The Steinbach Family Resource Centre staff have settled into their new location on High Front Road, and are looking forward to celebrating with the community at their annual Christmas party this Tuesday, December 16.

Executive Director, Vicki Olatundun welcomes all families with children aged zero to five to their Frozen-themed Christmas party from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre. “This is our opportunity to celebrate the children in our community and the young families that raise them, so there is no charge to come to the party. We have a nice play this year, Santa will be there so family pictures are taken as well, and we give those pictures to families for free. We also have face painting plus every child leaves with a stuffy toy and a present. And this year the theme is Frozen, so you're going to hear that song, Let It Go many times, plus Olaf and Anna will be there so it's going to be a lot of fun!”

They have started baking cookies for the party, but they don't have enough. “We need cookies! We've been baking some, but if there is anyone out there who would like to share their baking, we do need more. We have a large freezer here, so we can always freeze them so all Christmas cookies are welcome for this Tuesday!”

Olatundun goes on to say that the services they provide are from prenatal to pre-kindergarten, which includes programming for children ages zero to six months, six to twelve months, twelve to eighteen months and up to five years old. “The attendance in our programs have doubled. We provide services from pre-nay to pre-k, and we want to tell the community that those programs do exist and all are welcome. We also have a special teenage program, prenatal care as well as postpartum depression.”

Olatundun is so excited and thankful for their new space they moved into in September. “It is absolutely fabulous, and I have to say that we are here just because we have an amazing, giving community because without them, this would not have been a possibility."

She says as a whole, she feels a lot of community support for the Centre, and cites the fact that they have moved into a larger space to be the proof of that. “There is also a lot of interest in what we are doing, how we're doing it and the donations that come in the door every single week; of clothing, of cooking, of baking, of supplies, of diapers, so the support has been wonderful. And now that the community has begun to understand that we have moved (from the former Anna's House location) and we're now in the brand new space, they've been coming in droves to

Vicki Olatundun in the Centre's "Clothing Cafe".
help us in our new space.”

Although Christmas is a big time of need, Olatundun is mindful of the great need throughout the community and wants to focus on the need when Christmas is over. “We do have a lot of needs at Christmas time, but there is also a lot of generosity at Christmas time. My concern for families in this area is in January and February. What tends to happen is that families become isolated because everyone's forgotten them. They have no more free suppers or parties to come to, things like that, so that's primarily my concern.”

She suggests checking in on a family or give the Centre a call so someone to check in on them and ensure they're okay, if they haven't been seen for a while. “It can be isolating when you're
a young mother and perhaps single, with no community support. Just the fact that there's human contact is one way of helping break the isolation.”

Olatundun adds “the coldest months, January and February, are still ahead of us and we do have a need for coats for all members of the family, so anyone who needs a coat can come to the Centre's Clothing Cafe and get a coat.”

Olatundun continues to be grateful for the incredible support from the community, and wants to say thank you! “I can't thank this community enough! We have been the beneficiary of so much generosity, so I want to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to my community, but I also want to say a huge thank you to every family, every business that has supported the Resource Centre. You can be proud that we continue to support the families that you help us to support. Thank you!”

The online calendar of programs are available on the Steinbach Family Resource Centre website.