31 · Friday, April 30, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Centre will help the needy soar to new heights Continued from page 30 "There are 14,000 people in Oakville living below the poverty line," said Ward. While that equates to about seven per cent of the population in most local neighbourhoods, it represents 20 per cent of Kerr Village's population. The area that has always proved attractive to new immigrants and has traditionally offered the town's more affordable accommodations, as well as proximity to transit, is still proving attractive to new Canadians and those, who as Ward said, are looking for a $900/month, two-bedroom apartment rather than a $1.8 million two-bedroom condo by the lake. In 2005, KSM's food bank was serving 1,800 clients. Today, it serves 5,000. KSM distributes $80,000 worth of food every month and hands out (thanks to Whole Foods Market, Oakville and Cobbs Bread) approximately 520 loaves of bread daily. In 2005/06, when Toronto's Regent Park was redeveloped, many of its inhabitants were forced out and headed in the direction of Oakville, and Kerr Village, according to Ward. Sixty per cent of KSM's clients are new immigrants. The KSM director is grave when he speaks about the plight of many new Canadians -- highly-skilled foreigners actively sought out to immigrate to Canada, many of whom bring their wealth, only to spend their way through it as they discover their credentials are not recognized here and are costly to replace. They find themselves applying to clean toilets to pay the bills and raise their children. Then there are those who have a home and two cars in the driveway, but have suddenly found themselves out of work and who, Ward said, shouldn't have to sell their lifetime's accomplishments to eat. There are children who have never had something brand new in all their lives, except perhaps at Christmas, and they will be welcomed and made at home in the brand new Dream Centre. The Centre's food bank is a market and the community meals will be served in the din- "We are just thrilled with how the community has rallied together to make this dream a reality." Jody Yeilding, Kerr Street Ministries NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER CLIMBING TO NEW HEIGHTS: A ladder currently sits in one the new rooms at the Kerr Street Ministries Dream Centre, which is set to open May 7 and get down to business May 8. ing hall. No one is second-class or second-rate, all people are just that, said Ward, people. He said he is working to help people surmount their challenges of today -- to "alleviate" poverty tomorrow. KSM was founded in 1996 as an outreach of numerous Christian churches and as a food co-operative. Not long after, it became a food bank and, Ward said he's sorry to say, has grown right along with need. To address that need, rather than just make people dependent on it, KSM has branched out with programs and offerings to address root causes of poverty. Today, a host of programs range from pre-natal care to music lessons, tutoring and scholarships, many offered in the form of after-school and day camp programs. There are also community meals three times a week, the food market and Christmas Wonders (a food and gift program) and recent immigrant support programs. The Dream Centre will allow KSM to do all of that in the proper environment, one that is bright and new and speaks to the hope and promise of tomorrow, which is why the efforts are being made in the first place. The bright, spacious premises will underline the message to clients and customers, as Ward calls them, of hope. Like any dream however, it has not come about without a vision, dedication, elbow grease and lots of community goodwill, from all sectors -- from individuals, to corporations and government alike. For example, the Dream Centre was billed at just over $6 million. That has been reduced to $4.5 million thanks to the efforts of Tim Hortons chair Paul House and vice president of special projects Garry Fraser. Through their guidance on construction and Vicano Construction, which builds Walmart stores, the centre that broke ground last fall is nearing completion. Meanwhile Longo's has committed not only cash, but expertise. The fully-functional commercial kitchen will be the Longo's Kitchen and in it, Gaye and Anthony Longo will guide clients in programs on preparing meals with regard to budgets, nutrition, weight control and children's nutrition. The kitchen will also feature equipment donated by Tim Hortons. Appleby College will have its presence felt in the music and art programming that goes on in the Dream Centre's second storey -- in individual instruction rooms that have been soundproofed. A computer lab of 23 computers will offer themselves up for use by those who may not have a computer at home, for tutoring and other programs. A rooftop garden/lounge area will work in tandem with a five-acre north Oakville community garden project where, Ward said, a pilot program will work to grow healthy snack food for young clients who frequent the Dream Centre. It was three years ago that KSM, under the long-time leadership of former executive director Ron Shantz, had 2.1 million in cash and pledges toward the Dream Centre, but still had more to go in fundraising. Last fall, KSM picked up more than $300,000 in grants from the Town of Oakville and Region of Halton ($182,960.82 from the Region of Halton and $142,000 from the Town of Oakville). Nearly $500,000 came from the Mayor's Invitational Gala Reception on Sept. 11 and Invitational Baseball Tournament, which raised $107,000. Local service clubs banded together to raise funds. Though there remains an outstanding $750,000 mortgage on the centre, centre officials are hopeful it will be relieved in the near future. "We are just thrilled with how the community has rallied together to make this dream a reality," said Yeilding. Oakvilles' Premier Hot Yoga Studio We are a unique members-only, hot yoga studio located in the heart of beautiful downtown Oakville, offering a variety of services that heal the body and nourish the soul.