JASON SETNYK
Centre 105 welcomed community members, donors, partners, and supporters for its Spring Fundraising Breakfast, spotlighting the organization’s ongoing work supporting vulnerable residents in Cornwall.
The downtown drop-in program, located at Trinity Anglican Church at 105 Second Street West, provides meals, showers, laundry services, social support, and connections to community resources for people experiencing food insecurity, poverty, isolation, and other challenges. Centre 105, a community ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, was founded in 2017 with the motto “Providing Breakfast. Creating Community.” Since then, the program has grown into a gathering space where participants can access practical supports while building relationships.
Maria Crosby, Chair of the Centre 105 Advisory Board, said the fundraising breakfast gives residents an opportunity to see the impact of the organization firsthand. “Our regular participants come, but we’ve invited the community to come in and support us and see what we’re all about,” said Crosby.
The event also came during a period of transition for Centre 105, including staffing changes and new leadership via the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. The Reverend Victoria Scott stepped into the role of Director General of Community Ministries for the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa in February. Her position oversees the diocese’s community ministries, including Centre 105 in Cornwall. Scott said her role focuses on the broader vision and sustainability of these programs while supporting the staff and volunteers providing direct service. “My role is the big picture of all of the community ministries,” she explained.
Mélodie Cousineau has taken on the role of Program Manager, while Marie-Lou Cousineau supports participants as a Social Support Worker. In addition, there is kitchen staff and volunteers who help provide daily services. Crosby said several important supports remain active, including the return of Recovery Care visits. “We used to have their Recovery Care van come every week, and they were unable to deliver that service. But we had an anonymous donor that donated a sufficient amount of money, and a nurse and an addictions counsellor is now coming every Tuesday morning,” said Crosby.
Centre 105 also received operating support from the City of Cornwall to help fund social support services.
Demand for services continues to grow. In addition to breakfast, participants have access to laundry facilities, showers, emergency food assistance, referrals, and partner services. “Laundry and showers are fully booked every morning,” said Crosby. “There’s definitely more demand than we can meet at this point, and more demand for emergency food bags. We are meeting that demand right now, and it’s continuous.”
“All donations really make a difference,” said Scott. “I can see, already being new in the job, that this is a really important part of the ecosystem of care and community in Cornwall.” She said in addition to meals and essential supports, the centre also provides a sense of belonging. “It’s been a real gift to see how Centre 105 is that place of connection and care and dignity,” said Scott.
With economic pressures increasing and more people facing challenges with housing, groceries, and basic needs, Scott said the Anglican Diocese remains committed to the future of Centre 105. “The Anglican Diocese is very committed to this program. I’m very committed to it and to ensuring stability and sustainability,” said Scott. “There is a real commitment to doing what we need to do to provide the care that’s needed in this place.”
Scott said seeing the community support at the fundraising breakfast is encouraging. “It really is wonderful to see so many people come out and recognize that it takes the collective,” said Scott. “It takes donations, staff, volunteers, and supporters of all kinds to keep places like this functioning and doing the work they do.”
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