Phone: 604-435-0323 | Email: info@cnh.bc.ca

Donate

Tag: RISE CHC

  • Celebrating a CNH volunteer’s drive to create and share art to the community

    Celebrating a CNH volunteer’s drive to create and share art to the community

    April 16-22 is National Volunteer Week! We recently celebrated CNH’s volunteers at our Volunteer Appreciation Event at CNH to thank and honour them for their continued generosity in contributing to and building an interconnected community.

    This year’s theme is “Volunteering Weaves us Together,” and this couldn’t ring more true to the hundreds of folks who poured in hours to volunteer for our programs and services. Our continued growth and expansion is thanks in huge part to our volunteers, who continue to generously share their time, talent, and energy to support one another and in turn, the community.

    This week, we are sharing some stories from our staff—and the volunteers themselves—that celebrate these volunteers’ collective impact through their kindness, generosity, and commitment.

    From Sandra Bodenhamer, Director of RISE Community Health Centre:
    Tess I has been a dedicated and passionate volunteer on the Advisory Committee since the very beginnings of RISE Community Health Centre. Last year, she created an opportunity for local artists to paint murals throughout RISE. As an artist herself, she donated a beautiful art piece called ROOTS which creates a soothing environment for clients.

  • Supporting the improvement of health services through volunteering

    Supporting the improvement of health services through volunteering

    April 16-22 is National Volunteer Week! We recently celebrated CNH’s volunteers at our Volunteer Appreciation Event at CNH to thank and honour them for their continued generosity in contributing to and building an interconnected community.

    This year’s theme is “Volunteering Weaves us Together,” and this couldn’t ring more true to the hundreds of folks who poured in hours to volunteer for our programs and services. Our continued growth and expansion is thanks in huge part to our volunteers, who continue to generously share their time, talent, and energy to support one another and in turn, the community.

    This week, we are sharing some stories from our staff—and the volunteers themselves—that celebrate these volunteers’ collective impact through their kindness, generosity, and commitment.

    From Sandra Bodenhamer, Director of RISE Community Health Centre:
    “The RISE Community Health Centre Advisory Committee is a devoted team of volunteers that meet monthly. They report on community trends, and provide advice on how to improve health services. This summer, they helped run the RISE CHC grand opening event. They helped by providing Naloxone training, giving tours in different languages and sharing information about CNH.”

  • RISE: A life-changing impact

    RISE: A life-changing impact

    Mervyn Reddy remembers when he once relied on pushcarts, a wheelchair, and even crutches to walk.

    “I couldn’t get out of bed, my legs would swell up, and I had a lot of water retention,” he said. “When I was diagnosed with heart failure, I was also in … the hospital, nothing was working.”

    Today, the 61-year-old is on his feet again and aside from walking, Mervyn even feels the occasional urge to jog.

    “All of a sudden I’m okay, I’m walking, I’ve got energy, I can walk for miles,” he said. “My breathing, before I had to stop. I would stop, and huff and puff, it was pretty bad. I haven’t had any swelling of the feet, of my arms, my throat. It’s really a big difference.”

    The improvement in Mervyn’s health is due to the staff at RISE Community Health Centre, he explained, who he sees as positive and caring. Operated by Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), RISE provides primary care and health promotion services to residents of Renfrew-Collingwood.

    “They’re very, very kind and they give you the time,” said Mervyn who previously had difficulties accessing a health care provider.

    As a resident of Kingsway Continental, Mervyn now receives weekly health support. At the low-rent housing facility, RISE provides weekly drop-in services onsite. Receiving care from RISE was a chance Mervyn took upon the recommendation of his building manager and it’s a chance he’s already recommended to friends.

    “Everybody here at the building … they’re just gung ho when [RISE staff] come in,” he said. “When they come in, everyone’s up for it, which is a really good feeling.”

    RISE also provides services to residents of Sarah Ross and Naomi Place Modular Housing, in addition to the CNH Morning Star Program, Youth Drop-In, and other programs and services in Renfrew-Collingwood. For more information, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/rise or call 604-558-8090.