Dinner in YWCA shelter brings people together: volunteer co-ordinator
Wednesday, December 1, 2004 - Roderick Benns
The volunteer co-ordinator of the YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton, Kate Johnston, says the efforts made by a local woman to organize a lunch for the Y’s clients really helps bring community together.

Kate says a Peterborough woman, Tanya Bose, organized a recent lunch for about 14 women living in shelters in Peterborough. It was the second time she had organized such a lunch, having done so about two years ago, too.

The food was donated by a number of restaurants and set up in buffet style and gift bags were also given out, according to Kate.

"She wanted to do something for the women staying in shelters," says Kate, "which was really phenomenal."

"As staff members, there are so many things we want to do and can’t because we get so busy with our day-to-day concerns," she explains.

"So for someone to come in and do this has been wonderful," she says.

Kate says it was great that clients could come together informally and talk amongst themselves in such a relaxed environment.

Volunteers made connections, too, says Kate, as they helped make the lunch possible.

Thirdly, Kate notes even the business connections that were made were also meaningful, because it connected businesses with a community partner like the YWCA.

For women confronting violence in their lives, YWCA Crossroads Shelters provide shelter, food, clothing, counselling, referrals, a 24-hour telephone crisis line, court support, children's programs and follow-up support groups.

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