COVID Benefits – Federal Government

from https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/transition.html

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
The Canada Recovery Benefit will provide eligible workers with $500 per week (taxable, tax deducted at source) for up to 26 weeks for those who are not employed or self-employed due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for EI, or had their employment/self-employment income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19. This benefit will be paid in two-week periods.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) will provide $500 per week (taxable, tax deducted at source) for up to 26 weeks per household for workers unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19, or because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19. This benefit will be paid in one-week periods.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) will provide $500 per week (taxable, tax deducted at source) for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19, self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19. This benefit will be paid in one-week periods.

Please note that you can only receive one benefit during a time period.

For those who are eligible there is now an new Employment Insurance program. The above website provides a link for further information about EI.

Provincial Government:

Support for Learners Funding
Parents and guardians can receive a one-time payment of $200 for each child up to age 12, or $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs. Submit one application per child. Each application will be paid separately so if you have more than one child you may not receive payments at the same time.

The deadline to apply is January 15, 2021.

For more information please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners

Special Opening Day: Saturday, November 7th

We’ve missed our Saturday shoppers – and we expect that you’ve missed the chance to check out the deals at the “best prices in town” at SSVP Brant Thrift Store at 143 Wellington at Clarence. So, especially for you Saturday shoppers who are unable to come by for our regular weekday shopping, we will be open Saturday, November 7th from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. This will be for shopping only. No donations will be accepted on Saturday.

Regular Covid hours: Shopping – Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; (non-furniture) donations accepted Wednesday 9 a.m. to 12 noon; furniture accepted by appointment (call 519-751-0143 or email ssvpbrant@gmail.com).

Our Champion Meghan!

Meghan is part of a web series on Special Olympics champions.

She completed an Assumption College Brantford​ Co-op placement AND volunteered for 4 years with us.

We are privileged and proud to be part of her journey!

Check out her video at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VtuTzXfdf8g

Furniture Donations Now Accepted

We are (finally) ready to resume acceptance of your generous donations of furniture.

Our priority continues to be furniture essential to the lifestyles of those we serve. That would include something to sit on, sleep on, eat at – of modest sizes as so many of us now live in smaller spaces. Out of respect for all of our customers we require that the items be clean and in good shape.

Because of pandemic restrictions, we must handle all donations carefully, for the safety and comfort of all of our customers and volunteers. One major precaution is that all donations are quarantined for a period of time when they are received before they are processed by our volunteers. For this reason the following restrictions are in place:

  • Drop off of furniture items can be arranged by appointment.
  • Pick up of items (usually on a Saturday, from a sheltered outdoor location only) can be arranged.

Email ssvpbrant@gmail.com, ideally attaching picture(s) of item(s) on offer, or call 519-751-0143 to make arrangements.

Thanks to all of our generous donors for your patience and for your ongoing support of our service to those in need in Brantford and Brant County.

The Energy of Our Young(est) Volunteers

All of the volunteers at SSVP Brant Thrift Store are young at heart, regardless of their chronological age. However this summer, additional lively young volunteers arrived to assist our usual crew.

At the pre-sorting table, Quin (Gr. 9 at Assumption College) has been assisting Grandma Rita with her tasks.

In new volunteer roles necessitated by the pandemic, Ally (Gr. 12 at North Park Collegiate) and Kylie (Gr. 12 at Assumption College) have been greeting customers, explaining our hygiene and physical distancing precautions as well as disinfecting shopping carts.

When Julian (Gr. 9 at St. John’s College) has arrived each Wednesday with his grandfather, volunteer Edwin, he has jumped into whatever task awaits, especially lots of sorting: food donations, hangers, clothing and lots of other stuff.

When Charlie (Gr. 10 at Assumption College) has come along with grandmother Elaine, he has proven to be a “doer”, both receiving donations and pre-sorting them under the direction of volunteer Theresa.

Volunteer Wies’ granddaughter Sophie (from Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School in Orillia) shared her years of experience with SSVP Brant as she returned for a working visit at the sorting table.

With much appreciation for this sharing of their energy and enthusiasm we wish our young volunteers well as they return to whichever version of school they have chosen. And we are excited to know that some of them will be returning to help periodically in the next months as their schedules permit.

Volunteer experience (40 hours total) is currently required as part of the graduation requirements for high school students in Ontario. Also, the commitment, work ethic and community spirit demonstrated by such activity is recognized positively when students apply for post-secondary scholarships or bursaries.

Any high school student wishing to volunteer during the school year is very welcome to join our team at SSVP Brant Thrift Store. To explore this possibility contact us at ssvpbrant@gmail.com.