The South West Communities Resource centre has been serving residents in need for 17 years, to over 25 communities. Located in the Oakridge Shopping Centre, the SWCRC is a modest, yet impactful service. Staff are all frontline workers developing and delivering programming and resources to clients. 2020 was a challenging year for many non-profits including the resource centre, which pivoted to providing basic needs to clients, helping them find the support needed for food, clothing, and applying for unemployment benefits. At the same time, the resource centre lost the security of its major provincial funding needed to employ social workers at the centre to build resiliency among clients (a change in the way provincial grants were allotted). The centre continues to receive some funding through Family and Community Support Services from the City of Calgary.
As one of two providers in SW Calgary, the resource centre ensures that people have access to help without needing to travel great distances. Prior to the pandemic response shift, the SWCRC provided many services to low income Calgarians such as, programs to teens for tutoring, families to build community through ESL conversation, and navigation of other programs, including setting up profiles on government sites. Over the holidays, the resource centre collected donations to provide grocery gift cards to families in need. Partnering with other community groups (churches, schools, etc) and social organizations, these gift cards were distributed across SW Calgary.
“Without SWCRC, I don’t know where our family will head for in this unusual time. SWCRC made me feel that I am not alone on the way fighting and I am part of the community. Thank you SWCRC for helping me through this hardship” – client testimonial.
As we enter 2021, the resource centre is turning to the community to support their mighty efforts. The centre is looking to establish relationships with corporate and private donors, to ensure the work of serving SW Calgary’s vulnerable population beyond the end of March 2021. Please consider how you or your company could help in this time. Please direct all inquiries to Debra Armstrong at [email protected].
Together we can ensure a viable future for the centre and for clients.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Suess.
