“There is pain here. There is loss:” Working on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic
By Racheal Walser I wrapped her dolls carefully. Each, in a new baby blanket. I wrapped it around their waists, tucked the blanket under their arms, and gently slipped them into a cardboard box. This is the way Melissa liked to wrap her dolls. Each of them her baby. She would have whispered sweet things […]
YW Kitchener-Waterloo honours the passing of Shannon MacLeod, Elaine Reid and June Edwards
The YW celebrated the lives of three tenants at the Lincoln Road Supportive Housing residence who passed away. On Wednesday, Sept 30, a service was held at the Lincoln Road Chapel to honour Shannon MacLeod, Elaine Reid and June Edwards. Margaret Nally, who is a Spiritual Director in Community in the Kitchener region, officiated the […]
YW Supporter Spotlight: Mike Farwell
There isn’t an industry that hasn’t been affected by COVID-19, and the nonprofit sector has been hit particularly hard. As a result of the pandemic, demand for services has increased exponentially. The social distancing guidelines and shelter-in-place regulations have forced us to cancel or postpone events and drastically rethink our fundraising efforts. We rely on […]
Bringing greenspace to our shelter
“Green space is good for mental health,” so reads a recent study published by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (better known as NASA). Among the many benefits of green space listed in this report includes increased opportunities for socialization and exercise, reduced air pollution and protection against depression and “stress-related issues.” When we sought to […]
Working on the frontline: Finding beauty in a time of coronavirus
By Racheal Walser There is a tree outside of my new workplace. There are a dozen other sticks and twigs that did not come from that tree but were put there by a client. It’s a little quirky looking, this bunch of mismatched twigs and branches, tied to the tree with a rope, or cable, […]
Breanna’s Story: How the YW Kitchener-Waterloo helped her move from teen mom to triumph
Written by: YW Kitchener-Waterloo Staff Many of us have done it–fallen so hard and fast in love that love is all we can think about, all we can feel. We eat, sleep, and breathe love. And for a little while, at least, love makes our decisions for us. At 16, Breanna fell hard and fast […]
In Her Shoes YW Program volunteer tells us why she loves to give back
Kathy Joslin is a tenant at our supportive housing facility on Lincoln Rd. She regularly drops by the office with bags of donations for In Her Shoes, YW’s employment and entrepreneurship training program. Her donations include new or gently used clothing, accessories, bags and jewelry. “Giving back to the community makes me feel good,” says […]
Tracy Van Kalsbeek Built Her Career On Helping Others
Tracy Van Kalsbeek is a woman with a mission. She wants to make our community a better place. She began early. She remembers organizing a clothing drive for a schoolmate in need when she was eight. She joined the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets when she was 12. “We were encouraged to get involved in the […]
Heather Lackner’s 45-Year Commitment, Inspired by a Family History of Volunteerism
Heather Lackner’s 45-year relationship with YW Kitchener-Waterloo began with her father and mother. Newly immigrated from England in the 1920s, Sidney McLennan was just 15 when he left home to live at the YMCA at the corner of Queen and Weber Streets. In exchange for board, he taught swimming and basketball and worked in the […]
Quality Childcare Gave Critical Support to Entrepreneurs, Yvan and Kathryn
The way Yvan sees it, childcare is an investment—in the future of his family, his kids, and his business. The local entrepreneur and his wife, Kathryn, were at a critical turning point in their lives when they unexpectedly found themselves in the market for a new childcare centre for their son, Leo, nine years ago. […]
