Family and Community Support Services makes a difference in the lives of many Calgarians. The following true stories, provided by FCSS funded agencies demonstrate how FCSS can have a positive impact in people's lives. The stories are selected randomly.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary
The Pineridge Boys & Girls Club offers so much for my daughter and our family. She has made many friends, enjoyed many various activities, and has acquired many skills, strengths, and a new self confidence. She has come out of her quiet little shell and turned into a young girl who shows responsibility, respect and gratitude. I believe all this is due to her being at the club. Things are not always easy for my daughter. She has always been bullied by her peers at school. She is safe at the club. The staff have always been great. They have pulled my daughter under their wings and have given her more than I ever expected. She has her very own little family at the club, and for all of this, I am very grateful.
The Calgary Family Services Society
Lydia is a recent (2 year) senior immigrant who has immigrated to Canada to help take care of her grandson. Although she is interested in connecting with others, until she participated in "Bus Buddies", she was hampered because of needing to rely on her family to ride anywhere. Lydia and her "buddy" travelled together, learning transit routes, twice a week for a month. Lydia learned how to get to her specialist's office in Bowness, her dentist at Chinook, a social group in Marlborough and to the airport. Lydia says: "Sometimes my son and daughter-in-law are busy and cannot take me out. Now I don't have to depend on them and can go places by myself. This is a very good program and...there are still lots of places that I want to learn how to go to.
Calgary Counselling Centre
This thirty-two year old, married father of two had become flooded and overwhelmed by his own emotions during a heated argument with his wife resulting in his physically assaulting her. The police attended the home and charges were laid. When reflecting on his actions the client identified that he needed to find healthy ways of expressing himself because "if emotion does not find a healthy expression, it will find an unhealthy one." In the Responsible Choices for Men Group, he learned how to increase his emotional vocabulary and how to regulate his emotions. He was able to practice his new skills in a supportive environment and continues to be successful in maintaining positive changes.
Please contact FCSS for more information.
