Canadian Mental Health Association: Cowichan Valley Branch
#201 - 5878 York Road V9L3S4 Duncan, BC, Canada

Updated December 2, 2020 Our latest COVID-19 program updates: https://www.cmhacowichanvalley.com/covid_19_updates

WoW!! Thank you to Erica and the team at Duncan Community Health. Together they have raised $1000 and used the funds to purchase gift cards, toiletries, treats, socks and much more to distribute to our street entrenched and shelter communities this Christmas. Thank you so much Duncan Community Health for helping us to help others.

"The remaining occupants of the temporary homeless tenting sites in the Cowichan region are expected to soon be living in winterized quarters." https://www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com//duncan-tent-sites-/

The Canadian Mental Health Association - Cowichan Valley Branch has taken the following precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19: WARMLAND HOUSE SHELTER (2579 Lewis St): Effective immediately the Shelter gates will be closed 24-hours per day. If clients want to use the services, they will buzz at the gate and we will manage how many people are inside at any one time. People who are not tenants (apartment or bunkhouse) will not be permitted to gather inside during the da...y at this time. The Warming Program is on hold for the unforeseeable future. The seasonal 15 Extreme Weather Beds have been closed early (they were due to close March 31). Donations: We are not taking clothing donations at this time (only socks and underwear). Check our social media feeds to see how you can order items directly from Amazon (these are delivered directly to us). Warmland will continue to accept donations of food. If you have food that may spoil because you are closed, please consider donating to the shelter (call us to discuss 250.715.1132). Staff are working to accommodate clients to the best of their ability with the resources available. SOBERING ASSESSMENT CENTRE (2579 Lewis St): Will remain open, business as usual with extra disinfection and extra distancing between clients. OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITE (221 Trunk Rd): Business as usual but with extra disinfection and extra spacing between tables to provide distance between clients. OPEN DOOR YOUTH SERVICES CENTRE (371 Festubert St): Open Door staff will no longer be making breakfast, At this time we are making brown bag lunches for the youth. Open Tuesdays and Thursday mornings from 8am-12pm. YOUTH OUTREACH SERVICES (mobile): No change in services. BIKEWORKS/DISCOVERYWORKS (51 Trunk Rd): Sept-June hours will be 2:30pm - 5:30pm Tuesday-Friday and Saturdays 12-4pm:. Some restrictions will be in place limiting participant numbers on site. RAINBOWS FOR CHILDREN: Visit our website for upcoming sessions (www.cmhacowichanvalley.com) MALAHAT YOUTH GROUP: Cancelled until further notice. We thank you for your patience and support during this challenging time.

Another donation this week. This from the elves at Lads12. A lovely contribution to our Christmas drive... toiletries, backpacks and goodies. Thank you Lads, for helping us to help others.

By his own admission, Sean Fogler "led two lives for more than a decade." He was a doctor, caring for people, but he was also struggling with his own addiction, brought on the post-traumatic stress of the September 11th attacks. It gave him a unique perspective to see the very real effects of stigma and judgment on people who use drugs and people in recovery. Stigma, in Sean's words, "violates the right of people with addictions to be human, strips us of our dignity, and says... to us that we have no value. It evokes feelings of shame so deep they are hard to know unless you’ve experienced them." We encourage everyone read his article.

We must do better..

These wonderful elves/students from Quamichan Middle School dropped by the shelter this week with a large donation of Christmas treats and clothing they collected. It was so wonderful to see this group of young people showing compassion for our shelter population. Thank you to the students and their teachers for such a lovely demonstration of community service. Thank you for helping us to help others.

We are thankful to Duncan Plaza Starbucks for supplying our shelter and outreach teams with baked goods throughout the year. Thank you for helping us to help others

Our hearts are full. We are extremely grateful to the staff and students of Brentwood College School for creating and delivering these warm, waterproof sleeping bags that can be utilized by those 'sleeping rough' on our streets. Made from heavy plastic and newspapers, they will be distributed by our outreach team to those in need. Here is a link to the video showing how they are made: https://www.youtube.com/watch... Special thanks to David McCarthy Thank you for helping us to help others.

We have to do better... #stopstigma #EndOverdose

"Sheila Malcolmson acknowledges slow progress, but says issues are complex." https://thetyee.ca//2020/12/10/BC-New-Addictions-Minister/

DONATE A CHRISTMAS MEAL AT WARMLAND The Christmas Season has begun and for many the Spirit of the Holidays is not always bright. For those who are homeless, disconnected from family or friends , or fighting battles we may not see or understand, it’s even harder. And the Pandemic Grinch has made this even more challenging for far too many. If you are unable to gather with friends this year, perhaps you might consider sharing a meal with someone less fortunate. For as li...ttle as $10 you can donate a Christmas dinner. All donations will be optionally acknowledged below and those over $20 will receive a tax receipt. Simply click the link below to make your donation. https://www.cmhacowichanvalley.com/donate_a_meal_at_warmland Thank you for helping us to help others.

The Open Door Youth Services Centre will be staffed by two of our caring youth outreach workers on Christmas Eve. Depending on COVID restrictions, we hope to have a small celebration, invite a few youth at a time in from the cold, and share some treats and small gifts such as backpacks, (new) make-up, batteries, journals, flashlights, gloves, socks, candy, chocolate, gift cards, etc. Please drop unwrapped gifts at the Open Door, 371 Festubert Street on Tuesday or Thursday mornings during December. Please do not wrap the gifts as we will take care of that once we know what we have and how it will be distributed. Questions: please call 250.746.5521. Thank you so much.