Submitted by Christine Whelan

Dec 9, 2021, VOL. 3 ISSUE 8

At Community Outreach Program Erie (COPE), things are going smoothly. The food bank and resource centre has been addressing the needs of the Fort Erie residents for almost 40 years now and their system is working well, of course, with a little help from their friends — a lot of help from the community.

Barb Volzke, Manager of COPE, says there has been no change with the pandemic or Christmas. It’s been a steady stream of support all year round. “People have been good to us. People have been supportive of us always. “

It wasn’t long into my conversation with Barb that I realized, with relief and delight, that this story was going to be a feel-good story, not a call for help, although of course, donations are always appreciated.

And for this, Barb stated, “In general and as always, we would like to express our gratitude because we do have people helping us all the time, whether its somebody walking in with two items in a grocery bag or they’ve had a family food drive, their business has had a food drive, or  people are raising money for us.”

Volzke explained, “We don’t ever have to solicit. We’ve never solicited in all the years we’ve been here. Maybe if there was a food drive going on, we’d spread the word but we’ve never asked people for money, for anything. We don’t operate that way.”

Even when they first started, all they had to do was put the word out and donations started coming in. “We’ve been very fortunate that way.”

Fort Erie has always, given the chance, taken care of its people.

In The Beginning

“In the beginning, we were so unknown, but then it just grew and grew,” Barb remembered.

COPE started on Jarvis Street, in Mason Hall. “When the food started coming in, we didn’t have the space for it so the church on Central and Dufferin (which later became the Bell Tower Community Centre) had allowed us some space to store it. When we needed it, we had to go over to get it and bring it back to the client. It was a challenge doing that but it was what we had at the time.”

She continued, “Then we moved to Courtwright Street. The place was bigger, but the heat and air didn’t really work well.” Too much challenge. “So, we moved to Dufferin Street, where we are now. And there’s now lots of space.”

Barb agreed it is a feel-good story. “Because, we do have the needs here, but the needs are met.”

Getting Back To Normal

COPE is beginning to see signs of things getting back to normal. “There’ve been people who haven’t had help in quite a while and they’re starting to come back slowly. Some people have not felt comfortable, with the cloud of the COVID hanging over us, to come in. Some were not aware we were open when we were.”

Barb added, “Some people who used to come in have had to move away because of the increased rent prices and the wave a what they call renovictions going on.” Barb reminds us to be grateful for what we have and to not take for granted, the ability to simply go home, to a home, at the end of the day.

As far as the current safety precautions, Volzke stated, “We keep the place clean. We still maintain the maximum of two people in at a time. We’re not slacking back off of anything.”

The manager explained that COPE still will not be accepting donations of clothing, to make things easier with the present restrictions. “And it gives us more time to focus on the food bank service to the community, as well as providing any information people might need. They ask us things they may not ask elsewhere. We’ve been here so long, they are so comfortable to ask.”

Resource Centre

These days, Barb agreed, people do need to talk. “There are people who are troubled.”

As a resource centre, COPE doesn’t offer services such as counselling but they are prepared to offer an avenue where they can receive those services. “We’re not trained professionals. We tell people that. But, say somebody comes in for food, there is always an opportunity to provide resource information and pass on ideas that we know have worked for others. We send them in the right direction. That’s what a lot of people are looking for.”

The Community Network

“We don’t do a Christmas program. We just continue working all year, the same way. This is what works for us. Salvation Army has the Christmas program and we refer people there if they need help. We keep our ears open all the time, looking for resources to help others and then share it with the community; anything that would benefit our clients, we let them know.

“Whenever something is going on at COPE or if there’s a special event going on in the community, we will make a little flyer and post it at COPE and on our Facebook Page.”

Also, check out Strong Fort Erie Neighbourhoods, a network of community services, working together in partnership, at strongforterie.com

Looking Forward, Into The New Year

Barb explained that COPE’s clients, in a world of so much unpredictability and change, can expect no change from them. “Everything will be status quo because it’s going so well. There’s a lot of work in what we are doing but it’s going smoothly.” A community’s source of consistency; stability.

You can find Community Outreach Program Erie (COPE) on Facebook.

At 32 Dufferin Street, they are open Monday – Thursday: 8:30-4:00;  Friday: 8:30-3:00.

COPE will be closed from December 24 – January 3, 2022.