Government�s Interdepartmental Recycling Committee
presents cheques to local charities

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Environment, represented the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday, December 16, when donations were presented to 10 local charities. The donations are from the proceeds of the monies raised by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador�s Interdepartmental Recycling Committee.

The Interdepartmental Recycling Committee was established in 1993 and is made up of representatives from the various departments at the Confederation Building (and other provincial government buildings in the City of St. John�s). The purpose of the committee is to organize and promote the recycling programs at these facilities and to look at the possibilities for promotion to other government areas.

"I want to congratulate the Interdepartmental Recycling Committee members for their dedication and volunteer effort to ensure this program is successful," said Minister Aylward. "Since 1993 a total of $35,000 has been directed to charities from this effort. For the past eight years, funds have been raised through the sale of recycled products to Nova Recycling and more recently Boland�s Security Services. Each year, the Interdepartmental Recycling Committee, together with the Minister of Works, Services and Transportation or the Minister of Environment have made presentations to organizations on behalf of the employees of Confederation Building and other buildings in the city who have participated in the recycling programs."

For 2001 - 2002, $7,000 was raised though the recycling program and 10 local charities will each receive a donation in the amount of $700. The charities are - Canadian Cancer Society (Newfoundland and Labrador Division), Community Food Sharing Association, Iris Kirby House, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Rabbittown Learners Program, St. John�s School Lunch Association, St. John�s Therapeutic Riding Association (Rainbow Riders), The Gathering Place, The Salvation Army and the VOCM Cares Foundation.

In 1993, a donation was made to the Grace Hospital, Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit in the amount of $2,300. In 1994, another cheque in the amount of $3,700 was presented to the Grace Neo-Natal Unit in support of equipment purchases.

In 1995, a donation in the amount of $6,700 was made to the Children�s Wish Foundation. This money was used to grant several severely ill Newfoundland and Labrador children a special wish.

In 1996, a record amount of $8,000 was raised through the recycling program and six separate donations were made. $2,000 was donated to the Newfoundland Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation during their fundraising telethon in November 1996; $2,000 was donated to the Children�s Wish Foundation; $1,000 was donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association; $1,000 was donated to the Community Food Sharing Association; $1,000 was donated to the Iris Kirby House; and $1,000 was donated to the Newfoundland and Labrador Association For Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

In 1997-1998, $3,000 was raised though the recycling program and six - $500 donations were made. The charities were - Rainbow Riders, Parkinsons Foundation of Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Branch, Heart and Stroke Foundation, St. John�s School Lunch Association, Gathering Place, and the Kids Help Foundation.

In 1999-2000, $4,000 was raised though the recycling program and eight - $500 donations were made. The charities were - Community Food Sharing Association, Elizabeth House, Iris Kirby House, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Naomi Centre, Newfoundland and Labrador Down Syndrome Society, St. John�s School Lunch Association, and the VOCM Cares Foundation/Happy Tree Project. As well, the Waterford Hospital Foundation was the beneficiary of $1,300 which was earned from the collection of 43,000 beverage containers at the East and West Blocks of Confederation Building.

Media contact:

Cynthia Layden Barron, Communications Director, (709) 729-2575
Angela King, Co-chair, (709) 729-5750

Canadian Cancer Society (Newfoundland and Labrador Division) The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of all forms of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. They achieve their mission by: funding excellence in cancer research; advocating for healthy public policy; promoting healthy lifestyles and strategies for reducing cancer risk; providing comprehensive information about cancer care and treatment; and supporting people living with cancer. The society is the largest charitable funder of cancer research in Canada today. This year, the organization is contributing more than $42 million to fund hundreds of research projects in the country across a broad spectrum of disciplines and diseases. Since the partnership between the Canadian Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of Canada began, the Canadian Cancer Society has contributed more than $800 million to research. Canadian Cancer Society-funded research has led to major advances in our knowledge about this disease. This knowledge has led to improved treatments for cancer with fewer side effects, and to more sophisticated methods of detecting cancer earlier. The foundation is now in place for the current generation of researchers to do more for cancer research than any other generation before it. The next 10 to 20 years of cancer research hold great promise.

The Community Food Sharing Association is the central distribution point for charitable food donations coming from the general public and major wholesale/retail outlets in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and it is the Provincial Distribution Point for national donations funnelled through the Canadian Association of Food Banks. Through various food banks the association has been able to assist with the supply of suitable food product and juices for breakfast programs at four St. John�s schools. The association gathers prepared food for distribution on a seven-day-a-week basis to the Naomi Centre, Iris Kirby House, Mill Lane, Emmanuel House, the Gathering Place and the Teens Shelter. For several years the organization has assisted with providing food to foreign sailors who have been unfortunate enough to be neglected by vessel owners. Fifty-four food banks representing 21 communities in Newfoundland and Labrador benefit from the services of the Community Food Sharing Association. This past year the Community Food Sharing Association has acquired and distributed in excess of $13.5 million worth of food in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Iris Kirby House is an 11-bedroom facility which provides abused women and their children with a shelter from the relationship violence they are experiencing from family violence. The women who seek shelter at Iris Kirby House have typically experienced a combination of several types of abuse: physical, verbal, psychological/emotional, sexual and financial/economic. Many of the children who come to Iris Kirby House with their mothers have, themselves, experienced abuse. All of them have witnessed abuse in their homes and are, therefore, dealing with the devastating impact of abuse on their young lives. Families may stay at Iris Kirby House for up to six weeks, and in some cases, extensions may be granted. During their stay at Kirby House, women are provided with a safe haven from the abuse they are experiencing. They have the opportunity to talk to and receive support from staff, volunteers and other women in similar situations about what has been happening to them and to their children. Staff help women look at all their options and provide non-judgmental support to families as they make decisions about what to do next. The staff at Iris Kirby House work closely with several provincial government departments and numerous agencies in the community in an effort to help families get on with their lives to the best degree possible.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation was formed in 1974 by a group of parents who were concerned about their children who live with diabetes every day. They realized the only way to find a cure for their children was to support diabetes research. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has funded, in whole or in part, the research projects of scientists involved in every major breakthrough in diabetes research in the past 25 years. Some of that research is taking place at our very own Janeway Children�s Health and Rehabilitation Centre, where they are in year three of a three-year, half-million dollar research project "Genetic Studies of Type 1 Diabetes in the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador". This research is indicating that Newfoundland and Labrador may have the highest incidence of diabetes in the world. The donation made here today will kickstart the 2003 Walk to Cure Diabetes program. The national walk program is entering its 7^th year in St. John�s and has raised in excess of $345,000 in Newfoundland and Labrador to support diabetes research. The program has grown to be one of the largest walk/run fundraisers in St. John�s and is expected to attract in excess of 1,200 people in June.

The Rabbittown Learners Program is an Adult Literacy/Level 1 program which offers upgrading in the areas of reading, english, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, life skills and basic computer. This program, which is the only full time literacy program operating on the Avalon Peninsula, has been in operation for the past 14 � years and it offers a relaxed, supportive learning atmosphere where participants work at a pace suitable to their needs and capability. There is a complement of three full-time staff, and a number of volunteers who assist in one-on-one tutoring as needed. Participants in this program range in age from early 20s to mid-70s and the majority of learners are at a very basic level of academic achievement. The program has expanded its mandate to the point where it has very elaborate partnerships with numerous groups in the community and consequently offers support avenues for a wide variety of issues and problems related to adults returning to academics. The program has also embarked on education programs related to encouragement for secondary students to "stay in school", and responds to numerous inquiries by parents experiencing difficulties with children looking to "drop out" of school. The Rabbittown Learners Program has received funding to publish stories by students who have evaluated their life and experiences and were encouraged to carry it to the point of creating their own "life stories". This same funding allowed the program to use the expertise of the staff in creating and publishing a "Guide To Writing" text book for adult literacy training.

The St. John�s School Lunch Association is a non-stigmatizing program that makes it possible for students to receive a nutritious, hot lunch regardless of their ability to pay. The program serves over 1,700 hot, nutritious meals daily to children in 10 schools throughout the St. John�s area, as well as one school in Witless Bay and one school in Pouch Cove. Child hunger is a reality for many children attending our schools and the 12 schools using the program report a noticeable increase in class participation, higher energy levels and improved academic performance. School reports also show that many children receive their best, and in some cases, their only meal of the day through this hot lunch program. The ultimate goal of the St. John�s School Lunch Association is to ensure that every primary and elementary student in St. John�s has access to the program. With today�s donation the St. John�s School Lunch Association will be able to provide 280 meals to hungry children.

The St. John�s Therapeutic Riding Association (Rainbow Riders Program) is a horse-riding program for individuals with special disabilities. The program operates year-round and is comprised of both a riding program and a summer riding camp. The association is closely associated with the Children�s Rehabilitation Centre as many of its participates originate with that organization. The riding activity complements the formal physiotherapy programs of those with special disabilities but it is done in an atmosphere of fun and recreation.

The Gathering Place is a community service centre located in the old Mercy School on Military Road. One of the major projects of The Gathering Place is the day time hospitality centre which provides a friendly and caring environment for the needy who can gather there to avail of one of the three full meals and two lunches offered weekly, as well as to develop supportive relationships and explore other resources open to them. This is a venture shared by the Presentation and Mercy Sisters and the Emmaus House Food Bank. Volunteer representatives from each participating group make up the permanent staff and the rest is taken care of by a team of one hundred volunteers at large. Part of the mandate at The Gathering Place is to empower people, to assist them in re-discovering their individual self worth and to support them in every way possible. It is intended to be an out-reach program to assist the poor of the inner city, as well as persons who are lonely and in need of companionship; and it provides a place to relax and have a cup of tea or coffee with somebody to talk to, and somebody to listen.

The Salvation Army has an extensive history in humanitarian services. Its mandate is to lend practical, emotional and spiritual assistance to people at their point of need, regardless of race, creed or colour. Some of the services that the Salvation Army provides include addiction and rehabilitation services at the Harbor Light Centre Shelter; for homeless men at their Wiseman Centre; temporary housing for families at their Catherine Booth House; a seniors� residence at Glenbrook Lodge; emergency food, clothing, shelter, help with heating bills from their Family Services Department; and emergency assistance in times of fires, floods or disaster. As well, they provide an on-site support and service at corrections centres and the prisons, and two hot meals a week for those who need it at their Friendship Corner Food hampers and toy bags for needy families at Christmas.

The VOCM Cares Foundation/Happy Tree Project . The Happy Tree was started 30 years ago this year by VOCM Radio to provide gifts to socially-challenged children in our local community. The success of this initiative eventually led to the creation of the VOCM Cares Foundation, a registered charity which today manages the project along with the Salvation Army and the Merchant�s Association at the Avalon Mall. The Happy Tree is designed to provide at least three items to each child registered. Each child receives an article of clothing, an educational item of some kind, usually reading materials or activity books appropriate to the age and a special toy. Over the 30 year history of the Happy Tree, thousands of children have avoided the empty stocking on Christmas morning because of this program. One of the challenges faced by the organizers each year is providing for children of different age groups. Many times volunteers the have to shop for things for specific ages, especially older children. Financial contributions from our community supporters help solve that problem. Retailers always provide toys for the Happy Tree at wholesale costs and many times at less then their cost just to help out. In 2001 Happy Tree provided for 1,557 children locally and this year their registration stands at a little over 1600.

The Waterford Foundation was founded in 1993 to support programs and services for people who use the Waterford Hospital and other psychiatric services in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to increase public awareness of mental health issues and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. The foundation is meeting this challenging mandate in unique and creative ways. Ever Green Recycling operates three recycling depots in St. John�s employing over 100 people. By providing meaningful work activities, the programs have successfully reduced hospital re-admission rates and increased the self-confidence of the workers. The foundation finances a Mental Health Fund which provides money for a scholarship trust fund for mental health consumers, a patient emergency fund, a Christmas fund, support for the Mental Health Emergency Fund, and supports workshops and conferences dealing with mental health issues. Through these activities, the fFoundation is changing peoples� views about mental illness. The success of these projects and many other Waterford Foundation activities shows that people with an illness disability can be valuable and productive community members. When we donate to the Waterford Foundation, use their services or purchase their products, we support worthwhile programs for mental health consumers that in turn benefit our entire community. The foundation is working hard to improve the lives of mental health consumers, to help them make a difference in the community by taking positive steps for themselves. With public support the Waterford Foundation can continue to break down the barriers of misunderstanding and open the doors of acceptance and opportunity.

2002 12 16                                        1:35 p.m.