Autumn has taken the place of summer with cooler nights, the apple trees on the bike path have dropped their fruit, gardens are coming to an end, and the kids are back in school...and we are still having good weather! Isn’t it great to be living here in Alberta? Things are ever-changing. And on that note…the FREE WINTER WEAR and COATS will be starting up in a new location. After being at the VOICE for 3 years and 3 more at Christina’s Home Furnishings, Kirby needed his space back. We can’t thank him enough for the use of his space and his support. Luckily for us, the VERMILION VOICE has made their large BACK room available to us again. On September 7th, moving day, the ETC Platoon 3 students volunteered their youthful energy and strength and managed to have it done quickly and efficiently [after multiple trips up and down those stairs]. They were enthusiastic and awesome! THANKS to Kayden, Corwin, James 1 and James 2, Keagan, Ryan, Tylan, Camden, and also their instructor Don Keegan. Thanks also to Joann, Leslie, and Shane for their help. We will be open for business from NOON to 4:30 p.m. - TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS, and FRIDAYS from October 1st to December 21st. We will be closed on STAT holidays and when severe weather or snow restricts our ability to get to the Voice Office. There will be access to the coats from the FRONT DOOR ONLY. We are also looking for anyone willing to volunteer 1-2 days a week. If you are interested, give us a call at 780-581-0521.
We will continue to accept donations, but please only COATS and other WINTER WEARS in good condition. All regular clothing can be donated to the COMMUNITY CLOSET. Any items with broken zippers, too worn, torn or even dirty can be bagged and marked “Recycle’ for donation at the DIABETIC DONATION BOXES at the mall, bottle depot, or behind the Bargain store. We have been told those items can be shredded, washed, and made into mattresses. Only the coats and other items given out by us will be washed. We used to wash everything donated but the costs associated with doing so have become too high. Now clean items we can not use are taken by Creech’s Funeral Home to either the shelters in Lloydminster or to one of the Edmonton Agencies. Vermilion has been generous with donations often beyond what we could possibly use, but we do store as much as is reasonable. and we do keep a good inventory to start out the next year.
Beginning September 26th, the BARGAIN STORE will be holding their second of 2 FOOD DRIVES for Hearts and Hands. We are so fortunate to have their support. These drives go a long way to keeping us viable. Thanks too to the Prairie Bakery and Shoppers Drug Mart for Second Harvest items which we share with the Dewberry food bank.
We have had a busy year so far and as a result, have made the hard decision to assist clients with enough to get them to their next food bank day when they have called for help in the past. We are not a food bank....we are a crisis or emergency service only. We serve only within our set area. Since our start in 2016, we have strived to give clients a hand-up and not a handout. We do the best we can with the generous donations of this community. For information about our service, assistance locating other agencies, have an emergency or are in crisis, or wish to make a donation of any kind, please call 780-581-0521. we do not accept email or text.