FORT FRANCES VOLUNTEER BUREAU
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Mission Statement
The Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau (FFVB) is a registered not for profit charity that (i) recruits, trains, and organizes volunteers, (ii) partners with other volunteer organizations, (iii) partners with social/health agencies, (iv) creates and runs socially minded programs and services, and (v) provides a physical location from which volunteers, volunteer organizations, and social/health agencies can run their services and programs from, to help the many poor and homeless people in Fort Frances and the surrounding district.
About This Cause
The Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau (FFVB) is a registered charity that was gifted the old CN Train Station in Fort Frances (a CN heritage site) and repurposed it to primarily provide the volunteers of the FFVB, and other volunteer organizations, with a physical location from which to do charity work from. This large building has the potential to house many different services and the FFVB and its volunteers are constantly trying to create new programs and develop new partnerships with other volunteer organizations and social/health agencies to address the needs of the poor. Currently, the flagship program of the FFVB is the drop-in center. This drop-in center has a soup kitchen that and is open 7 days per week and 365 days per year. It is completely run by volunteers and funded by donations from the general public, businesses, and a variety of organizations. On average, the centre feeds two meals daily to 30 people, every day of the week, every week of the year. That adds up to over 20,000 meals per year served by our volunteers, and that does not include special occasion meals like Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving dinners. In addition to the soup kitchen, the volunteers of the FFVB also operate a food bank, a clothing bank, and a bedding bank. The large open hall of the old station has been converted into a dining area and lounge area, complete with large dining tables, TV, WIFI, computers, guitars, games, and books. As well, washrooms, laundry, and shower facilities are readily available and free to anyone in need regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. Many people in Fort Frances and the surrounding area are struggling to cope with everyday life and come to the FFVB for help. Some people simply need a few groceries from our food bank to make it through the month. Some need a winter coat or clothing for their children. Others are homeless people that have nothing and no one and come because they know the volunteers at the FFVB will help with not only their hunger but their loneliness as well. A common local misperception is that the Family Centre only helps homeless people but that is false. Homeless people account for less than ten percent of the over 200 people that seek help or services from the FFVB on a regular basis. This number is surely to grow with the downturn in the economy and looming recession. An added benefit of the FFVB and its programs is the positive impact our recycling has on our local environment. All of the clothing and bedding we distribute is donated, washed, then reused, keeping it out of the landfill. Over seventy-five percent of the food given out in the soup kitchen is surplus food from the local hospital and nursing home that previously was thrown in the garbage. Approximately twenty-five percent of the food given out by the food bank is overstock and products close to their "best before" dates donated by local grocery stores. All of this food was also previously thrown in the garbage. Our volunteers broker the distribution of used furniture to people in need, keeping this furniture out of the landfill. Our building itself is an prime example of reuse as we saved an old building from demolition and gave it new life and purpose with the added benefit of helping people in need. There are no employees at the FFVB and the board strives to ensure that every dollar donated goes directly towards providing the basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter, for the poor and the homeless. All director positions on the board of the FFVB are volunteer and no board member receives enumeration. Also, all board members actively volunteer their time to help run programs, do maintenance, custodial work, etc. The FFVB also has voting members from the public and all members must work as a volunteer, either at the FFVB or other charity, before their membership is accepted by the board.