Walk & Roll 2010

Kudos to Brandi and Linda for their 10K Walking & Rolling! 

We weren't sure if the weather would cooperate. The blue sky was there, we were sure of that, but the clouds were numerous and menacing. But in spite of their threats and a short outburst halfway through, Walk & Roll 2010 was a sunny, very enjoyable and refreshing way to spend a Friday afternoon.

I think what I enjoyed the most was the camaraderie. As an organization we have joined in the Vancouver Sun Run and the Abbotsford Police Run, which have been great experiences, but unfortunately the routes make it hard to cheer each other on and stay together among such masses of people and such long stretches of road. Having the Walk & Roll at Mill Lake made it easy to keep track of each other and more accessible for many of our members who cannot make the longer journey to Vancouver. It also was very family friendly, with several strollers being pushed alongside the wheelchairs and walkers.

Co-workers, residents, consumers, volunteers — all joined as one in this movement to be healthy, to raise awareness and to celebrate what it means to be a part of the Communitas community. Our fearless CEO, Steve Thiessen, led the example for us by running the entire 10K, and even a little one walked her part down the last stretch of the route.

Thank you to all who made this event so much fun: our sponsors, our volunteers, the Walk & Roll Team and all who participated! Let's continue to cheer each other on in staying healthy and building strong relationships with each other and our community as a whole.

Communitas Mourns the Loss of a True Inspiration

Matthew Froese, the inspiration behind Matthew's House passed away on Saturday, August 14, 2010 just shy of his 10th birthday. Communitas mourns with the family and offers them the deepest of condolences.

The funeral is to take place at 2:00 pm on Friday, August 20 at Central Heights Church (1661 McCallum Rd., Abbotsford) For more information, CONTACT US

To read more about this life that has touched so many in our community, please read this article from the ABBOTSFORD NEWS.

To send your wishes to the family please visit the Matthew's House FACEBOOK PAGE

Matthew's parents Doug and Andrea , request that in lieu of flowers, people would support Matthew's House IN MEMORIAM 

 UFV Campus to Host FASD Awareness Walk

To commemorate FASD Awareness Day on September 9, the Abbotsford FASD prevention committee, the UFV School of Child, Youth, and Family Studies, and the UFV Health Sciences department are sponsoring a walk on the UFV Abbotsford campus. The walk begins at 9:00 am.

For more details about the walk VISIT THE UFV SITE

Read more about FASD and our programs HERE

Matthew's House Featured in Chatelaine Magazine 

Looking for inspiration and a new haircolour? Well look no further than our very own Andrea Froese who has won the latest "Bring Colour to Life Contest" by Garnier Nutrisse Cream and Chatelaine Magazine. Andrea is mother to Matthew and along with her husband is the founding team behind Matthew's House, part of the new Campus of Care project. She was chosen (alongside 2 others) out of 450 entrants after a friend nominated and sent her inspirational story to the magazine.

Special thanks to Garnier and Chatelaine for their generous prize of $3,300 which goes directly to Matthew's House, and to Andrea and her family for inspiring families country-wide.

Keep an eye out for Andrea's makeover portrait on "Ebony, shade #30" of Garnier Nutrisse Cream in your grocery stores, and in the September issue of Chatelaine, as shown HERE.  

To read more about Matthew's House and Communitas' involvement in the project, CLICK HERE.  

Date Set for Matthew's Shine and Dine Fundraiser 

The inaugural Matthew's House Shine and Dine fundraising event will be held September 11th. The event features a display of 20 show cars, a catered dinner, special music from recording artist Mary Simon and an extensive silent auction. Dan Murphy from Sportsnet will be the MC.

STAY TUNED

Abbotsford Community Foundation
Commits $30,000 to Campus of Care

The Abbotsford Community Foundation has committed $30,000 over the next three years to the Campus of Care, with each of the three different projects in the Care cluster receiving $10,000 towards their building and expenditures. The Campus of Care includes Matthew's House (a respite home for children who are medically fragile), a Fraser Valley extension of the Canuck Place children's hospice, and a hospice for adults through the Abbotsford Hospice Society. The Campus of Care is being built adjacent to the Abbotsford Regional Hospital on Marshall Road.

Communitas Supportive Care Society appreciates the Abbotsford Community Foundation's support of Matthew's House and their encouragement to the children and families of our community.

To read more about Matthew's House and Communitas' involvement in the project, CLICK HERE.

To read more in the Abbotsford Times, CLICK HERE.

 Matthew's House Receives Support from Rotary Club

On May 26, 2010, Matthew's House was awarded a cheque of $5,000 by the Abbotsford-Sumas Rotary Club, presented by the club president, Allan Asaph, to Bob King, a member of the Matthew's House Planning Committee. On behalf of Communitas Supportive Care Society and the Matthew's House Planning Committee, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the Rotary Club’s generous support. 

Matthew's House is a residence that seeks to provide long-term respite care for children and adolescents who are medically fragile, while granting support and encouragement for the families of these children. Matthew's House is a part of  the Campus of Care project, a cluster of services for children, including the new facilities from Canuck Place and the Abbotsford Hospice Society.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MATTHEW'S HOUSE

Security Cameras for the Sanctuary of Safety

Communitas is grateful for the $7,000 grant received from Human Resources and Development Canada as part of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy. The grant enabled the purchase of 8 security cameras for the FASD Sanctuary of Safety, which will allow for greater security for our members who live at the housing complex.

For people living with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, having that extra security is vitally important to helping them with recovery issues, if they have any, and for giving them an external guide to help them with wise decisions. FASD is a brain injury caused in the womb from their mother drinking. The injury affects the brain’s executive functions, which means they have often have low impulse control and are often unable to judge which choices (friends, activities, etc.) may be harmful.

Read more about our Sanctuary of Safety program: FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER

Spring Dessert Fundraiser

On Friday, May 28th, 2010, Communitas held its annual Spring Dessert Fundraiser, featuring a Silent Auction and southern gospel group, Father's Daughter. This trio of sisters, Sonja, Emily and Rachel, highlighted the message of the evening — the importance of belonging — while accompanied on keyboard by their father, MP Ed Fast. In their songs, they encouraged the Communitas staff and community of friends that by just giving in the simple things, we can make a huge difference to a hurting world.

The evening also included a presentation of stories of belonging, shown through a collective memory of photos and audio clips from members of the Communitas community. CEO Steve Thiessen expressed how the origins of the organization began with the desire for belonging and how this desire continues to encompass our mission "to build community in the name of Christ." Donor Relations Coordinator, Gabija Zaikauskaite-Enns also extended the hand of belonging to those who were present, encouraging their support for programs that do not receive government funding, such as the day program, Choices and Connections, the Family Support Network and the FASD Sanctuary of Safety. 

For more information on these programs, or if you would like to Donate, please CLICK HERE.

FASD Breakfast Fundraiser

On Thursday morning, April 29th, 2010, Communitas held a breakfast fundraiser for the FASD Sanctuary of Safety (SOS) program, which provides supports and housing for people living with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. The featured speaker was one of the SOS participants, who shared his difficult story of moving from foster care to foster care and his personal and familial struggles with alcoholism and drugs. As part of the SOS program, he is now able to have stability in his life so that he can get the treatment and safe home life he needs. 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is the leading known cause of mental disabilities, even though it is 100% preventable. Because of the damage to the brain during pregnancy, people with FASD have difficulties with their short and long term memories, need structure to help them focus and keep to task, and they need supports as "outside brains" (helping them with executive brain functions) to help them maintain appointments, take care of money matters and make wise lifestyle choices.

Unfortunately, there are many more who struggle with the challenges of an FASD in our communities, often with similar stories of broken family lives and homelessness, although government funding for adults with FASD continues to be very limited. We appreciate those who were able to attend the fundraiser and show their support. To learn more about the FASD SOS program, please follow this link to our FASD PROGRAM PAGE, or click on this link to donate.

 MCC Responds to Devastation in Haiti

MCC committed an initial $100,000 U.S. or $103,420 Cdn. for immediate needs in Haiti. MCC anticipates a multimillion-dollar response over a period of years. MCC is appealing to fund these efforts. For more information please visit their website: mcc.org

  The Church Response to Mental Illness  

Are people of faith with a mental illness different from those who have a physical illness? Read this important article first printed in Canadian Christianity from our Regional Director, Peter Andres: HERE