Since the recent addition of five extra beds at the Male Crisis Program (to mitigate the increased number of youth being turned away due to lack of space), our program staff has tried to find creative ways to accommodate the extra number of young people in the space. One of the ideas was to convert a previously unused concrete patio area off the kitchen into an outdoor ‘living room’.
The timing of this project could not have been more perfect, as on June 4th, 25 TELUS volunteers arrived on the 2nd Floor of our Pender location, ready to kick-start the refreshing and refurbishing of the Male Crisis Program. The volunteers wasted no time in rolling up their sleeves, getting up on ladders, finding their paint brushes and digging in the dirt to spruce up the space. The results were amazing!
Our young men now have a fresh, new and inviting outdoor space, in addition to a beautifully painted interior common area, where they can connect with other youth and staff. These spaces are ideal for teaching the benefits of healthy living through such activities as sports, art, music, cooking and gardening. The impact of positive, healthy spaces for our young people is so essential to improving their mental health, and as a result, their chances of leaving life on the street.
Thank you, TELUS, for your inspiring good works that are showing youth at Covenant House that they matter and that they are loved in the community where they live.
