Volunteerism – TWC Interactive

Community Support for Queen Street Apartments

The Working Centre September 30, 2023

The Queen Street Apartments were possible because of a Rapid Housing Initiative grant through the Region of Waterloo and the Federal Government’s CMHC. The funding provided capital contributions for the rapid construction of new housing and/or acquisition of existing buildings for rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable housing. This project achieved its goal when the new tenants all moved in during June 2023, one year after construction started.

Community Dental Update

Ian Shantz September 30, 2023

After being put on the back burner out of pure necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Working Centre’s Community Dental Clinic is once again open. This news has The Working Centre Director Joe Mancini smiling. Food and housing became the immediate priorities throughout the pandemic. Those needs combined with complexities surrounding health regulations, led to the dental clinic, which had been operating since 2014, being temporarily shuttered in 2020.

Four Foundational Pillars of University Avenue Interim Housing

Megan Heck September 30, 2022

University Avenue Interim Housing (UA) is an apartment complex that consists of 80 dorm units meant for those who were unhoused and in need during the height of the COVID pandemic. At UA, shelter, a consistent food source, and community-based resources are available for all residents. It has been operating for almost two years, enabling a community to foster and a support system to be built.

Serving Others at St. John’s Kitchen Garage

Megan Heck September 30, 2022

As a stay-at-home mom, Gwen Gerencser held several part-time jobs prior to St. John’s Kitchen (SJK), such as a bus driver for her children’s elementary school and a retail employee at The Beer Store. When her children began to get older, she started to look for an organization to volunteer with where her availability could be flexible, and SJK was the perfect fit.

Gwen describes volunteering at SJK as incredible, as she was able to cater her volunteer hours to her schedule, and the time she dedicated was met with immense gratitude. She wanted to provide help wherever needed, which is exactly what she did – through serving food to community members and washing dishes, a role that always needed more hands.

A Salute with Gratitude to “the Book Man” Roman Dubinski

Sandy Keller June 27, 2022

Roman Dubinski has been an integral part and significant contributor to The Working Centre for 26 years. Roman began volunteering as a Board member with The Working Centre in 1996. He joined after retiring from the University of Waterloo, on the recommendation of Ken Westhues who was a member at the time.

Roman said he was drawn by The Working Centre’s mission and actions to help the unemployed, which he thought was a worthy cause. The Working Centre reaches people, many of the most vulnerable in society who could “fall through the cracks”, and he felt it was an honourable thing to do. The Working Centre was about supporting people as it sought to create a world that was livable and affordable.

WRX Fundraising Adventure

Tessa Jennison June 1, 2018

Sometime in early January, local news ran a story on the impacts of sub-zero temperatures for homeless citizens in Waterloo Region. The shelters were beyond capacity, people were being sent to motels during frigid nights. Since the end of December there had been many bitterly cold nights.

Community Building at St. John’s Kitchen

Joe Mancini December 1, 2017

Every weekday at St. John’s Kitchen, the doors open at 8:00 am as a breakfast of breads, jams, peanut butter and coffee is served. Soon after, in the open kitchen, the preparations begin for the meal to be served by 11:00 and 11:30. This routine has been going on without a break for over 30 years. On January 15th the kitchen will mark its 32nd year. All the people involved, giving of their time and energy, ensure that a daily meal is served for free in the downtown.

Doing the Dishes at St. John’s Kitchen

Eli Winterfeld December 1, 2015

“Everyone wants a revolution…but no one wants to do the dishes” This quote, made popular by writer/activist Shane Claiborne, rings all too true in our current society. It is a beautiful metaphor and holds literal truth as well.

I know I often get caught up in grandiose ideas of how I fit in “the revolution” and forget the small acts of generosity, love, patience (and hard work) that truly are the foundation of leading a life focused on strengthening our community. Doing the dishes, literally, is a very important part of the good work of St. John’s Kitchen.

Computer Recycling at The Working Centre

Elizabeth Pang June 1, 2015

Computer Recycling (CR) is a Community Tool project providing access to technology. This project started more than fifteen years ago to facilitate the reuse of older computers rather than seeing them end up in a landfill site. The aim is to provide affordable computer services. Included in its offerings are refurbished desktop computers, used monitors, printers, speakers, computer books, RAM, DVD drives, and cables, etc. Come in to browse and find what you are looking for. Repair services are also offered on desktop computers.

Engaging with the City

Maggie Murray December 1, 2011

This spring, The Working Centre hosted four Wilfrid Laurier University students from Alex Latta’s fourth-year Global Studies course “Engaging with the City”. The students volunteered 20 hours at different Working Centre projects and wrote a concise summary of the challenges of building community in a society that is becoming increasingly privatized.

Tag: Volunteerism

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