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Increased demand for victim services, volunteers needed

Written by William Cockerell on March 22, 2023. Posted in Community, Community Organizations, RCMP/Emergency Services, William Cockerell. Leave a Comment

Ranchlands Victim Services, the only 24-hour crisis unit in Alberta, is looking for volunteers who can devote time to assisting victims of crime and tragedy with their short-term needs.

In partnership with the RCMP and additional co-partners, RVS provides victims with emotional support, practical assistance and referrals to community resources for continued support.

According to Shelly-Anne Dennis, executive program manager, the organization has recently experienced increased demand for their services, requiring more volunteers to provide victims with support.

“We’re seeing more cases of domestic violence and sexual assault, which means a greater need for our services,” she says.

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Volunteers typically go out to crisis calls and may provide court support, accompaniment, transportation and other means of assisting victims.

Supporting the communities of Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Fort Macleod, Claresholm and Piikani Nation, RVS emphasizes the provision of a co-ordinated, skilled and efficient response to victims of traumatic events.

“Being able to administer trauma support to victims of crime and tragedy in our community is a very crucial and beneficial service,” Dennis says.

The RCMP often rely on RVS staff and volunteers to provide support to victims and their families, while they focus on potential offenders, particularly in cases of criminal activity.

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Part of the struggle to find volunteers comes with the rigorous background check that each potential volunteer or staff member of RVS has to go through to be accepted.

“You have to pass an enhanced security clearance, which is the same clearance as an RCMP officer, so it’s a very strict background check,” Dennis says

Employees and volunteers of RVS have a level of security clearance that exposes them to police files that they must keep confidential. A thorough background check is crucial in ensuring someone is suited to sign on.

These background checks are meant not only to look for criminal history, but also to look for anything that could affect work credibility or re-traumatize someone who was once a victim themself.

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This could include a recent history of domestic violence, assault or financial stressors.

In time, Dennis hopes RVS can get more volunteers to maintain a full unit to service and support our communities.

“I’m pretty passionate about this job — it isn’t just a job to me. I love helping people and the work I do to help said people,” she says.

“We hope that our work decreases the amount of trauma that people have to go through and that eventually, with the proper help, they could move back into a normal lifestyle sooner.”

If you wish to become a volunteer with RVS, the advocate application is available online at ranchlandsvictimservices.com.

Woman with long, dark hair puts oranges into a stand-up cooler at the Pincher Creek Food Centre

New equipment expands capacity for Food Centre

Written by William Cockerell on March 21, 2023. Posted in Community, Community Organizations, William Cockerell. Leave a Comment

In the midst of a growing need for perishable foods, the Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre has added two new large deep freezers and two new large stand-up coolers.

The equipment will allow the centre to store and carry more perishable items at its location, while giving those in need a greater variety of quality foods that they can receive.

Acquisition of the new equipment was made possible through the 2022 Capacity Boost Grant from Food Banks Canada, with the food centre receiving $16,800.

The centre was also able to purchase additional equipment needed for the vegetable garden that it tends with the grant money.

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The Capacity Boost Grant is meant to help food banks expand its capacity to accept, distribute, grow or safely handle and store perishable and non-perishable items .

“Our board members and volunteers who helped with this worked very hard to make it all come together,” says Alice Wagenaar, a board member and volunteer for the food centre.

“This is all certainly going to make our operation a whole lot better and we’ll be able to provide better-quality food as a result of it.”

Moving forward, the food centre will be able to provide more fresh and frozen food to those within the community suffering from food insecurity and better meet their needs.

In particular, the new storage capacity for frozen foods will allow volunteers to include a greater variety of food items in their food hampers.

“It’s really nice to see the organization moving forward, expanding its capacity and just becoming a solid organization in this community,” says Alice.

The food hamper program runs throughout the year, providing those reaching out in need of food with a hamper once every two weeks.

Now that the food centre possesses the means to store large quantities of frozen and perishable foods, it is looking to run a Fill the Freezer campaign later in the month.

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The centre will seek to fill the freezers with meat and frozen vegetables from anyone who is in a position to donate food and help the centre provide quality foods.

“Unfortunately, this is a time when food prices are so high, and we’ve certainly had an increased demand,” says Alice.

“We have such a generous community, so we’re hoping if anyone has meat or vegetables to spare, they think about us.”

Keep an eye out on the food centre’s Facebook page for more information on the upcoming campaign and how you can help.

Those interested in volunteering at the food centre, in need of a food hamper, or with general questions about the food centre can call or text 403-632-6716 or email foodcentrepc@gmail.ca.

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Coldest Night of the Year walk to support Crowsnest Pass Food Bank

Written by Shannon Peace on February 24, 2023. Posted in Community, Community Organizations, William Cockerell. Leave a Comment

The Crowsnest Pass Food Bank is hosting its first Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk in Blairmore this Saturday.

Coldest Night of the Year is an annual walk held in 166 communities nationwide to raise money for local charities that support people experiencing hurt, hunger and homelessness.

In Crowsnest Pass, the event will help the food bank cover the costs of food and its transportation over the course of the year.

The walk starts and ends at the Elks Hall at 2025 129th St. in Blairmore. Check-in opens at 4 p.m., and participants start their walks at 5 p.m.

Participants can choose between two-kilometre and five-kilometre routes, with both including rest stops along the way.

The fundraising goal was initially set at $20,000. However, with a couple of days still to go before the event, the food bank had already seen that amount almost doubled at $37,730, raised with the help of 649 donors, 18 sponsors, 20 teams and 78 walkers.

“The Crowsnest Pass always comes together to support one another and this situation is no exception,” says Desiree Erdmann, manager of the food bank..

“CNOY has created a great community vibe and is the perfect example of how many people contributing a little can add up to a lot.”

Desiree says food intake at the food bank has gone up 34 per cent in the last year. The money will go a long way in helping the organization continue to assist its community.

If the food bank manages to double its original goal and hit $40,000 raised, it will be enough money to cover grocery costs for about a third of the year.

“I felt confident we would reach our goal, as our community is so supportive,” Desiree says. “The amount raised so far is astonishing.”

Crowsnest Pass Food Bank has been supporting locals struggling with food insecurity for over 25 years, serving individuals and families within all areas of the municipality.

If you wish to make a donation, register to walk or learn more about the CNOY, you can get info here.

The food bank encourages walkers, volunteers and community members to take pictures of the event and share them by email.

Increased demand for victim services, volunteers needed

New equipment expands capacity for Food Centre

Coldest Night of the Year walk to support Crowsnest Pass Food Bank

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