporting and building community. The implication of spending your hard-earned money on items we're selling is the support of the organization's Mission and Vision:

Our Mission is to provide programs and services that improve social sustainability in Whistler.
Our Vision is to be the prominent social service resource in Whistler by responding to the changing needs of a diverse Whistler community.


All items sold at our stores are donated as goodwill. This means we are able to direct all funds generated to our programming. This set-up is unique in many ways; you as a customer are able to see the results of the money you've put towards us in the local community.

Our community thrift stores are not just about the money though- we work to foster connections and networks of locals and visitors, those who make a visit to our store part of a weekly (or sometimes daily) ritual, both for the quiet browsing of our racks and shelves, as well as to bump into the others they know who are also loyal shoppers. Our volunteer program has been given new life thanks to the awesome Sarah, Assistant Manager, which gives anyone a chance to help out, see how the store works, and contribute to generating even more money for our programs.

We aim to create a welcoming space, with a fun but relaxed environment so you can feel encouraged and supported in your decision to shop and meet your needs with items that have already had a life elsewhere. Community thrift stores give you the ability to say no to consuming unecessarily and adding to a planet already filled with things. So walk with a spring in your step knowing you're wearing a North Face GoreTex jacket you bought for $30, going home to bake in a Pyrex tray you found for $5, and settling down to read a best-seller you snapped up for $2.

I believe in Community Thrift stores like The Re-Use-It Centre and The Re-Build-It Centre for all these reasons and more. I hope you do too!

Helen, Manager at The Re-Use-It Centre