Community Living Wallaceburg wishes to thank Chatham-Kent residents for their overwhelming support of the Agency’s 12th Annual Box Lunch fund raiser. Over 1,600 boxed lunches were packed and delivered across the municipality on April 26, eclipsing last year’s total by more than 300. Net proceeds topped $6,500 and will enhance services and supports to more than 450 people with intellectual or related disabilities and their families.
The Agency received orders from over 200 businesses, schools, homes and organizations from as far away as Ridgetown and Tilbury. “Year after year, the community chooses to embrace this initiative and the Agency greatly appreciates the support of those who purchased lunches or volunteered their time for this event,” said Ron Laroche, Coordinator, Communications and Fund Development for Community Living Wallaceburg.
A number of businesses and community groups assisted with the success of the Box Lunch fund raiser. Community Living Wallaceburg would like to acknowledge the significant contributions made by Sobeys, Tim Hortons, The Black Goose, CKXS 99.1 FM, Instant Print Shoppe, UAW Local 251, CBD Club, St. Michael’s Knights of Columbus, CKSY 94.3 FM, Country 92.9 FM and The Rock 95.1/100.7 FM.
Community Living Wallaceburg is endorsing the Ontario Disability Employment Network’s request for additional dialogue with the Social Assistance Review Commission on employment supports for people with disabilities. The Agency and the Network are imploring the Ontario government to not circumvent the Commission’s work by transferring all services to Employment Ontario, as outlined in the newly released Drummond Report, before the Commission completes its critical review.
The Network recently made 37 recommendations to Ontario’s Social Assistance Review Commission aimed at helping more people with a disability find work, while assisting the province to reduce the $3.3 billion spent on disability income support annually.
“The Network would encourage Finance Minister Dwight Duncan to delay any forthcoming changes with respect to transferring employment services to Employment Ontario before the Commission has had an opportunity to finalize its own recommendations,” said Joe Dale, Executive Director, Ontario Disability Employment Network. “A one-stop employment support model would be a giant step backward and would mean people with a disability would be left without specialized disability services and supports.”
Community Living Wallaceburg, as a member of the Network, supports the creation of a single employment services framework that incorporates all ministries and departments that are responsible for employment related disability services. The Agency also supports moving existing funding to a single stream for all employment services and transferring responsibility for those resources to local municipalities.
“Community Living Wallaceburg has high praise for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s ability to operate the Ontario Works program locally and the Agency believes local government can effectively oversee an employment framework,” said David Katzman, Executive Director, Community Living Wallaceburg. “Our organization is confident a partnership with the municipality would ensure that local providers who offer specialized services to people with disabilities would continue to have success in placing individuals in full paying jobs.”
Over the past two years, jobmatch, Community Living Wallaceburg’s employment supports program, has assisted more than 60 people with a disability to obtain jobs across Chatham-Kent. Gainful employment for people with a disability reduces dependency on social assistance and allows individuals to make contributions to the community and to the tax base.
jobmatch offers employment planning, job development and job coaching to youth and adults who have a disability. Katzman noted based on national surveys, 46% of employers say that workers who have a disability work harder than other employees, and 97% have above average attendance records. jobmatch has offices in Wallaceburg, located at 939 Dufferin Avenue and in Chatham, located at 120 Wellingston Street West.
To read the Ontario Disability Employment Network’s full report and recommendations go to: http://www.odenetwork.com/library/submission-to-the-social-assistance-review-commission/
For additional information, please contact:
David Katzman
Executive Director
Community Living Wallaceburg
Phone: 519-627-0777 x 2555
Email: david@getintocommunityliving.com
Joe Dale
Executive Director
Ontario Disability Support Network
Phone: 905-706-4348
Email: jdale.odenetwork@gmail.com
Take part in Community Living Wallaceburg’s 12th Annual Box Lunch fundraiser and help the Agency create an appetite for awareness across Chatham-Kent. On April 26, volunteers will assemble, package and deliver over 1,500 boxed lunches to businesses, schools, organizations and homes throughout the municipality.
Your lunch will include:
Choice of delicious sandwich: Chicken Caesar, Ham and Swiss, or Veggies and Cheese, each served on a fresh Kaiser bun.
Plus:
Creamy coleslaw, fresh fruit, freshly baked dessert, and choice of beverage – regular or diet cola, or bottled water.
All for $8 and delivered to your home or business!
All orders must be in by Thursday, April 19.
For more information contact Ron Laroche at 519-627-0777 x 2504 or by email.
Proceeds from the 2012 Box Lunch will assist the agency to provide accommodation, community and employment supports to more than 450 individuals and their families in Wallaceburg and throughout Chatham-Kent.
Join Community Living Wallaceburg for the 17th Annual Golf Classic at Baldoon Golf Club on Saturday, June 2, 2012. The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Early registration is encouraged to avoid any disappointment since the tournament is limited to the first 120 golfers, and paying in advance is also encouraged to help the check-in process be as seamless as possible on the morning of the tournament.
As always, games of skill will be found on some of the holes. Fresh coffee and donuts will be made available at check-in and you will be treated to a barbeque lunch, and a full steak dinner. The tournament will be a scramble format and everyone will enjoy a great time on the links with many team and individual prizes to be awarded. Hole-in-one prizes totalling $45,000 will be up for grabs, courtesy of Baldoon Golf Course, RBC Dominion Securities and Sobeys.
Because of generous supporters like you, over $14,000 was raised last year with all proceeds remaining in our community. Funds generated through the annual tournament are directed toward supports and services available to more than 450 people with an intellectual disability and their families throughout Chatham-Kent.
To register or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact Ron Laroche at 519-627-0777 x 2504 or ron@getintocommunityliving.com.
Community Living Wallaceburg’s annual Day with the Jays takes place Saturday, May 19, 2012. We are now reserving tickets to the game for all baseball fans eager to see Toronto take on the New York Mets. First pitch: 1:07 p.m. Tickets are $41 and bus transportation to and from Toronto is provided. Space is limited. To reserve your tickets, contact Ron Laroche at 519-627-0777 x 2504 or by email.
