On Saturday, local MPP Lisa Gretzky joined the team at the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women & Families to celebrate the $65,500 Capital grant they received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in November 2022.
“The Welcome Centre Shelter for Women & Families has been providing critical and essential services to women and children experiencing homelessness in our community for over 30 years,” said Lisa Gretzky, MPP for Windsor West. “I am delighted to congratulate them on the award of this well-deserved OTF Capital grant and the wonderful new play area they have created in this new location.”
The funds allowed the creation of a fenced in and landscaped family play area at their 500 Tuscarora St address. This safe outdoor play area can be used by the agency’s children’s program staff throughout the year, and for open play for the 200+ children under the age of 12 who access shelter annually. With a mix of grass and asphalt, a basketball net, moveable play items, an onsite storage unit for equipment, a colorful Little Lending Library for community kids, stenciled on games, and accessible picnic tables, the space can meet the needs of varying age groups and activities at the agency.
To celebrate kids having on-site and fenced in space to call their own, the Welcome Centre hosted its first “Neighbourhood Movie Night” within the kids area on Saturday, July 29th, 2023. Inviting clients, staff, volunteers, and neighbours of the agency to a showing of Super Mario Brothers, complete with snacks and activities for kids, the event gave opportunity for community to see the new area and create some family memories of fun and games at the Centre. Lady Laforet, Executive Director of the Welcome Centre Shelter, is particularly pleased with the agency’s use of the area. “Giving specific space that can be used by caregivers to get their kids outside, out of their shelter units, engaging with one another- it’s something we wanted to prioritize in our first year in our new space”, she stated, noting her appreciation for the support for the project- “I’m grateful OTF shared our urgency to give kids space to be kids, even while experiencing homelessness”.
