KILLALOE – An organization crucial to many families in Renfrew County has turned 25 years old this year.
To celebrate its anniversary, the Killaloe Community Resource Centre held a party for the community on September 30.
That evening, Executive Director Bil Smith welcomed everyone to the gathering.
“The CRC is – it’s people, it’s stories, it’s community, it’s people helping people. That’s what we are all about here,” Smith began.
The organization was actually established in 1987 as a project of Women Initiating Responsible Change, a non-profit corporation. It was funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services through a Community and Neighbourhood Support Services Program grant – which provided enough money to pay one part-time staff. A local businessperson provided office space and the CRC was born.
The organization started out as a way to provide information and referrals, which assisted people to access services they were entitled to. Then the CRC initiated Buried Treasure, a shop that sold used clothing and household items. Adult literacy was another program that linked volunteer tutors with people who needed help learning literacy skills.
In 1989, funding was received for the Toy Bus, which helped provide a mobile family resource centre. It continues to do so throughout Renfrew County and provides support to parents of young children.
Get your October 5, 2016 edition of The Valley Gazette to read the full story.