By Joanne Dorr
The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA — The Community Support Centre of Haldimand Norfolk (CSCHN) located at 103 Inverness Street in Caledonia recently revealed the large-scale renovations to their facility that were made possible thanks to the generous support of area businesses and individual donors.
CSCHN’s vision is to become a community-based centre of excellence in providing and promoting access to health, social, community, and recreation services. The centre achieves this through their various programs and dozens of different services and activities. Recently, these programs and services are used by a growing number of people affected by inflation, food insecurity, social isolation, and other essential human services.
Responding to this tremendous increase in need impacting the community, CSCHN raised $270,000 to enhance their facility. Andrea Gee, Executive Director of CSCHN, has been with the organization long enough to witness the evolution of the CSCHN and shares, “This was so exciting. I’ve been working at the centre since 2007 and this has always been our vision: to have an awesome facility that can meet the ever-changing needs of our community and the clients that we serve.”
Between the Community Kitchen and Café, their CYPRES 55+ and CYPRESS Childcare Centre programs, the 103 Inverness Street location supports those who need a hot meal, access to certain office equipment, help with their taxes (for those who qualify), childcare, clothing, and beyond.
One of the many enhancements made to their building are daily and monthly office space rentals for like-minded organizations. Among the many organizations CSCHN currently hosts and supports are Habitat for Humanity Haldimand County Chapter, Haldimand-Norfolk REACH, Haldimand and Norfolk Women’s Services, and Community Addiction and Mental Health Services of Haldimand Norfolk.
With the money raised, the centre now houses a brand new fully equipped boardroom and a full service, 1,600-square-foot, state-of-the-art commercial and teaching kitchen. This kitchen doubles as the Community Café, a Good Food Organization, and provides 8,300 meals annually to individuals.
With all the wide-ranging support offered by CSCHN, it has become a reliable, kind place to go for assistance for many, among them a woman named Heather and a man named Adam.
Heather moved to Caledonia from a women’s shelter and says, “The centre is a place I feel welcome. A place that I talk to anyone, and they will listen. I am emotionally better.”
Adam isn’t steadily employed and utilizes the services that are offered at CSCHN, adding, “For me, this place is hard to live without. My girlfriend and I rely on the centre and come twice a month.”
Stacie Blakey, President of the Board of Director at CSCHN, explains how the community support for the centre has made her feel: “To know that the community is behind us this deeply and is this passionate about the project reinvigorates myself and the whole board to follow through with our vision. We have literally been dreaming and talking about this for many years.”
To donate to CSCHN please visit donatecschn.com. If you need help or support call 905-765-4408.
