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Tag: community

By Margaret R. McLean

Sweets, treats, and support for youth mental health – SwiftCurrentOnline.com

The Center in Swift Current was at maximum capacity on Wednesday night for their Desserts 4 Hope Fundraiser. 

Nathan Wiebe, executive director of the Swift Current Community Youth Initiative, said that the event exceeded his expectations. 

“It was incredible,” he stated. “Just really humbled by the turnout and to have a sold-out event, we always hope for that. For us, we do these things with no expectations, but we work our hardest.” 

The evening featured delectable desserts, live music from Dillon Currie, an inspirational speaker, a silent auction, and more. 

This is the second time that the event has taken place in the community, with Wiebe adding that it was great to be back after the pandemic. 

“This is our first dessert night after COVID and we tagged it Desserts 4 Hope because we wanted to give it a little bit of a different sound,” he explained. “Dessert Night Fundraiser is very generic, Desserts 4 Hope is really a good objective. We are trying to provide hope for youth and families in our community and to do it through an event like this, it provides a lot of food for thought.” 

The funds from the evening will go towards the “Cultivating Strength” capital campaign program, which was announced at the event. 

The goal of the campaign is to raise 220,000 dollars to turn the recently purchased building next door into a counselling and administrative office. 

In total, the event raised 15,000 dollars. 

Wiebe added that the night wouldn’t have been possible without the support of their sponsors, and the individuals who came out to support the event. 

“We’re just really grateful for our community, we have an amazing city, and you can’t leave without an immense amount of gratitude to what you get to experience in this spot,”

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By Margaret R. McLean

On-the-ground support important to help youth get mental health care: President Halimah

SINGAPORE – There is still a lot of stigma associated with going to hospitals to seek mental health treatment. Hence, strong support within the community is needed, to ensure that young people with mental health concerns can get help.

President Halimah Yacob made these points on Wednesday during a visit to the Singapore Children’s Society, an organisation serving the needs of children and the youth. She said that treating mental health challenges is not a question of just medication or talking to doctors, but also support on the ground.

Even after one takes medication or receives treatment, there are moments in one’s life when one needs to seek help and wonders where to go, she added.

“We realise there is a gap in services in the community, so we wish to provide a continuum of care, from hospitals or clinics to the community, which is very much needed.”

Madam Halimah visited the society on Wednesday to get an update on a programme that aims to bridge the gap between care from hospitals and care within the community for youth with mental health concerns.

The President’s Challenge-Institute of Mental Health (PC-IMH) programme was launched in March last year to serve those between the ages of 13 and 19 with mild to moderate mental health symptoms.

Children’s Society was among four social service agencies (SSAs) helping the youth under the programme, alongside Club Heal, Singapore Association for Mental Health and Touch Community Services. The youth are referred to the SSAs by IMH. The four SSAs have received 40 referral cases since January.

Children’s Society shared on Wednesday that all 15 of its beneficiaries from the pilot programme displayed anxiety symptoms, and four in 10 have been exposed to potentially traumatic experiences. Four in 10 also are at risk of suicide

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By Margaret R. McLean

South Jersey’s newest food pantry opens to serve 8,000 residents

South Jersey’s newest food pantry opens to serve 8,000 residents – including 3,000 children

One local church is stepping up to answer their community’s call for help to keep their residents happy and healthy in the face of food insecurity.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, N.J. – One local church is stepping up to answer their community’s call for help to keep their residents happy and healthy in the face of food insecurity.

Community members and leaders gathered at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Clarksboro Saturday to cut the ribbon on their new food pantry, and open their doors to new opportunities.

The St. Peter’s Community Pantry will be open every second and fourth Saturday of to all members of the community, regardless of income or religious affiliation. 

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In Gloucester County alone, approximately 8,000 residents face food insecurity – 3,000 of them being children.

“Our food pantry here at St. Peters Community is so vital right now because there is just such a great food insecurity in our community, and we are really seeing that by people coming to churches and asking for help,” said Rev. M. Mantelle Bradley. “So we created this food pantry to make a real difference in our community and all the surrounding communities around us here in this area.”

For more information about the community pantry, or how to donate, visit St. Pete’s website.

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