Helping Hands

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

The third Helping Hands fair, put on by the Strathmore Overnight Shelter, was held in first Siksika for the first time ever on Jan. 27.
“The point is to bring agencies from Strathmore and Calgary together with agencies from Siksika since the agencies have never dealt with each other,” said Richard Rodgers, Director of Outreach at the Strathmore Overnight Shelter. “That way there will be more help available to those who need it, and more communication between agencies.”
All agencies in Siksika were invited to attend as well as agencies from Strathmore and Calgary. In attendance were 13 agencies including the RCMP, Cadets, Victim Services, Bow Valley College and Pregnancy Care Centre among others.
Agencies could set up tables with displays to promote themselves and different events they have going on throughout the year, as well as to aid people who need help.
“Helping Hands is a co-operation between agencies and people in need, we can’t do it alone,” said Rodgers. “A lot of people don’t know about the smaller agencies in Strathmore so it’s a good place to have everyone in one spot.”
Unfortunately, there was a low public attendance with around only 50 people turning up for the event. Regardless of the low turnout, it was a good networking opportunity for the agencies to connect with each other and for participants to receive extra time communicating with each agency.
For those in attendance, there was free food and drinks, as well as a free clothing store where people could fill a bag with high quality donated clothes to take home.
Helping Hands is the outreach pre-opening program for the Strathmore Overnight Shelter. “Before the shelter opens, this is how we are helping those people in need,” said Rodgers.
The idea of Helping Hands is to build a foundation of relationships with agencies so that once the shelter opens, they will be able to refer guests to agencies to seek help.
“The shelter is here to help people,” said Rodgers. “The agencies that are already in place in Strathmore and the county are very important to us and that’s why we have Helping Hands.”
Another Helping Hands fair won’t be put on until an agency in the County of Wheatland, Strathmore, or Siksika asks for it to be put on. The Strathmore Overnight Shelter does not put on a Helping Hands fair unless there is an immediate need, and an agency requests it.
“We have a lot of support, but it’s a tough time right now for everyone,” said Rodgers.