R Steve introduced our guest from Cornerstone Family Violence Centre:
Janelle's first career was as a video editor. She studied at Niagara College in Welland, then worked at CTV for 7 years helping prepare the broadcasts. She worked with Lloyd Roberson, always behind the camera. Then she felt she wanted to make a difference and help people rather than report on the bad stuff.
She went back to school to Sir Sanford Fleming in Event Management and Fundraising. She now works for Cornerstone in Cobourg where she has been for 7 years.
She lives in Orono, her husband is a policeman with Durham Region and she has 2 children.
She loves her job as Manager of Community Engagement.
Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre - A Place Where Hope Grows.
At Cornerstone they are committed to breaking the cycle of family violence in Northumberland County. They started as a safe place for women and children and have expanded to offering councelling, resources and support in the community. These services are free of charge.
At the shelter they have 22 beds. However, with COVID because some families would have to share washroom facilities, that cut their capacity in half to respect health guidelines and protect the people, allowing safe distancing.
In 2019 they were 108% at capacity, turning women away.
In 2020 when things were shut down in March, they got very quiet in April and May as women were restricted from leaving their homes.
At Cornerstone they had to pivot and find new way to let women know they were still there and allow women to contact them safely. They were able to use a secure software from a sister agency in Ottawa allowing women to communicate through a safe encrypted technology that would be confidential and secure.
Now they are able to utilize 9 to 11 beds for single women and 5 families.
They have applied for a Trillium Grant to allow them to make some modifications to their facility so they can get back to full capacity. This includes increasing washrooms and modifications to the kitchen area.
Janelle recommended we view a testimonial from Nicole on line through the Cornerstone web site (about 6 minutes long).
Cornerstone continues to fund raise. They were lucky in 2020 so far as a result of the generosity of the community. There annual Walk a Mile in her Shoes done virtually this year was very successful, raising over $50,000.
Individuals can help through education, volunteering and donating.
R Liesje thanked Janelle.