Change

I have been lucky enough to move into a wonderful community.

When I moved into Calgary Housing I was lucky enough to find a place close to work, so it was not a long commute from home.

In the last two years I have noticed the tremendous support we have from our local church, Bethany Chapel. We were lucky enough to get a wonderful Community Development Pastor who had wonderful visions and dreams for our community and had the funds and support to implement those ideas.

She opened up a thread shed, a building that was being evacuated by Calgary Housing that was used to store their equipment. She turned this wonderful building into a clothing store. Congregation members from the church donated gently used clothes and people from our community can go and buy these clothes for $1 dollar. Making it affordable for us, and giving us the feeling that we can provide for ourselves and our families.

There is a building in our neighbourhood which is used kind of like a resource centre. Twice a month the women get together in this building to have coffee, make cards, meet new friends and neighbours. The Boys and Girls Club comes in on Monday's and Friday's when the kids get out of school to encourage them with skills and activities. The last year we have had more programs come in with it. With help from the Community Neighbourhood Social Worker, a nurse has come in from AHS and given presentations on: Self Esteem, How to Talk to your Doctor.

I started a campaign with my friends and acquaintances to get used books to start a Book Lending Library, that is in the resource centre now. Children can bring books and exchange them for the equal number of books. I like to watch the children come in and borrow a book, our neighbourhood is all so culturally diverse, it's great to see them wanting to improve and learn their English skills.

3 wonderful ladies live in the red Calgary Housing Buildings down the street. They live there to bring programs and activities to the community. They have done potlucks, recently set up a reading program for the children, and a soccer club.

Every other Saturday a young adult group comes into the neighbourhood to deliver bread for the families, this is a great gathering place on Saturday nights. They come pouring rain, shine or snow.

Another wonderful lady has started a cleaning company to bring employment for the ladies. She has also started an affordable dance program at the church for local youth.

I am working on a mural project for the children. Graffiti has been an issue in our neighborhood lately and I think if they had the opportunity to design a beautiful image on this garbage shed that it would lessen the graffiti.

Last year we sat down for a neighborhood concern meeting with Calgary Housing Company, our area Councillor, our Community Pastor, our Community Resource Officer, and Community Neighbourhood Services social worker. Residents raised their concerns on the issues going on in the neighborhood, the people who could make a difference listened, and some changes were made. It was a great feeling to know that you can make a difference.

My neighbour has an exceptional green thumb, and has planted some wonderful healthy, affordable food for our community.

On June 24th 2015 a new program will start in our neighborhood. It is the Grand Opening of The Tool Box, the second largest tool lending library in all of Alberta. The clothing from the old Thread Shed has been moved into a room at the Resource Centre, making room for saws, lawn mowers, and tools. For $10 membership/year this gives people in low-income a wonderful opportunity to upkeep their yards and homes at an affordable price. My neighbours volunteer to open up The Tool Box and gives them job skills.

I can't wait to see what the rest of this year brings us!!!