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Club President Loida Lumanlan with Jenna Sparrow, Development Manager at KARA Family Resource Centre Jenna Sparrow, Fund Development Manager at KARA Family Resources Centre, presented our Club with an in-depth review of services provided through their Centre. KARA Family Resources are there to support parents and caregivers, lift up families, and create moments where children and parents can thrive, no matter the obstacles they face. Since they opened their doors nearly 40 years ago, they have grown to serve over 3,500 people each year. They believe that when families are strong, communities are strong. They provide a broad range of programs and services, all free of charge and designed to meet families where they are. From early learning programs like Learning Through Play and Little Talkers to skill-building youth programs such as Kids in the Kitchen (6-12 years) where kids not only learn to cook but also bring home nutritious meals for their families. This is most evident in the pride of an Immigrant child learning to cook Canadian food to take home to their family. Through this program they have seen first-hand how crucial food security is for a family’s well-being. One of the most impactful parts of their work is the personalized support provided by their team. Their Family Navigator and dedicated family support workers offer one-on-one assistance, helping families find their way through tough times. They believe people are their own best advocates; their role is to empower and support them as they work through their goals. During COVID they saw a decrease in government funding which resulted in a large reduction of staff, program and services. They are a very resilient organization, working hard over the past couple of years to keep going. They have now reached a place where they are looking forward to once again growing and expanding through donations from the Community. |
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