SIRCH Community Services

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Family secrets, deceptions and astonishing truths

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Imagine seeing the ocean liner ticket of your great-grandmother when she first arrived in Canada. Or finding a record of your family dating back to the 1600s. And how would you feel if you discovered that a long-held family story wasn’t completely true?

All this, and more, was uncovered over the course of SIRCH Community Services’ Family Roots pilot program.

As part of Family Roots, senior volunteers were trained to conduct online family research while learning about community resources. The trainees were then matched with other seniors, who were more isolated or needing connection, to research their family history.

“Family Roots has been a rich and rewarding experience for all participants. Trainees have gained skills, and with their senior matches have fostered companionship and friendship,” said Donna Gagnon, SIRCH’s Family Roots Coordinator. “There’s been so many amazing discoveries along the way—from learning more about a family’s country of origin, to finding long lost relatives. It’s been fun and exhilarating!”

Participants want to share their experiences and discoveries at a public event.

SIRCH’s Family Roots Reveal Night, “Family Secrets, Deceptions and Astonishing Truths” takes place Wednesday, February 19, 2020 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Haliburton Highlands Museum, 66 Museum Road, Haliburton. This is a free event, and all are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

“At the Reveal Night, you’ll hear from a woman who discovered her Quaker ancestry, and about a 98 year old woman who found out she had three half-siblings in England,” stated Donna. “In addition, you’ll see examples of families that trace their roots back to France and Italy, and how they came to Canada and the Haliburton Highlands. You’ll also hear about the connections made between trainees and their matches.”

The Family Roots program is made possible by a grant from the Government of Canada New Horizons for Seniors Program, and is supported by the Haliburton Highlands Museum, and Haliburton Highlands CARP Chapter 54.

Free restaurant and retail job training starting soon

If you’re looking for a new career or want to upgrade your employment skills, look no further! SIRCH Community Services is offering another season of its training programs, Cook It Up and Ready For Retail.

Registration is now open for these free programs that start January 29, 2020, and run for 16 weeks. Training takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays. Up to 12 participants can enroll in each program. Help with transportation, clothing, and footwear, may be available to those who need it.

Cook It Up

Cook It Up is for adults 18 and older who want to work in restaurants, camps, or start a food business. Participants will learn menu planning, following recipes, knife skills, and serving customers. In addition, participants will earn certifications in Safe Food Handling, Smart Serve, First Aid, and WHMIS.

The Cook It Up practical skills are taught by trained chefs who work in this community—Jay McIvor is SIRCH’s Food Initiatives Coordinator, and Amanda Goertzen is a chef at Bonnie View Inn.

And once again in 2020, Cook It Up will be cooking three-course lunches at Molly’s Bistro Bakery in Minden, in exchange for customers giving support and feedback to the trainees. Every Tuesday starting in March their lunches will be served to the public at no cost.

“If you haven’t worked in a while, or lack confidence, Cook It Up is a great way to re-enter the workforce,” said Jay McIvor, SIRCH’s Food Initiatives Coordinator. “Along with learning kitchen skills, you’ll gain confidence working as part of a team.”

Ready For Retail

Ready For Retail is for adults 18 and older who want to work in stores, markets, or start a retail business. Participants will learn about serving customers, handling cash, inventory management, and merchandizing. Participants will earn certifications in First Aid, and WHMIS.

Ready For Retail trainees will be placed in businesses that match their interests.

“Ready For Retail is extremely popular with both participants and local businesses,” said Dianne Woodcock, SIRCH’s Ready For Retail Coordinator. “Trainees gain practical experience that help lead to jobs, and local businesses gain new employees with relevant skills and training.”

Ready For Retail classroom material is taught by Lynda Shephard who is developing training for SIRCH and Dianne Woodcock who has coordinated the practical placements in local retail businesses for the past two years. Instructors will build skills in a supportive, fun and encouraging environment, and this year trainees will be placed in a retail establishment one day a week starting in March.

These programs would not be available without the support of City of Kawartha Lakes Social Services.

Adults interested in the Cook It Up or Ready For Retail training programs should contact SIRCH at 705-457-1742 or at info@sirch.on.ca.

Don’t toss it! Bring it to SIRCH’s first Repair Café

What do you do with a broken toaster? Or with a wobbly chair? Or with a sweater full of moth holes? Toss it away? No way! Instead, bring it to SIRCH Community Services’ new Repair Cafés!

Repair Cafés help people repair broken household items—small appliances, clothing, furniture, bicycles, computers, audio equipment, jewelry, books, porcelain, and more—that could otherwise end up in landfills. Originally begun in 2009 in the Netherlands, Repair Cafés now take place all over the world. SIRCH is excited to bring Repair Cafés to Haliburton County.

SIRCH’s first Repair Café takes place on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (gymnasium), 5358 Hwy 21, Haliburton.

“We have an amazing team of volunteer Fixers ready to fix broken lamps, mend ripped clothes, change bike tires, and repair torn book covers,” said Chris Varga, SIRCH’s Repair Café Coordinator. “Your Fixer will show you how to repair your item and work with you to get it fixed. Or you can request advice and guidance and carry out the repair yourself. Fixers will work on one item per visitor.”

A recent study states that Canadians produce more garbage per capita than any other country on earth. Each Canadian generates approximately 2.7 kg of garbage each day. Communities across the country—including Haliburton County—struggle with an increasing amount of residential waste that ends up in local landfills. SIRCH’s Repair Cafés are a vital way to help reduce the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of by giving household items a new life.

“If you know your repair will require replacement parts, for example buttons or a bicycle tire tube, please bring the parts with you. The Fixer may give you a list of parts required so they can complete the repair at a future Repair Café event,” stated Chris. “The work carried out at the Repair Café is done free of charge. A donation jar will be available if you’d like to ‘pay it forward’. Donations are appreciated, but there is no expectation.”

SIRCH’s Repair Café is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $108 million to 629 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.

Help keep the Community Kitchen cooking

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Volunteers in SIRCH’s Community Kitchen

For thirty years, SIRCH Community Services has had a mission. As needs in the community become apparent, especially gaps and issues affecting those most vulnerable, SIRCH often develops and implements programs to help.

One of these needs identified is for enough healthy food during challenging times.

According to Statistics Canada, 17.2 per cent of Haliburton County households are considered low income. In fact, Haliburton County has the second highest level of low income households in all of Ontario. This means many households struggle with putting food on the table. Parents may go without meals to feed their kids. Seniors’ fridges may be empty. Food insecurity affects health and brain development.

Through initiatives like Community Kitchen, SIRCH tries to make those tough times easier.

“It’s important to have foods that give you the nutrients you need to maintain your health, feel good, and have energy,” said Jay McIvor, SIRCH’s Food Initiatives Coordinator. “Many individuals and families in the county really can’t afford nutritious food when they’re struggling to pay bills or when they’re ill. One of the ways SIRCH is working on this issue is through the Community Kitchen,”

In the Community Kitchen, volunteers make healthy meals that are then distributed through local food banks and community agencies.

“Last year, the Community Kitchen made 3,600 meals for local residents,” said Jay. “Many people are unaware that SIRCH’s Community Kitchen receives no funding from government. Without the generous support of donors, we’d be unable to operate.”

Ken Mott of the Wilberforce Food Bank has seen the effects of Community Kitchen meals first hand. “Our clients really appreciate the food prepared by SIRCH’s Community Kitchen. The food bank’s clients often struggle to access nutritional food, so SIRCH’s efforts to provide meals that are tasty and nutritious makes a huge difference to people’s lives. Keep up the good work!”

As a non-profit charitable organization, SIRCH relies on the financial contributions of individuals and local businesses to help accomplish its mission. Each fall, SIRCH launches Gifts from the Heart as its community fundraiser.

“This is the eighth year of SIRCH’s Gifts from the Heart campaign,” said SIRCH Board President, Barbara Fawcett. “While the campaign has evolved and grown over that time, ultimately it’s about supporting a local organization that works in the local community for the betterment of local residents.”

To contribute to this year’s Gifts from the Heart campaign, visit www.sirch.on.ca/gifts or phone 705-457-1742. You can also visit SIRCH’s offices Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., located at 49 Maple Avenue, unit 4, Haliburton, to make a donation in person.

Lunch Is On Us Creates Connection

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Last Thursday, a woman (we’ll call her Mary) stopped in to Lunch Is On Us to pick up lunch for herself, and for a friend who was grieving over the loss of a loved one. The friend had told her she wasn’t eating much, so Mary thought some goulash soup and chicken pasta, along with company, would perk her up a bit. “I grew up with goulash” she told the chefs, Jay and Lydia, “It’s like comfort food to me.” She left just before meal service was closing.

At 2:15, Mary came flying back in the door. “Do you still have food?” she asked, slightly breathless. Jay assured her there was some left so she got the same orders again, explaining as she waited. As Mary had been walking to her friend’s house, she passed a woman walking a dog. They said a few words, and the other person confided that she was just in town that day to support someone going through cancer treatments. Mary listened and then thrust her bag with the two lunches at her. “Here take these,” she exclaimed. “They will be fairly easy for your friend to eat and I can go and get more.” She explained that Lunch Is On Us is all about connection and that they were free from SIRCH. With a smile, the woman took the lunches from Mary, thanked her, and headed back to her friend.

This is exactly what Lunch Is On Us is about. Making a winter day a little less lonely, a little less isolating—and a lot more bright for the Haliburton County community.

From November through March, SIRCH offers a free lunch once a week in Haliburton Village. Since we started in November, we’ve served 329 guests 129 main dishes, 127 sandwiches, and 211 soups and salads! All free. All done through donations, sponsorship and fundraising.

Gifts from the Heart is our major fundraiser and it supports Lunch Is On Us. To contribute to this year’s Gifts from the Heart campaign, visit www.sirch.on.ca/gifts or phone 705-457-1742. To make a donation in person, you can visit SIRCH’s offices Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., located at 49 Maple Avenue, Unit 4, Haliburton.

We hope to see Mary back every Thursday. And we hope to see you at SIRCH Central too (2 Victoria Street, Haliburton). Come and eat in, tell some tales, relax. Or take food out and share with a friend. Lunch is on us.

The Joys of Giving Tuesday

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This year, Giving Tuesday is December 3, 2019

When you Google “giving” the top two definitions are “providing love or other emotional support” and “to freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone).”

Giving Tuesday, on December 3 this year, is a global movement for giving that takes place each year after Black Friday. It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good.  Now it is a movement—an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season.

What organizations would you like to provide your support to? It’s something we all might want to think about. What causes are dear to my heart?  Have I or a loved one received help from an organization or group during a difficult time? Is there an issue I feel passionate about? Is there a condition I want to change? Is there a service in this community that enriches the lives of my neighbours? Where can my donation make a difference?

Involve your family and friends in the discussion. It’s never too early to start the conversation with children either. Ask them what they care about, or would like to change. If they’re older, encourage them to research some charities and choose one, then to donate a small amount. Even a little makes a difference.  

As a society we are known by how we look after and support those most in need, and those most vulnerable. Wherever you give, give generously, with a caring heart.

-Gena Robertson, Executive Director, SIRCH Community Services