From left, Julie Girard from Battle River Lending Place, Carol Wideman from Special Olympics, Robin Good from CAFCL, Mylene Garcia from The Open Doors, Jamie Ocampos from Camrose Neighbor Aid Centre and president of Camrose Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Fossen.

By Adan Shaikh

On December 3, the Camrose & District Chamber of Commerce hosted five speakers, who represented their local not-for-profit organizations and shared how they are working towards addressing the needs of the community. The event began with individual presentations before a panel-style Q. and A.
 
CEO Robin Good shared how Camrose Association for Community Living (CAFCL) supports children, youth, adults, and families facing developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries, mental health issues or other barriers in the community. CAFCL offers 14 programs, serving Camrose and area.

“What a lot of people don’t know about us is that we don’t just serve Camrose, we serve a large geographic area, and our focus is on meeting people where they are and supporting individuals and families facing barriers through every stage of life,” said Good.

Some of their most important programs include the residential living with 24-hour staffing, outreach support for adults living independently, and youth programs that build job skills and confidence. Good highlighted their Healthy Families program for parents and children under six, summer camps, and SingAble, an inclusive community choir open to all ages and abilities.

CAFCL currently serves approximately 600 people annually, mainly through the Healthy Families program.
Director Jamie Ocampos shared about the Camrose Neighbor Aid, also known as the Food Bank, but provides much more than food supports. “We are the food bank, but we are so much more than that. We’re seeing record numbers this year, and our focus is on making sure people have food, basic necessities, and dignity during some of the hardest times in their lives,” said Ocampos.

The organization offers emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, and medical needs, medical transportation, and partners with schools to support breakfast programs. Neighbor Aid also operates two weekly soup kitchens, distributes daily donated bread, and is launching free cooking classes with CAFCL in January.

“We are also part of the Battle River School Division, helping work with six of their schools to feed children through their breakfast program,” she added.

Ocampos noted the dramatic increase in demand, with over 400 food hampers distributed in the month of November alone.

“Last year, our numbers were actually about 250 for November and this year it was 406,” said Ocampos.

“We are able to run this program because of the generosity of the community who hosts food drives for us, give monetary donations so we can buy product, grants from different organizations and every supermarket in town who gives us reclamation daily,” she shared.

When asked how the community can continue to support Neighbor Aid, Ocampos said, “We have our social media up and running and if people can share us on there or support us in any way through food drive donations or monetary donations or by sending us volunteers to be medical drivers, that is the best ways you can help us.”
 
Executive director Julie Girard shared how the organization helps the community members through free lending of mobility and medical equipment, including wheelchairs, walkers, and hospital beds.

“The number one reason people come to us is because they want to come home, and sometimes they can’t unless they have the right equipment, that’s what we focus on, making it possible for people to live at home with dignity,” said Girard.
In its first year, the organization helped hundreds of people across the region. Girard emphasized the importance of community donations and volunteer support and highlighted the ongoing “Under One Roof” campaign to create a larger, centralized facility to better serve the community.

“We have made lots of progress, we have raised the roof through the spring. We have great commitment from a lot of contractors and we love this community so much. We are happy that we can be here and be part of it with you,” said Girard.

“In our very first year, 451 people were helped through lending equipment,” continued Girard. “This year, we have completed 370 files and have 571 active files. These are people out in the community that have already borrowed equipment,” emphasizing how great the need for medical equipment is in the Battle River region.

In March, the organization achieved their charitable status.
 
Executive director Mylene Garcia presented to the attendees and shared the work that her organization does. The Open Doors provides regional support services for youth, adults, and families. Its programs focus on mental health support, justice and restorative programs, employment and life skills development, and food security. It provides outreach, crisis navigation, and educational programs in rural communities where access to services can be limited.

Garcia shared how the organization has transitioned through some recent changes. “For more than 25 years, we have been one of the region’s most accessible points of support for youth, families, and adults facing challenges,” said Garcia.

“People come to us not because we replace therapists or other services, but because we listen without judgment and walk alongside them as they navigate what they’re facing.”

When asked about the biggest challenges the organization is currently facing Garcia shared, “The changing political climate, because with the change in political climate comes a change in community priorities. Being an organization that is 90 per cent dependent on grants, whether it’s federal or provincial when new rules are set out they can pose big hurdles.”
 
Carol Wideman from Special Olympics shared that the athletic organization has been serving about 120 athletes with intellectual disabilities. The organization offers year-round sports, tournaments, and opportunities to compete at provincial and national levels.

“We do believe that people with an intellectual disability can and will succeed when they are given the opportunity,” said Wideman.

All programs are volunteer-run, and the organization emphasizes the community’s role in fostering true inclusion.

“Special Olympics truly is a catalyst for social change, our program helps build self-confidence and self-esteem in our athletes and it does make a more inclusive society. In Camrose, what I see when it comes to inclusion, is not our athletes going out, but it is the community coming in and walking alongside them and being a part of our athlete’s life, that to me is inclusion,” said Wideman.

She shared that the biggest goal for Special Olympics Camrose in the next couple of years is sustainability – they continue to look for volunteers for their sports programs.

The panel shed a light on the collective impact of Camrose’s not-for-profit organizations and the ongoing support needed from volunteers, sponsors, and the community to continue their crucial work.