Doors locked or not, FCSS stands ready to help

BARRHEAD – The Barrhead and District Family Community Support Services (FCSS) is still available to help.

That is the message executive director Shelly Dewsnap wanted to reiterate to the public that although the FCSS building is closed to the public due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the not-for-profit organization staff are doing their best to continue to provide services to area residents.

"We are doing our best to let the community know that we are here to talk," she said. "If someone needs to connect with someone. We have people on staff that are good listeners and we will do the best we can to help."

Unfortunately, having said that Dewsnap noted FCSS still had to temporarily suspend or curtail several programs.

Suspended programs include the popular senior's dinner, exercise, and coffee time programs as well as the Compass for Caregivers program.

Curtailed programs include Meals-on-Wheels and the food bank.

Meals-on-wheels, a program that provides senior citizens and or other people who may not be able to cook for themselves an opportunity to have a nutritious hot meal delivered to their door, is still on going, thanks to new delivery protocols that include social distancing. It should also be noted that the program isn't taking any new clients.

As reported in last week's Town and Country This Week, the food bank is still taking applications for and filling hampers. The only caveat being is that they must be arranged ahead of time and that food bank volunteers will wheel the hampers out to a client's car and then return to the safety of the building while the vehicle is loaded. As an added precaution, the food bank is restricting donations to money only.

"It has been going pretty good so far," Dewsnap noted.

Another program FCSS has changed to deal with the coronavirus is their referral counselling program led by Daren Toivonen, a family counsellor and registered social worker.

Dewsnap noted that Toivonen is still talking to clients three-days a week via telephone and she is taking applications for new clients.

She added the FCSS family violence prevention program, named Thrive, is still seeing clients. It gets its name because that is what they hope its clients will do after accessing its services.

"We [outreach mentor Cheri Jantz] are still having conversations and safety assessments by telephone," she said.

As for whether Thrive is getting more people looking for the service, Dewsnap isn't sure. In our story on Page A20, local RCMP detachments are seeing an increase in person crime complaints, including domestic disputes.

"Research indicates at times of high stress like this, domestic violence is likely to increase, and we are fortunate to have someone to take those calls," she said.

In the last few years, the Thrive program has been on the bubble due to a lack of funding. If a new funding source is not found it the program will likely be shuttered next March.

Initial funding for the program in 2011 came in the form of a provincial grant from the Safe Communities Innovation Fund (SCIF). When SCIF funding was no longer available for the program, FCSS found an alternative provincial grant through the Family Communities Safety Program.

In March 2018, this funding also came to an end. However, the program was able to continue thanks to FCSS community fundraising efforts.

This includes $30,000 contributions from both the Barrhead Rotary Club and the Town of Barrhead.

Income tax preparation program

FCSS has partially reinstated its volunteer income tax preparation program.

It is by appointment only on Wednesdays until May 20. Due to COVID-19, the deadline to file personal tax returns has been extended until June 1.

Funding available for not-for-profit organizations

On March 17, the province announced $30 million in emergency funding for not-for-profit organizations and charities to support vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic. It should be noted that $16 million is devoted to Calgary and Edmonton.

Although accessed through local FCSS organizations, it would be administered by the FCSS Association of Alberta.

Eligible groups must address the social well-being of those most affected by the coronavirus and the measures being taken to limit the virus’ spread.

Those impacted can include seniors, people with chronic medical conditions, caregivers, families with children at home and individuals with limited access to supports.

Dewsnap noted they had received two applications, not including Barrhead and District FCSS' submission.

Unlike many FCSS organizations, Barrhead’s unique in that it is itself a not-for-profit society and therefore is eligible to apply.

However, she said right now she didn't want to tip their hand and say what their submission is for, preferring to wait until they get official notice.

"If we tell people now they will expect us to do it and right now we just don't have the capacity," she said.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

COVID-19 UPDATE: Follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.