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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, March 11, 2016 | 10 Working poor are larger population than people realize continued from p.4 Matthew and Jennifer's family started receiving assistance from Food for Life about a year ago after being connected through Front Line Outreach, which has been hosting community barbecues and dinners in their Oakville neighbourhood. For the past few years, some of his children have also been attending Front Line Outreach's Camp Dakota, a summer day camp that runs at six subsidized housing communities and enables every child and youth to have a camp experience at no cost to the family. He says he's been able to save $40-60 each week because of the support he receives from Food for Life. It's alleviated some pressure, especially when an emergency comes up like having to fix the brakes of his truck. But while he'd like to access other programs and services, Matthew notes it's challenging to do so because the hours of operation don't exactly line up with his schedule. Busy at work, he says when he does have time to catch his breath, it's spent with his wife and children. Still, he and Jennifer say they're appreciative of the assistance. "They're there for you, whether it's just to talk. You know, if a paycheque didn't come in or you have bills stacking up, that little hand and reassurance is a positive thing," said Jennifer, who left the workforce years ago to take care of the three youngest children instead of sending them all to daycare. Weighing the choice of having all of her wages cover daycare or dropping down to parttime hours and hiring someone to care for her children on the days she was at work, Jennifer opted to stay at home to be there for her children as they grew up. But now that they are older, going back into the workforce has proven difficult because she's been out of a job for so long. She says she also wants to continue being at home for her children when they're home from school and finding a part-time job in-between school hours has proven to be a challenge. "A lot of employers don't understand," she said. Hajdu and Bonham say when they hear about the problems faced by families like Matthew's they try to connect them with other resources in the community. "Food brings people together," said Hajdu. "It is quite often the first source for outreach when people are in need. We want people in the community to know there are other resources available to help them cope and to help them transition out of their struggle." Some include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton which provides mentorship opportunities young boys and girls and YMCA Oakville, which provides Friday night drop-in programs that keep youth off the streets, child care for struggling single parents, free parentThe OCF plays a partial role in seeing opportunities and bringing them together says OCF Communications and Development Director Sarah McPherson. "The roles of one charity are only as successful as the relationships they themselves are building in the community," she said. As an example, McPherson notes Food for Life in isolation does a "fantastic job, but they can only really address one element of personal circumstances, whereas if they're working collaboratively with other charities and other organizations they're almost ambassadors to the ways of wrapping around that client to assist them in the issues of quality of life needs." She noted there's a real conscious effort within charitable groups to look at ways to better lift people out of their daily struggles. If one agency doesn't have the answer, it tries to find the solution by connecting with others, McPherson said. Meanwhile Matthew and his family say they're taking their daily struggles one day at a time. "Life has it's challenges, it's ups and downs, but you make most of what you actually have," said Jennifer. They try and give back to the community in whatever way they can when they have the opportunity. Matthew notes just as he has received help he likes to help others out too. Brenda Hajdu child programs to help you face the challenges of parenthood and volunteer opportunities for those who need to build confidence before stepping out into the world. ArtHouse offers cost-free arts programs to children aged seven to 12 while Home Suite Hope (HSH) provides long-term transitional housing to single parent families facing homelessness in Halton Region who need support beyond what is provided by emergency shelter facilities. 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