NEWS

We have incredible people in our corner.

We have had SO many people, community members, and neighbours show up for us in monumental ways during this season.

We wanted to thank those of you who have helped us to feed our youth (and the adults we have been thankful to have the opportunity to temporarily serve) since our reduced hours began. We would not be where we are without you, nor would we have a full Meal Schedule, filled by human beings who want to help and have done so.

A massive thank you goes to:
Angie Risi
Caroline Donachy
Sue Hitchon
Rotary Club of Brantford
Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise
Sue Baxter
Alanna Long
Lorne Hamilton
Moe Clark
Dan Young
John Williams
Laura Disher-Gibson
Leslie Crawford
Anna Dyer
Freedom Christian Community
Langford Community Church (and Joanna!)
Denise Holland
Sydenham-Heritage United Church
Sue Martin
Lisa Wood
Paul McGrath
... and more!

We cannot thank you enough for your generosity.✨ ... See more

Staying connected during times of physical isolation is so important. A large number of our kids are trying to practice social distancing, but have no way to stay in touch with friends, family members, mentors, and other supports.

If you have upgraded or replaced your cell phone and have an old one laying around, we would love to have them to give out to our youth to help them stay connected even while practicing social distancing.

If you have one you are able to donate, please remove your data, put it in a ziploc bag with the charging cord (if you have it), and a piece of paper with your name and number in case we need your help to unlock it).

Phone donations can be dropped off through the mail slot at the youth centre at any time! Note: We are open for our meal program and crisis supports from 5pm-7pm daily if you would prefer to keep a distance at that time, or to give it to one of our team members directly.

Thank you! ... See more

If you are wondering about food security or how to access food sources safely, the City has compiled a list of current sources. As well, if you scroll all the way to the bottom, you will find a new program called "Neighbours Helping Neighbours."

"Whether you are looking for help during the Covid-19 pandemic or you want to help a neighbor in need, find and connect with your local participating neighbourhood association through their Facebook page."

Check it out! A list of neighbourhood associations and how to find them on social media is included in this (lengthy) webpage.

https://www.brantford.ca/en/living-here/brantford-neighbours-helping-neighbours.aspx#W ... See more

In an effort to assist the public during this challenging time, the City has compiled a list of local resources that are available to help those in our community in need during the Covid-19 pandemic

On the last Monday of each month, Rotary Club of Brantford and Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise provide dinner to the youth at the Why Not Youth Centre. We would normally set up in their common room and serve dinner, but due to the lockdown, this wasn’t possible. So club President JoAnne Flood and President Elect Mike Mears dropped off lots of XL pizzas along with some fruit and veggie trays. Retired Chamber of Commerce CEO Charlene Nicholson also dropped off some yummy homemade dessert for everyone.

Staff Brooklyn from Why Not reported the following this morning:

"The dinner was super good and the kiddos loved it. 🙂. Thanks again Rotarians for being so amazing. Who ever made the desserts is an awesome baker!" ... See more

It's hard to know what to share after a night like tonight at Why Not. We are enormously grateful that we can remain open, even with minimal programming, to connect with our youth, and make sure everyone gets a little food and a little love.

We are enormously grateful for the ongoing commitment of our dedicated volunteers. The months of "regular" volunteering has prepared them for "such a time as this." Now our seasoned volunteers are our most valuable asset because everything is topsy-turvy and they are rolling with it like the pros they are. Knowing the ropes during normal times means that they can flex with the moment-by-moment changes we are experiencing these days. Guys, you are the absolute best.

At Why Not, no one says the words "COVID-19." It's probably fair to say that the youth don't really care about the virus, except that it has disrupted their lives with a loss of routine. The loss of a routine is huge. Where before, maybe they started their day with a stress level of 5/10... now they start with an 8/10. The smallest thing can shift the balance.

And to you, our amazing community, thank you for your incredible show of support. So many have come forward to ask how you can help. Meals, donations, it all means so much. Thanks for caring for us. Thanks for caring for our kids. ... See more

Hello friends! Exciting Announcement!

We have some updates about our programming in light of the COVID-19 Crisis.

The bad news is that we have had to temporarily suspend the recreational/educational/training portions of our programming, which typically take place from 7pm - 9pm in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.

HOWEVER, just because we are temporarily unable to do some of the things we love, it doesn't mean we have to sit on our hands. 😉

Two of the biggest threats to wellbeing for our high-vulnerability youth and adult neighbours are: food security and isolation.

As such, we are so thankful to have a sudden onslaught of volunteers and food security donors to enable us to not only feed all of the youth who come through our doors a good dinner, but we are also able to provide dinners to adults in need. While we can only offer takeout meals to these adult friends due to the limitations of our facility, we are so thankful to be in a position to meet this need at this time.

Further, our incredible team has been working tirelessly to create a whole new program to combat isolation!

Today, we are launching an all-new program called: CONNECTED: Messaging-Based Mentorship.

Why? Because we have amazing volunteers across southern Ontario who we have screened, trained, and coached, and we have youth who are at increased risk of mental health crisis due to isolation.

The CONNECTED program will match our pre-trained mentors with our youth so that, regardless of the distance, quarantine, or physical health status, no young person has to walk through these anxious times alone. ... See more

Here is the most updated food calendar to our knowledge.

It's really something to see how much care goes into this monthly calendar -- a Brantford staple for the vulnerable population. Each organization and church on this list donates the food themselves. Much of it is prepared by volunteers.

These closures aren't short-sightedness -- it's a safety measure for the volunteers who are elderly.

That being said, warming centres, public washrooms, and meal programs are shutting down quickly. There are a few unknowns, including how shelters should manage the COVID-19 crisis.

As cases seem to be emerging in Brantford, it's important to make the best, most logical plans we can -- plans that are a hybrid between safety and compassion action.

Brantford, we're going to get through this. ... See more

COVID-19 is hitting food security hard. Here is the updated meal calendar for March.

When there are no other meals available, we can assist with dinners in take-out style (as we physically cannot fit more people in our facility). Guests looking for food can come to the front door at Why Not between 6pm and 7pm. ... See more