SOS CONNECTOR

Kids Summer Fun program learns kindnessAn exercise in kindness in an SOS

program in Qualicum Beach this summer was an eye-opener for local children.

“I felt really embarrassed at first but I felt really happy afterwards,” said Kids Summer Fun program participant, Kolby Myden. “I was like, I don’t want to do this…and then I thought, actually, I want to do this again. It just gives you a good feeling inside.”

The SOS Kids Summer Fun program is for local children in grades 4 – 6. The free program offers fun activities, the chance to connect with others, and healthy snacks.

Child, Youth and Family programs staff in Qualicum Beach arranged a scavenger hunt for the children

where they broke off into small groups and sang a song together, gave out flowers, and created positive notes to hand out to people in the community.

“We thought this would be a beneficial activity for the kids to help them understand the impact compassion can have on people in the community,” said SOS Children & Family Coordinator, Jessica Henderson.

Myden gave his flower to his brother Keenan Bevan, who was working at Qualicum Commons as a Camp Leader. The flower made his brother happy, he said, and encouraged him to continue with more acts of kindness.

After making three people’s days,

Myden admitted that he didn’t realize that giving away something so small could have such an impact.

Jacob Morton had a similar experience. He gave a note to a homeless man. “He seemed really happy that he got a positive note,” he said.

SOS Community Services Centres245 West Hirst Ave. Parksville 250.248.2093744 Primrose St. Qualicum 250.752.2040

sos@sosd69.com | www.sosd69.com

It’s an exciting time to be working with SOS. I’m Martin Fereday, I was elected as Chair of the SOS Board of Directors in June. I’ve been on the SOS Board since 2016 and prior to that I was an Income Tax Volunteer.

The SOS Board has identified three priority areas to focus on: Seniors, Homelessness, and Children, Youth and Families.• Our population of people 75

years of age and older has been projected to double over the

next 20 years, and we need to be prepared.• Homelessness, or the threat of becoming homeless, is not going away, it’s increasing.• Demand for parenting support and help for youth transitioning to adulthood continues to grow.

With your help we will be ready to support these needs in our community.

You can read more about these priority areas in this newsletter.

We hope you enjoy the rest of the

stories and we wish you a warm and safe winter.

Focusing on community needs at SOS

—Martin Fereday, SOS Board Chair

Fall 2019

Kolby Myden, right, gives a flower to his brother Keenan Bevan as an act of kindness.

SOS helps educate on vaping

The number of local seniors 75+ is expected to almost double, (from 7,570 to 14,758) over the next 20 years. This is according to a Local Health Area Profile by Island Health. The report also states that the 75+ age group currently makes up around 15.8% of the local population. That is higher than Island Health (10%) and B.C. regions (8%).

This is one of the reasons why SOS is focusing on seniors in its five-year strategic plan.

“As the community changes, we need to make sure we are keeping up and have a sustainable plan in place to take care of our residents,” said SOS Board Chair Martin Fereday. The SOS strategic plan is also fo-

cusing on assisting homeless resi-dents, as well as people living on the cusp of homelessness. We know from Statistics Canada reports that rent is taking up most of people’s income. The average monthly rent in Parksville is $1,029 and in Qua-

licum Beach it is $1,096. Sixteen percent of District 69 residents aged 18-64 are considered low-income. According to Statistics Canada, that is $18,213 or less for a single individual and $36,426 or less for a family of four.

SOS has seen first hand that par-ents need more support when deal-ing with challenging behaviours.

These are just some of the high-lights of the plan, which will be shared with the community once it has been finalized.

Strategic plan aims to assist seniors, among others

When Patty Takacs found out about all the positive work SOS does in the community, she wanted to support the organization, but she wasn’t so sure about volunteering in the Thrift Shop.

“I was a little hesitant at first, because I don’t have any retail experience, and I wasn’t sure what it would be like,” she admitted, adding she thought she might be unprepared for the demands of the job. “But people have been supportive and patient, and there’s always someone around to help you, so it wasn’t a problem at all.”

When Patty moved to the area two years ago, she was interested in learning more about the community, and meeting people. She said she was impressed with the programs and services SOS offers to people in the community, so she signed up to be a volunteer.

“Everything that I had hoped for in volunteering has come to fruition at the Thrift Shop,” she said. “Because the people are fantastic.” The staff, volunteers

and customers have been wonderful, Patty said. People are happy to shop at SOS and buy things they need there rather than somewhere else, knowing they are supporting local residents.

“When people buy something they will say, ‘Oh, keep the 50 cents change…or couple of dollars’ — they will round it up because they believe in SOS that much.”

Patty volunteers as a cashier, and there are a variety of other roles that are in high need of support at the Thrift Shop.

Kevin Newton, Thrift Shop

Manager, said they are so short on volunteers, they are unable to run at full capacity at this time.

“The Thrift Shop needs a larger volunteer base to continue successfully funding our programs,” he said. “Without their support, employees are having to do the task that volunteers would normally do.”

Thrift Shop volunteer shifts are generally 3.5 hours a week. Call today to learn about volunteering at the Thrift Shop and other volunteer areas to contribute at SOS.

Thrift Shop surpassing volunteer hopesVaping use continues to increase at local high

schools and that is why SOS is educating young people about the harmful effects.

“The statistics are going up, the use of vaping products by adolescents is skyrocketing,” said Scott Riddell, Island Health’s Enforcement Officer and Reduction Coordinator in the Tobacco & Vapour Prevention and Control Program for North Vancouver Island. He was invited to speak to the SOS School Night Out program participants in Parksville in October, a program comprised of youth in grades 7 - 9.

Many of the young people present admitted that they have seen it. They’ve seen videos of youth doing “vaping tricks” online, they’ve seen older siblings vaping, and they’ve seen groups of people partaking in school washrooms and on school grounds.

“I see the smoke, I see people sitting on the sink area in the washroom and it’s almost weird, and it’s kind of shocking,” said Grade 8 student Linaya. “I just find it annoying and I worry that I might be guilty by association,” she added, explaining that if a teacher came in they would think she was taking part in vaping.

Vaping is the term used for inhaling the vapour produced by an electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette). E-cigarettes are battery powered, hand-held devices that do not produce tobacco smoke. Instead, the heated liquid becomes an aerosol (or vapour) which is inhaled. Often they contain nicotine, along with propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin and flavours. There are different brands available, including Juul (pronounced Jewel), which is popular with youth, Riddell explained.

“We have never seen a human being who has vaped for 20 years, so there’s risks we don’t know,” Riddell said. “But there are risks we do know.”

One of the risks is the by-products produced when you vaporize propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. Some of them are carcinogenic, including formaldehyde. Also, little flecks of heavy metals from these devices get sucked into the lungs, including lead and cadmium, he explained.

Nicotine is also a big concern. In high concentrations, nicotine can kill you because it’s a poison, said Riddell. And it’s also highly addictive.

“What makes the tobacco and e-cigarette industry a multi-billion dollar industry is that people start it

around your age, they try it and they think it will be fine,” he explained to the youth. “And then they get addicted and they can’t stop.”

Nicotine also does something to your brain, making it easier for you to become addicted to other things in the future, such as gambling or alcohol, Riddell said.

Gillian Wilson, School District 69 Associate Superintendent of Schools, said the District is worried about addiction to nicotine and the harmful effects of vaping. “Education in this area is so important,” she said. “It feels like we are doing a little catch-up as a society to truly understand the harmful effects.”

The School District has been working with Island Health to inform students and parents with presentations, articles and information, among other things. Recognizing that some students have nicotine addictions, they have

also been working with counsellors. Vaping has been in the news lately for ‘vaping-related respiratory disease’. There have been over 1,000 cases in the United States and one in Canada. Health departments are looking into it, Riddell said, and believe it’s related to vaping products that contain THC, the compound in cannabis that produces a high.

Despite the negative attention in the media, vaping use continues to increase. “You are going to see it once you get to high school, so you need to be informed and have some tactics to deal with it,” he pointed out. “And we really don’t know what the long term effects are going to be, but we’re going to find out. And everyone who is vaping right now, they will be the ones who will tell us.”

Patty Takacs has been pleasantly surprised as a Thrift Shop volunteer.Above, Scott Riddell from Island Health gives a presentation to SOS School Night Out participants on vaping. Below, a stock image of a person vaping with an e-cigarette.

Christmas program goal reflects needsLocal residents are having trouble

making ends meet and that’s why SOS is anticipating having to help more families and individuals than ever before this Christmas. “We see the need in our programs and services, and we want to make sure local residents experience some joy with dignity this Christmas,” said SOS Executive Director, Susanna Newton. “We have set our Christmas campaign goal at $120,000 in order to meet those needs.”

The SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program has been helping create the magic of Christmas for residents since 1968. The program provides a special gift for children and youth, and families and individuals receive local grocery store gift cards so they may choose food that is meaningful to them over the holidays. SOS also works with local Newcomers’ Clubs to deliver stuffed Christmas stockings to seniors who are shut in, or without close friends and family.

Local businesses and community partners help SOS fill the Toy

Shop where low income parents, caregivers and grandparents shop for free for their children. “The Toy Shop is where wishes and dreams for local children and youth come true,” said Newton. “And parents, and caregivers feel that sense of community walking through the doors, knowing so many people have given so much to help them. It really fills you with Christmas spirit.”

There will be dozens of local businesses hosting Angel Trees this year. Look for a participating businesses and select an angel

from the tree to purchase “that one special gift” a child has been asking for. There will also be several local events benefitting the program, and helping to spread Christmas spirit. Visit the SOS website for more information.Equestrian Christmas Toy Ride: Nov. 17Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive: Nov. 27Community Food & Toy Fill Up at Save On Foods: Nov. 30Red Apple Fill the Sleigh Day: Dec. 7

The three most common denominators to consider when volunteering: Will my time deliver a valuable contribution to the vision of an organization? Will my contribution show the impact that may change the lives of others in my community? Will I get the satisfaction that my heart desires through the dedication and commitment I give? The one answer to all is “YES!” You make a difference, whether your contribution is big or

small – long or short – behind the scenes or in the forefront - helping individuals with life’s challenges by responding with compassion and understanding. This is how each one of you contributes to the goals and vision of SOS.I am looking forward to greeting all active SOS volunteers at the upcoming Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Dinner planned for Thursday, December 12, 2019 4:30 – 7:30 pm at the Parksville

Community Center. Please find your invitation inside this newsletter package. Mark you calendar and remember your RSVP helps ensure seating. If you are an active volunteer and did not receive your invitation, please contact me. Thank you so much for being part of shaping the vibrant community we live in! —Renée Caulder, Coordinator of Volunteer Resources

How does volunteering fulfill one’s goals?