YOU’RE INVITED TO OUR UPCOMING AGM!
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Christmas Hampers & Gifts EventChristmas Hampers & Gifts Event
Tis the Season! We have been busy planning, organizing, and collecting items for this years Christmas Hamper event for our Cherryville residents. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from a Christmas hamper this year, please reach out to Sharon Harvey at 250-550-6646 or drop in to the Resource Center and pick up an application from either Michelle or Amanda. Hamper pick ups will be December 17th at the Cherryville Community Hall, all individuals will be provided a time slot after registration is complete. *Deadline for submissions is December 8th!
If you are not familiar with this program, each year around Christmas time we provide an extra large hamper to individuals in need along with Christmas presents for any children part of this program. Although Christmas time can be filled with excitement and wonder, it can also be a very stressful time of year and a real financial burden. We have been giving back to our Cherryville residents to try and alleviate those Christmas stressors for well over 40 years now!
Are you looking to donate or help with this event? There are a few different ways you can support our families at this time.
Annual Angel Brunch – this is a wonderful time spent together in community, sharing great food and even better conversation! Come hang out at the hall with us for some friendly banter and socializing. Everyone is encouraged to bring a brunch item and an unwrapped gift for a child to be used for our children in need at Christmas time. We will accept everything, small stocking stuffers to larger presents, all is welcome! When? Friday, November 25th at the Cherryville Hall from 10:00am-12:00pm.
Angel Sponsorship – our “Angels” are symbolic of every Cherryville child registered for a hamper. We work closely with Cherryville Elementary School where the kids complete Santa Wish Lists that we can then find a few items to include as Christmas gifts. Every angel card for sponsorship includes details about the child you are sponsoring (except the name as the identity of our children remain confidential) and some suggested likes and dislikes.
Christmas Bazaar – Cherryville Community Food & Resource Society will have a table set up at the Christmas Bazaar along with “Angels” in need of sponsorship. We will have homemade baked goods for sale where all proceeds go toward funding our Christmas Hamper and Gifts event. If you would like to sponsor a child or donate money toward sponsorship of a child, this is a great place to do it. Or, instead of giving money we are welcoming any homemade baked item that we can use for sale at the Bazaar. Please drop any baked goods off to Sharon Harvey at 412 Sugar Lake Rd by Saturday, December 3rd.
Thank you to all the incredible volunteers we have, the outstanding staff, and to this beautiful community who continues to give and support our residents year after year with such love and compassion. Cherryville is truly unique and we are beyond blessed to call this our home.
ECHO Presentation – Rural Approach to Compassionate CommunitiesECHO Presentation – Rural Approach to Compassionate Communities
Check out this YouTube video presented by Meghan Derkach, Executive Director at Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society.
(1318) A Rural Approach to the Compassionate Community Model – YouTube
Bio: My name is Meghan Derkach, and I was born and raised in a rural community called Cherryville. I have always been an advocate for social justice and equity since a young age. When I was 18, I was having lunch with a group of older adults who were sharing their frustrations about having to leave the Cherryville community because there weren’t enough resources for them to live independently and I remember feeling absolutely broken hearted about it. That was the moment I realized I wanted to support Cherryville aging and pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with a Concentration in Aging. I was drawn to the aging-in-place model, community development and looked to age-friendly community literature. However, being rural has its unique challenges and many of the “making an age friendly community” infrastructure wasn’t relatable. Working with older adults I soon came to realize you cannot support aging-in-place without addressing access to health care as they are overlapping systems. I then pursued a Health-Focused Master’s in Social Work through University of Waterloo to better understand the complexity behind health care and how to better support rural aging in place. During this time, I was volunteering at Cherryville Food Bank and started expanding its reach to include resources and services to all residents. In 2021 I assumed the Executive Director position after strengthening our organizational and financial health and obtaining multiple grants. 2021 we officially changed our name to include resources as we expanded our vision and mission to meet the needs of all rural residents. Fast forward to 2024, we have implemented a range of services and resources to support rural living for youth, low-income families, persons living with disabilities, older adults, and a variety of community engagement events. In early January, we started to focus on Cherryville residents who had complex health conditions and or living with life limiting illness to advocate for better access to health care within community. These conversations led us to BC Centre for Palliative Care Seed Grant as the Compassionate Community model aligned perfectly with our growing vision and mission. I am excited to share a little more about this grant and how it has unfolded in the Cherryville community.
We’re Hiring! – FilledWe’re Hiring! – Filled
FOOD BANK FLOOR MANAGER
Position Summary
The Food Bank Floor Manager oversees weekly operations of the Cherryville Food Bank, which includes communicating and networking with community members and organizations, coordinating and supervising volunteers, sorting, and breaking down food, computer and clerical work, driving the food truck, and basic housekeeping of the food bank building.
Education, Training, and Experience:
- Any experience in a manager type role is an asset
- Working on a team and performing duties as a team player is required
- Familiar with Cherryville area is preferrable
- Knowledge and experience of working in the food industry is an asset
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong, collaborative relationships
- Technical skills (computer savvy, able to use excel and word, etc.)
- Valid BC Driver’s License and clear driver abstract
- Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector
- Must have up-to-date food safe
Work Performed
Duties and Responsibilities for this position include:
- Managing all aspects of food security services (monthly hampers, weekly drop-ins, stocking community fridge, Christmas hampers event, Community Garden support, working collaboratively with Senior Meals staff)
- Managing food orders through established partnerships (i.e., NFSS, partner food banks, etc.)
- Utilizing/maintaining food bank equipment (freeze drier, walk-in fridge/freezer, food truck)
- Scheduling and coordinating volunteers to carry out specific tasks and responsibilities
- Networking and working collaboratively with local stakeholders to grow food bank services
- Requires physical ability to move, pick up, and stack heavy boxes
- Tracking and reporting (maintain call log, compiling data, taking notes/records, etc.) and checking in with ED/President on regular basis, providing monthly reports and sharing data
- Confidentiality Agreement must be signed and adhered to. CCF&RS has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and/or breaking confidentiality, upholding privacy of food bank recipients is critical
- Must adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, policy, and protocols
Hours
This is a part-time position, consisting of 17.5 hours per week at 21.00/hour (includes MERCS). Thursdays are typically Hamper days and remaining hours may be flexible outside of food pick up times with our partner organizations.
Qualified applicants are invited to submit resume with at least two references by email to:
Meghan Derkach, Executive Director at meghan.derkach@hotmail.com
We thank all applicants for their interest in this position, please note only the applicants under consideration will be scheduled an interview.