The Rotary Club welcomed Mustard Seed Managing Director Colette Eirich to our meeting today. Colette was introduced by President Mark and provided a short slideshow to speak to the work done by the agencies that went before the Mustard Seed and how that changeover came to be.
Colette spoke about her career before this one, she spent a total of 32 years working at the YMCA. She finished there in 2017 after the completion of the South Ridge Y and took a year or so off. After that she began volunteering and then working at the Champions Center, helping write grant applications.
Colette spoke about the three organizations that have merged their functions and resources with the introduction of the support of Mustard Seed. Champions Center started in 2008, Hope Street Ministry's began in 2002 and Oasis Cafe was 2009. During pre-COVID times, there were approximately 68 individuals considered homeless and in poverty. That number was from 2018. COVID has changed all that, and the individuals needing assistance has skyrocketed.
It was a great presentation, Colette left everyone with a Mustard Seed magazine. More information is available at www.theseed.ca