BHNCDSB – Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

Update: Bed for Every Child Program

In 2014, SSVP Brant established this program to assist those in need in Brantford and Brant County by providing new beds to children who were doing without. To date (early 2021), we have distributed more than 700 beds through the program!!

For details of the operation see this earlier post A Bed for Every Child – Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (ssvpbrant.ca).

Now we have great news for the future of the program! Thanks to a grant from Brant United Way we will be able to maintain the program through 2021. Yes, we are on the list at the bottom of this article Music program for deafblind gets Brant United Way boost | Brantford Expositor.

The usual fundraising activities in support of the program are primarily through BHNCDSB schools, especially Assumption College. The pandemic has severely restricted such activities. A few schools are persevering but the United Way funding is very welcome. We look forward to working with the schools and other local supporters of the Bed for Every Child program in 2022.

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.

Youth (not necessarily!) Wasted on the Young!!!

By Peter Giordano, SSVP Brant VP (Youth)

Note: This article is best read while playing Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love” in the background.

♪♫♬ …I believe the children are our future… ♪♫♬ Continue reading “Youth (not necessarily!) Wasted on the Young!!!”

Highlights of ONRC fall meeting – in Brantford Sept. 20 & 21, 2019

Friday night’s celebration at St. Pius X parish hall began with a presentation emceed by SSVP Brant VP (Youth) Peter Giordano highlighting our strong partnership with the students of the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. Students and their supportive teachers described their contributions to our service. Continue reading “Highlights of ONRC fall meeting – in Brantford Sept. 20 & 21, 2019”