BARRHEAD - The Ripple Connection Support Centre (RCSC) is hoping that the support of the Town of Barrhead council will help them secure some much-needed grant funding.
On March 11, RCSC executive director Vernice Aitken asked for and received a letter of support from council that she could use when applying for private and government grants to support the not-for-profit charity whose purpose is to provide support for people dealing with mental illness, brain injury or addiction issues as well as their families and caregivers.
Aitken was before council looking for support after officially learning that the province had cancelled their Alberta Health Services (AHS)/Alberta Recovery grant, with the last payment coming in May.
Ripple Connection had a three-year $79,000 annual agreement with AHS. It was in its second year. RCSC used the funds to pay for its monthly operational costs.
Aitken also asked if council would add the RCSC to the municipal utilities account, namely electricity and natural gas, which they would reimburse as the town gets better rates.
However, council wasn't sure if they could grant that request. Instead, they instructed administration to look into whether it was feasible and any other purchasing partnerships that would help save the Ripple Connection money.
In the two weeks since learning about the cancellation of the contract, Aitken said they have cut roughly $28,000 from their budget.
"We no longer have the budget for critical care for our clients. There is no longer any accommodation or travel. We've cut that completely out," she said.
Aitken noted the rent of their Main Street facility and the utilities run about $4,300 a month.
When everything is factored in, she said it costs the Ripple Connection about $20,000 a month to operate.
Despite their difficulty, Aitken said they are committed to remaining open and continuing its daytime and drop-in programs, including art therapy, exercise, and coffee connection sessions.
She added they also plan to continue to hold their daily, weekly "Warm Your Heart" lunch.
The lunch program, which has been an RCSC staple, provides a noon-time meal (from noon to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) for a modest fee of $30 for a punch card for 10 meals or $4 a meal for RCSC members and $5 for non-members. For those who cannot afford the punch card, the RCSC offers "Angel cards," which the organization sponsors through its other fundraising efforts, such as volunteering for the Blue Suede Elvis Tribute Music Festival, which, in addition to monetary donations they also receive food items for the lunch program.
Aitken added they also receive food donations from the Barrhead and District Family Community Support Services food bank.
"[In 2024] we served 3,005 meals," she said, adding surprisingly, it is one of the only self-sufficient Ripple Connection programs. "There is nothing extra, but it pays for itself."
Coun. Dausen Kluin asked if the Ripple Connection had any other funding sources.
Aitken said they did, but nothing matched the funding they received from the province.
She added that the Ripple Connection Thrift Shop brings in roughly $11,000 a month, but some of the revenue is needed to operate the store.
To increase the amount the Thrift Shop can donate, Aitken said it is now open on an extra day and is staffed entirely by volunteers.
"The shop has two paid staff because there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and that is a lot to ask of volunteers," she said.
Aitken said they also have access to provincial gaming casino funding, which typically generates about $20,000, but that is only once every three years, noting their next casino isn't until 2026.
"I haven't given up. I believe in the Ripple Connection and its contribution to the mental well-being of the community," she said.
Since January, when Aitken assumed the role of executive director, she has applied for six grants, including a $100,000 grant from a private foundation and is always on the lookout for more.
The Ripple Connection should learn next month if they were successful.
Coun. Ty Assaf said he was disappointed in AHS' decision and wondered what would happen to the people the Ripple Connection serves if it shut down.
"You have my 100 per cent support," he said. "We also need to write AHS and tell them what losing this funding could mean to the people you serve and shove it down their throat, but in a nicer way."
Mayor Dave McKenzie agreed, saying a letter of support for subsequent grant applications and a letter to the province lobbying them to reconsider their decision was in order.
He also suggested that administration investigate whether the municipality could add the Ripple Connection to its power and gas accounts and look for other ways they could help the organization through its economy of scale.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
