Happy 50th Birthday Lisa! |
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Lisa celebrated recently celebrated her 50th birthday with friends that she made while participating in Virtual Support sessions, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are all people Lisa met for the first time during the virtual sessions, or people she re-connected with after the Virtual Supports reunion at Lakeside Park this past summer.
They say 'every cloud has a silver lining'. While the pandemic was definitely stressful in many ways, many new friendships began and blossomed – something that would not have happened without the creation of our Virtual Supports program.
Lisa was so touched and thankful to be able to celebrate this milestone birthday with her new friends.
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Planning Into the Future
Creating a Caregiver Binder
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Time to bring some order back into our homes and lives! As you contemplate organizing your living space, have you also considered including a binder that can be used by any and all caregivers of your child with intellectual disabilities?
Why?
This essential resource will contain valuable information to assist your family member as they navigate each day of their lives.
Some possible items to include:
- key information about the individual as a person
- emergency contacts
- medications
- dietary requirements
- legal documents
- income sources
This list is merely a suggested starting point. Each individual’s 'CARE' binder will be specific to their needs.
Ensemble families know the importance of creating a caregiver binder and so they will be offering sessions in the coming weeks that will provide you with the necessary materials, binders, forms to complete etc. needed to start your 'into the future' caregiver resource.
Please plan to attend these very valuable caregiver events. You will meet other families, share strategies, create a caregiver binder and create peace of mind!
For further information and to register, please contact Marilyn. Limited spaces are available.
Marilyn, Ensemble Family Consultant and the Volunteer Committee
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Adam Loves His Job at Canadian Tire! |
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With support from the Career Compass team, Adam was hired last spring at Canadian Tire in Essex to work in the garden center. When Adam was hired, he was asked why he wanted to work there, and Adam responded with a list of his favourite plants and flowers. The manager said he couldn’t think of a better answer. Adam is so passionate about all things plants, and he said he “loves to care for them. Watering and deadheading are important for their health”.
Adam was retained as a permanent part-time employee and transitioned to work in the store during the fall and winter. He has taken great pride with the cleaning of the store and any new task that he learns. Adam will graduate this spring from the CICE program with a focus on Horticulture and he is eager for the re-opening of the garden center.
Do you know a business that is hiring? Refer them to Career Compass and receive a $50 gift card when they hire someone we support!
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Get Your Business Noticed!
2023 Menu of Sponsorship Opportunities
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Introducing Community Living Essex County’s new menu of sponsorship opportunities! We’re a busy and active organization, with many fundraising and public awareness events happening throughout the year. Our events attract hundreds of people (in some cases, thousands – hello, Ruthven Apple Festival!) and plenty of media attention, making sponsorship a great opportunity for local businesses to be seen and to demonstrate generosity and social responsibility. With a range of options to choose from, there are opportunities for small and large businesses alike to show their support for Community Living Essex County and get involved in our vibrant, popular events.
Click the link below to download the sponsorship package.
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Community Living Ontario Family Survey |
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Take a few minutes to fill out the below survey from Community Living Ontario! They're looking for feedback from family members of people with intellectual disabilities.
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Most Awesome Air Guitar Contest & Showcase |
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Murchadha House is hosting a fundraiser on April 28th at the Serbian Centre, located at 6770 Tecumseh Road E in Windsor. This FUN contest and showcase is designed to involve more people in the Murchadha House community. By participating in this aspect of the FUNdraiser, you will be assisting them in their mission to build fully accessible homes for people with intellectual disabilities. Murchadha House wants to give people with exceptional needs the opportunity to live as independently as possible, with support, within their community.
Requirements:
- You may compete as an individual or a team.
- Choose a guitar solo from a favourite piece of music (maximum 2 minutes). Let Karen Tompkins know if you need help providing the clip in mp3 format.
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Participants are encouraged to wear costumes and include choreography or physical movement.
Tickets:
Tickets are $50 per person or a table of eight for $350 (one free ticket). Click on the link below to purchase tickets.
For more information please call or text Karen Tompkins at 519-560-0323 or visit their website at www.murchadhahouse.ca.
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Call for Nominations!
Submit Your Nomination by April 11th
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We will be holding our Annual General Meeting virtually again this year. This year the AGM is taking place on Wednesday, June 21 beginning at 6:30 pm. The agenda will feature the year in review, presentation of several awards, election of our Board of Directors, and presentation of the audited financial statements.
Please save this date and watch for registration information in the coming months.
The attached flyer contains the AGM invitation and the Call for Nominations for the Board of Directors. The nomination deadline is April 11th.
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RUBY: Personal Safety and Assault Prevention Workshop |
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All women deserve the opportunity to increase their knowledge around personal safety and assault prevention. The workshops will provide teens and young women with intellectual disabilities with effective education to increase their understanding of personal boundaries, respecting yourself and your body, building healthy relationships and being able to identify various forms of assault and violence. If people have a healthy understanding of boundaries and positive relationships, the incidence of abuse and violence will decrease while a person’s self esteem and self worth will increase.
The next session of RUBY takes place weekly via Zoom from April 5 to April 26.
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Save the Date for Our 2023 Charity Golf Classic! |
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Looking for a New Volunteer Opportunity?
Join Us as an E-bingo Volunteer!
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The funds Community Living Essex County raises through e-bingo at Breakaway Gaming Centre in Windsor goes a long way in terms of helping the children, youth, and adults with intellectual disabilities who we support. Did you know that we receive minimal government funding to cover the cost of transportation for people we support to stay active and get around town to work, volunteer, or participate in leisure activities? It’s possible for us raise up to $30,000 per year from e-bingo alone. This helps purchase fuel and maintain vehicles. But we can’t do it without volunteers.
How does it work?
It’s an easy way to raise money. Breakaway Gaming awards community charities funds when two volunteers work an assigned shift.
What does an e-bingo volunteer do?
It’s a two hour shift at the Breakaway Gaming Center in Windsor where the volunteers welcome e-bingo participants, then walk around the gaming area, checking if players need anything, and keeping the gaming area neat and tidy. It may not be the most exciting volunteer opportunity, but it certainly makes a difference in the lives of people we support.
What is required of a volunteer?
A short online training course must be completed prior to volunteering. A Community Living Essex County golf shirt will be provided and dark pants and closed-toe shoes must be worn. You must provide your own transportation to the gaming centre but Community Living Essex County will provide a $25 gas card as a token of our thanks and appreciation.
Consider giving your time to help us maximize this very generous opportunity provided by Breakaway Gaming and to raise some much-needed money to help cover the cost of transportation for the people we support.
To find out more, please contact Tony DeSantis, Manager, Community Relations and Resource Development at 519-776-6483 ext 246 or tony@communitylivingessex.org.
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We're Holding a Virtual Job Fair April 4th & 5th
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We Are Hiring and We Need Your Help! |
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Easter Craft Show and Kids Egg Hunt |
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Kids activities are $5 per family. For more information contact Lisa at 226-345-7943. This event is taking place at the WFCU Centre, 8787 McHugh Street in Windsor on Saturday from 10:00am-2:00pm.
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Rose City Comic Convention |
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The Rose City Comic Convention hits Windsor on Saturday April 1st at Caboto Club! Meet stars of TV, film, comic books, animation and pro wrestling.
Shop from over 100 tables of comics, toys, collectibles, original art and more! Tickets are $20 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Windsor-Essex Humane Society. Kids 12 and under are free.
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Outlast
Outlast is an American survival reality competition series. The series places 16 players, split into four teams, in the Alaskan wilderness, where they must survive off the land with meager supplies. The players, described as "lone wolf" survivalists, must work in teams and are not allowed to play the game on their own. Players can leave the game by firing a flare gun, and the last team remaining wins one million dollars. One season is streaming on Netflix.
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Creamy Spinach Soup with Mint
Nutritious spring spinach soup, velvety smooth with a refreshing hint of mint. Simple clean ingredients create a deeply nourishing and delicious soup that is dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free. Serve warm or chilled.
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Laughter is the Best Medicine |
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Which is your favourite Easter tradition?
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Spring is here, what is your favourite spring activity?
Gardening ~ 18.6%
Watching all the trees and flowers begin to bloom ~ 18.6%
Playing a round of golf ~ 4.7%
Going for a hike ~ 14%
Enjoying the spring weather ~ 44.2%
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