EDITOR,
On behalf of Sea to Sky Community Services Society I am writing in regard to your Sept. 9 article "Youth therapy funding appeal issued." First of all, many thanks to The Chief for bringing attention to the existing shortage of supports for children who have underdeveloped motor skills to walk, write or play.
I do feel it is important to point out, however, as we invite the local communities to invest in these services for kids, that Sea to Sky Community Services is a registered independent charity. Unfortunately that fact was not mentioned in the article and I think for existing and potential donors to our charitable work, it is important to know we are an independent charitable organization (not affiliated at all with any government body).
While we do receive some funds from federal, municipal and provincial government to provide important services and programs like physical and occupational therapy for kids, the Youth Resource Centre in Squamish or Stopping the Violence counselling for women, we still very much need to raise funds from grants, events and individuals, service clubs and businesses in our community in order to help local families. In many cases, such as with our therapy programs, government dollars can only help cover costs to serve a limited number of clients or for limited services, resulting in some kids being left out.
Fundraising covers additional program costs like families or kids who need help outside the limited number of "spots" we can offer with government funds or other vital items like bus tickets for low-income families to access services, nutritional snacks for young kids in our programs, resource libraries and training to help families and parents have healthier relations or special outings and events for local youth who might not otherwise have resources to grow a garden or try snowboarding or visit the PNE. In some cases fundraising allows us to develop new programs for the community that do not fit current government funding structures - our respite program for children with disabilities and our new family drop-in that hosted the very successful first annual community potluck at Alice Lake this summer are two examples of programs that are made possible by charitable foundation grants and community support without any government funding.
All donations are responsibly managed (we go through an extensive annual financial audit) and our Board of Directors is made up of caring local community members who ensure our financial resources are directed where they are most needed. If anyone would like more information on Sea to Sky Community Services, please visit our website at www.sscs.ca, call us directly for a copy of our annual report or to speak to one of our staff. Warm thanks to our Sea to Sky Communities for all of their generous support over the past 33 years!Liz WoodDirector, Community Living Services
