Dove Tales
Women in Need Growing Stronger
Spring 2008
Spring Greetings from the Director
Thankfully we are on the down side of winter as we look forward to the spring and summer seasons. I hope the predictions of an early spring come true! The exciting and life transforming work we do at Wings continues to provide transitional housing, security, programs and services to women and children who have experienced family violence. Everyday I have the privilege of seeing women and their children benefiting from our facility and programs. The success of Wings is due to many reasons which include a dedicated and hard working volunteer Board of Directors who provide leadership and governance to the society. The Board really wants Wings to make a difference to the families that choose to live at Wings. This of course is accomplished by a hard working dedicated staff who work tirelessly everyday on the issues affecting abused women and their children. I am also happy to report we have a full staff again which certainly helps with everyone’s work loads! I would like to welcome Sandra the Facility Coordinator, Ronda a Support Worker, Penny a Support Worker and Corrine a Youth Worker. I would also like to thank our generous supporters and volunteers as we could not provide these vital services and programs without your support! Please know how your support is making a difference to the safety and security of women and children. Some of the other goals include assisting with increasing knowledge and awareness of family violence forms of abuse and effects on victims. The women complete a Wings satisfaction survey as they depart from Wings and ninety-three percent of the women completing the survey agree they will be able to use their safety plan to help keep them safe as well their children if at risk of family violence in the future. That’s what this is all about - breaking the cycle one family at a time or in Wings case 20 families at a time. Thanks for making a difference! Patricia Garrett Executive Director
WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2
Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · wings@wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001
Child Care Chatter...
Winter is almost over and Spring is just around the corner. The weather has been beautiful lately and we have been enjoying the outdoors again. Child Care is always a busy place with lots going on. We, as staff, strive to make Child Care a loving, safe, secure place where the children are eager to come. One of our moms shared with staff that her little 4 year old boy wakes up at 7:00 a.m. every morning and immediately asks her if he can go to Child Care! What a long wait he has until 9:00 a.m. when Child Care opens! Our main focus in Child Care is the social development of the children. They are encouraged to learn how to get along with other children, to share, to show respect and kindness towards each other. All this is done through play, songs and stories, tidying up together, snack time and clean-up, crafts and outdoor play. Snack time has been a real hit in Child Care, the children look forward to and thoroughly enjoy having snack together! One little 2 ½ year old boy was visibly enjoying his snack when all of a sudden he looked up and exclaimed, “This is “balicious”!” Child Care staff are rewarded over and over again with comments as these and an over abundance of hugs and kisses! Our Mom and Child Play Group have been continuing with a variety of themes such as Winter, Snowmen and Mittens. When the weather was too cold to go outside, we brought the snow inside. The children thought this was great! The children, moms and staff joined together and had a wonderful Valentine’s Day celebration. What fun to “mail” cards to each other, sing a special song for mom and give her their home-made “hug”! We as staff are very grateful for your generosity to WINGS. The children are very near and dear to our hearts and we are blessed to play a small part in the healing journey during their stay at WINGS. Thank you so much for caring enough to make a difference in the lives of these children as well! Sheila, Coreen and I (child care staff) wish you all a blessed Easter! Jane Kooistra Child Care Supervisor
Words of wisdom from a volunteer …
It is a real pleasure to be asked to contribute to the WINGS newsletter. Thinking back, I remember being a little hesitant when I was first asked to join the Board of Directors here at WINGS. I didn’t know anything about the organization at the time and I was worried about the time commitment. However, once I learned about the wonderful work that is done here at WINGS and how many women and children are helped every year, I really wanted to be a part of it. WINGS is a place where families can start to heal themselves from the horrors of domestic violence. WINGS gives women and children an opportunity to break the cycle of domestic violence, to stop fearing for their safety and the safety of their family members, and to grow and develop to their full potential. WINGS is a place of hope. What a rewarding experience my involvement with WINGS has been. Being a board member gives me a chance to offer my skills and experience to the board and in some small way contribute to the wellbeing of the women and children here at WINGS. It’s been a wonderfully enriching experience to see the direct impact that the efforts of the staff and board have on the lives of these families in need. If you have an interest in joining the Board of Directors, I would sincerely encourage you to contact Linda Churchill at 426-4985. You won’t regret that you did. Dan Wiart Treasurer
WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2
Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · wings@wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001
Fund development news:
I have always said that I have the best job in the world. It would only get better if there wasn’t the need for the Wings’ facility. I get to see the families – these strong women and children - heal from their experiences. And not too far from that uplifting process is the bonus of all the great people I meet. These are the Leaders, the people who know what it takes to operate our shelter and they give tirelessly of their time and resources to make it happen. And – last but not least, I have some amazing colleagues who work so hard but never forget to have some fun in this hectic workplace. To all those leaders and helpers – we want to say thank you. Your financial gifts do make a difference in the quality of program we offer, thus enhancing the quality of life for the women and children. Your gifts of time show you care. Christmas 2007 was simply amazing. Thank you Edmonton and area for caring about the needs of the families. There are some volunteers that deserve special notice: Jim Cregan and Alice Keylor. Both will retire from the Board this June after serving 2 - 3 year terms. This is Jim’s second time of completing 6 years on the Board of Directors. Both Jim and Alice have excelled at Board leadership and helped Wings through the capital campaign to build this new facility in 2003. How do you adequately thank such generosity? And there is Jill Tomanek and Dale Joslin. They do so much for us – Jill volunteers in child care on a weekly basis and brings her yoga here and brings us new friends who turn into ‘old friends’. And Susannah Staios. I can go on and on. Then we put out a plea because we needed new mattresses and Alta Fab steps right up. And the Hearts of Blue lend a hand. And the Into the Light Productions bring a big cheque, and Helen and Ray Taillefer help again, and Noeline Adams and the Edmonton Kinettes want the Spring Fling to be a another success for Wings.’. Debbie Keith and her crew are amazing. Connie Lloyd and the Christmas party – incredible! These are just samplings of the great people connected to Wings Of Providence. Thank you. And the Wings Nest Egg Club – our endowment building program is off the ground and growing. This is a new program to ensure Wings’ future . Our endowment is invested with the Edmonton Community Foundation. If you would like to know more please call me. One more group that is so worthy of mention – The Special Events Committee – a great group of people who have been together many years and work hard on so many projects. Right now the Mother’s Day Tea is the task at hand. Thanks Marie (Desrocher-Kingston) and everyone. Linda Churchill, Mgr, Resources & Development Statistics From April 1, 1987 to Feb 29, 2008 WINGS has accommodated 781 families including: 781 women with 1794 Children For a total of 2575 persons
WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2
Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · wings@wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001
Cordially invites you to attend the
13th Annual
Mother’s Day Tea & Silent Auction
Saturday, May 10, 2008 11:00 AM- 2:00 PM at the Ital-Canadian Drop In Centre 9111 - 110 Avenue, Edmonton Auction Viewing: 11:00 AM High Tea: 12:00 Noon For Information Please call: (780) 426-4985
lchurchill@wingsofprovidence.ca
All Proceed to WINGS’ Programs R.S.V.P By April 15, 2008
A touching goodbye …
As you may know this will be my last month at Wings of Providence. Due to family circumstances I have sorrowfully chosen to resign my position as a Support Worker. I want to thank, so much, all the staff at Wings, from the bottom of my heart for all they have taught me, for their patience and generosity. The work that all these ladies do for the women and children that have suffered family violence has left me in amazement. They give so much, not only to the women living at Wings but to the work that they do. They are a fine example of what a Social Worker truly is. Thank you so much for the opportunity that you gave me and I wish the work and the project always the best of luck. Sonia Melgar. Jan 2008
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Marta Burns, LLB, President Jim Cregan LLB, Vice President Dan Wiart, Treasurer Alice Keylor, BA, Secretary WINGS of Providence Alan Knowles Ph.D MSW PO Box 32141 Shannon Williams Edmonton, AB T6K 4C2 Leslie Beard Phone (780) 426-4985 Bill Godfrey Fax (780) 424-3625 wings@wingsofproovidence.caCarole Noland Sister Rita Schiller, SP BN 119300549-RR0001 Ellie Merrick STAFF Patricia Garrett, Executive Director Linda Churchill, Mgr Resources/Develop Karen Kingdom, Program Coordinator Chantal Hunter, Follow-Up Worker Ronda Osborne, Support Worker Penny Giacomoni, Support Worker Corinne Fontaine, Youth Worker Jane Kooistra, Childcare Supervisor Sheila Robins, Childcare Coreen Rieland, Childcare Sharon Harding, Accounting Amirtha Santhirasakaran, Accounting
Sandra Fox, Facility Co-ordinator Patricia Clark, VON Nova Yan, Security/Reception Mon-Fri Dionicio Barrales, Security/Reception f/t Susan Sweetman, Security/Reception p/t Christie Rehill, Security/ Reception p/t Susan McDonald, Security/Reception p/t Erica Knutson, Security/Reception p/t Marcela Lillo, Security Reception p/t Lan Lann Chan, Security/Reception p/t Virginia Harrison, Security/Reception p/t Roger Malenfant, Maintenance/Security
WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2
Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · wings@wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001
Growing stronger … with Energy and Excitement
It is always exciting when we get new things or new things are happening. It is even more exciting when there is the promise of things happening that have not been done before. This is where we are at this time at Wings. In the past month we have been busy interviewing for new staff and have been able to hire some skilled positive team members. Penny and Ronda are both support workers. Both have done support work in the past and come to us with many gifts. Corrine is a social worker who will be our new Youth Worker. She is eager to learn and full of new ideas. There is energy and excitement in our new workers. Our previous youth worker Barb, has left us to continue her studies on a full time basis. The children ask about Barb and miss her. They also miss the youth and children’s programs These new staff members have a lot of orientation and information to absorb. It is a sharp learning curve. They need to learn about our clients, Moms and children, the front desk and security expectations, other staff and programs. They are being oriented to group facilitation, documentation and the role of the support worker. There is a strong focus on training and supervision to prepare them for what is expected. There is much to do and much to dream about. Penny is well acquainted with our HOMES data program and will be a real asset in preparing reports for the government as well as working with the rest of the team on outcomes and our program logic model. So some programs are what we did before to support our families. Others are what we hope to do. Always we stress effectiveness and best practice. Always we are focused on the needs and healing of our families. They have been through so much. They need safety. They need support. They need fun and joy. They need to know they are not alone and that things can be different. We need to help these families. We cannot do it without our friends and our community. We are encouraged by your interest and concern for our families. We are encouraged by your real and concrete support and contributions. May this Easter Season bring you new energy and many exciting things in your own lives. Karen Kingdom Program Coordinator
Wings’ Events:
The Great Human Race Saturday May 3, 2008 A
FUNdraising walk or run
In downtown Edmonton
A healthy way to help Wings of Providence. Let’s gets some teams into the Great Human Race. Sign up to walk or run and get your pledge sheets filled to the brim! To register for a run or a walk in the Great Human Race, visit www.GreatHumanRace.com or pick up a brochure at Wings, any local YMCA of Edmonton, Running Room or United Way office. The United Way hosts this event that helps so many non-profit agencies in Alberta. Just remember to name Wings of Providence Society as your choice charity. Let us know if you are doing this – we can all walk/run together. Contact Linda Churchill 4264985 lchurchill@wingsofprovidence.ca If you want to sponsor someone already in the race – call us. About the Great Human Race: The Great Human Race is the largest locally organized run/walk event in the Alberta Capital Region with 2000 participants. In 2007, the race distributed more than $250,000 to various community organizations. The race is sanctioned by Athletics Alberta and is a fantastic model for community fundraising and promotes health and fitness.
WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2
Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · wings@wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001
Wings - Women in need growing stronger …
“My life before WINGS was not a life at all. I was merely surviving on a day-by-day basis trying to keep my 4 children and myself alive. I was living in an abusive relationship that was filled with addictions, putdowns, violence and just plain sadness and depression. On a daily basis, I was always wondering if I was crazy or what was wrong with me, going nowhere in life and not being able to parent the way I needed and wanted to, always walking on eggshells, being a nervous wreck and never feeling safe or truly happy. I was a wreck. Since being at WINGS I have learned about abuse and how much worse my situation was than I thought. My kids and I truly survived a lot and got out just at the right time since the abuse was escalating both in severity and frequency. I feel very safe now and I am learning good parenting skills that are helping me a lot. The counseling has opened my eyes to the fact that me and my kids deserve so much more in life. I see my children being happier, thriving, making friends, socializing (which they were never “allowed” to do before because the abuser wouldn’t allow it). I am beginning to see myself as a good mom, good friend, good person who deserves and wants healthy relationships in my life and I am actually beginning to dream again of a future. A future that is filled with opportunity, happiness, goals being set and met. Life is not over for me- it is just beginning and it is exciting now to think I can be a strong independent woman that can take care of me and my kids by myself. In time I will be able to help others, my community, and follow my own spiritual path which has all been given to me freely from the “group” and counseling at WINGS. Thank- you so much for giving me this chance to end the cycle of abuse and live a better, happier life.” A mom at Wings (Feb 2008)
Families at Wings struggle constantly with poverty and all the barriers that brings. Please support Wings. Cheques payable to: Wings of Providence, or you can donate by credit card, or you can donate online at www.wingsofprovidence.ca
____ ____ ____
$5 Membership $100
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$25
___ $50
____ $ My preferred contribution
I would like to support Wings with a monthly contribution
(tax receipt issued annually in December)
Payment VISA/MC # _____________________________________ Expiry Date (Month/Year) _____________ Name (as it appears on Credit Card )_______________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________ E mail ________________________________________________ Phone ______________________
THANK YOU for your gift. Together we can make a difference
WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2
Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · wings@wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001
Wish List/Dream List
Spring Fling 2008 Kinettes Ladies Night Out Dinner & Auction Friday April 18, 2008 6.00 p.m At Royal Glenora Club For tickets call Linda 426-4985 A night to remember & support WINGS Proceeds to WINGS
Wish List (*** priority items) (Wings -20 fully furnished apartments) ***Sheet sets, matching bedspreads ***Single mattress pads Lamps, shower curtains (plastic) Baby/kids/teen clothing/** Variety of sizes – indoor runners ***Bus Tickets ***Craft supplies – smelly markers ***Strollers, high chairs Pots/pans, Laundry baskets Coffee supplies 3-4 Large crock pots Non perishable foods, Baby formula Badminton rackets and net 2 or 3 Cool mist humidifiers ***2 Industrial size pots - for Collective Kitchen cooking ***Grocery Gift certificates Easter treats, Easter hams 20 families Baby thermometers Bean bags to heat/ice injury 2 soccer & 2 basketballs 6 plastic hockey sticks Dream List No more family violence! Board members*** Volunteers - Special events committee*** Digital camera (for security) New VCR for group work Laptop computer
Helping women in need to grow stronger …
(From a Wings’ friend who chose to share his thoughts for our Newsletter) A number of years ago I had a client who was involved with this group (Wings of Providence) and she asked me if I would be interested in purchasing a table at a luncheon (the Mother’s Day Tea). As I was not involved in ownership of any kind at Towne & Countree Kitchens, I purchased on my own behalf (probably because she was my client more so than what I thought about the cause). I don’t think I have missed a year since then. As I have matured I have become much more aware of the abuse women and children are subjected to year after year. While there are an endless number of charities and causes that are certainly well worth supporting I think we have to support something completely. I am born and raised here in Edmonton and I like to support a local cause. Wings is where I’d like to do my part. What better cause then women and children? Greg Adams Owner, Towne & Countree Kitchens
WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2
Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · wings@wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001
WINGS of Providence Society 22nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, June 10, 2008 7:00 P.M. At Providence Renewal Center
to the back (east side) of the property
3005 – 119 Street, Edmonton
The agenda will include: President’s Report Treasurer’s Report Committee Reports Guest speaker Elections Memberships will be available. $5.00 Please Plan to attend. RSVP to Linda Churchill at 426-4985 or lchurchill@wingsofprovidence.ca
Refreshments will be served.
Women in need growing stronger
Donate Online
We are trying to make it as easy as possible for donors. You can now make monetary donations to Wings of Providence online! Just visit our website www.wingsofprovidence.ca and click on the icon “Donate now’ through CanadaHelps.org. It is that simple. Thank you for your support.
WINGS of Providence, PO Box 32141, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2
Phone: (780) 426-4985 · Fax (780) 424-3625 · www.wingsofprovidence.ca · wings@wingsofprovidence.ca · BN 119300549-RR0001