The Swiss Army Knife of Support

When Someone Finally Says Yes

By: Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre

What have you most loved and appreciated about the work of the organization that you are involved in?

The first time police were called to remove me from a food bank, I was not surprised.

By then I had been banned from nearly every place in town for aggressive behaviour. My name came with a warning label.

Years of setbacks had drained any belief that life could get better.

When Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre agreed to meet with me after another agency contacted them, I expected another rejection.

Instead, they asked a different question: “What if we could help you experience a few good days?”

They connected me with mental health supports that helped me build patience and reduce the frustration that kept creating new barriers.

They helped my family with interest-free loans, food support, housing and utility assistance, counselling, referrals, and advocacy.

My life began to come together like a puzzle.

Without those supports, I would not be where I am today.

Today I am a licensed paralegal and working toward building my own business.

Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre said yes when many others closed their doors.

They worked with me as a partner. They knew my name and my family’s names.

At other agencies I felt like a number.

Here, they built a relationship.

Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre is not just a service provider.

It is the Swiss Army knife of community support.

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This post is part of a larger CDH Member Story Project. The intent is to share the depth of our non-profit sector, name how community can support and imagine together what is possible through the non-profit sector to ensure Halton is a health, inclusive and resilient place to live. 

Are you a CDH member and want to let your story to the project. You can get started HERE.