Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - April 13, 2020, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE B2 I TS doors have been closed to help prevent the spread of coro-navirus, but a local non-profit group that promotes art in the inner city is still going the extra mile to help families stay creative and happy while sheltering at home. "We had to think quickly about how we wanted the depot to keep operating in the middle of this pandemic," said Helga Jakobson, co- executive director of ArtsJunktion in the Exchange District. "We believe in the power of healing that creative pursuits bring. We believe crafting and creativity are ways people can cope with the difficult parts of life. We want to continue supporting our community during this difficult time." Formed in 2007, ArtsJunktion nor- mally accepts donations of reusable materials from businesses and keeps them out of landfills by putting them in the hands of aspiring artists on a take- what-you-need, pay-what-you-can basis. Its warehouse depot at 312 William Ave. - a social hub for the community, offering workshops and a safe place for people to obtain supplies and create art - was forced to close and cancel programs when COVID-19 arrived in the city last month. Jakobson and co-executive director Lou Gandier quickly hit on a creative plan to continue serving their com- munity by packing and delivering art projects to the mailboxes of inner-city families. In each of the past four weeks, the women have been scouring the stock- pile of donated material in their depot, packing reusable supplies into Ziploc bags along with instructions, and deliv- ering a series of easy crafting kits to inner-city families who email requests to director@artsjunktion.mb.ca. They advertise the craft kits through their social media accounts on Face- book and Instagram and their online newsletter, which is available on their website at artsjunktion.mb.ca. Donations are gratefully accepted, but the craft projects are made avail- able regardless of whether a family can afford to pay. "We don't want finances to be a barrier to anyone," Jakobson said. "We understand this is a very difficult time for people, finan- cially and emotionally." With the aid of volunteers - some of whom have been battling the elements on bicycles - Jakobson and Gandier have delivered 50 to 100 of the crafting kits each week, and plan to continue doing so as long as there are supplies. "We've been making themed kits every week," Jakobson said. "They're everything from beginner to interme- diate, things families can do at home. There are pompom kits, weaving kits, pennant-making kits - little flags you can put up with messages - embroi- dery kits. "We've also packaged cotton fabric, needles and thread, and instructions to make your own non-medical masks at home. The kits are not only fun and affordable, but also eco-friendly." The response from Winnipeggers has been heart-warming, with many isolated families proudly emailing photos to display their finished works of art. "We've gotten incredible feedback," Jakobson gushed. "I think they are just so thankful for what we're doing. They've been feeling so low and really wanting to stay busy. They've been overwhelmed being home with kids and looking for something to do. We had a message from a pregnant mother with a young child who said she was so thankful and it was helping to keep her sane in isolation." Andrea Bell Stuart, a co-founder of ArtsJunktion, said the board of direc- tors was "blown away" by the creative campaign to use at-home art projects to support families isolated during an outbreak that is threatening lives and crippling the economy. "When they started this, parents had just been told that schools would close and they were realizing they'd have to homeschool their kids," Bell Stuart said. "We really are fighting to keep ArtsJunktion viable so we can weather this COVID-19 storm and reach out to the community. "We're trying to do something that will help make people happy and make art accessible to them." The group is not accepting donations of recyclable materials at its depot. "We can't accept donations of reus- able materials now and that's where we get our stuff," Bell Stuart noted. "We decided it wouldn't be healthy to keep accepting donated materials to fill the shelves. We have quite a lot of stuff and these two (Jakobson and Gandier) think they can keep on delivering for a while. They're also going to do online art workshops." She said being shuttered during the pandemic is not easy for a charity that survives on donations and fundraising events, but the community's artistic hub is determined to remain standing once the outbreak is over. "I think at this point we feel we are going to survive with the help of Lou (Gandier) and Helga (Jakobson)," Bell Stuart said. "It's going to be week by week and it won't be easy, but we're go- ing to do everything we can to survive. "I'm incredibly proud of what they are doing. They are creative and compassionate. They care about their community. Community is No. 1. It comes from their heart, it comes from their whole being, even if that sounds schmaltzy. They are heroes every day. They chose this line of work for a reason." doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca B 2 MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 ? WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COMNEWS I CITY ALISON Campeau is a successful free- lance media producer, but there was a time when she felt hopeless. Born in Thompson and raised in the North End, Campeau grew up sur- rounded by alcohol, drugs, gangs and violence. She says that if it weren't for the people who took an interest in her and helped her along the way, she wouldn't be where she is today. "They took the time to help motivate me, inspire me and lift me up," the 31-year-old says. "I want to give back to my community by doing the same thing." Campeau volunteers with a church group that meets at KeKiNan Cen- tre, an assisted living facility, where she prepares and serves food. Every Thursday she helps with Love Lives Here, a ministry that helps meet the needs of sexually exploited and street- involved people. She has also volunteered at Winnipeg Harvest and Siloam Mission, and she mentors Indigenous youth in graphic design, photography and filmmaking. Campeau was recently recognized for her efforts with a Mayor's Volun- teer Service Award as part of the 37th annual Volunteer Awards. Presented by Volunteer Manitoba and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, this year's awards recognize more than 30 outstanding volunteers from across the province. The recipients were announced at the end of March, and they will be cel- ebrated at a gala dinner at Club Regent Event Centre in November. "It's so wonderful," Campeau says of the recognition. "It's such a nice thing." Justin Langan, another award recipi- ent, was excited when he found out he was being recognized with the RBC Bright Future Award, especially since he lives in Swan River. "There are a lot of these awards and recognitions for youth in Winnipeg, so it's easy to forget the youth who are doing great work in rural communities in Manitoba," Langan says. "I couldn't be more proud, and I hope it's inspira- tional for Indigenous youth and youth in rural communities." The 21-year-old has been a dedicated volunteer with the Manitoba Metis Federation for almost five years. He sits on the organization's northwest youth advisory committee as well as its provincial youth advisory committee. He also writes and edits a newslet- ter for M�tis youth that comes out six times a year, he sits on the Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres' youth committee and he has served with the RCMP's national youth advi- sory council. Langan said being involved in the community is important because it builds character. "You get to know people and you get to help people. That's just something I like to do," he says. "I like to see youth succeeding in Manitoba and across Canada, especially Indigenous youth." The Volunteer Awards are signifi- cant because they recognize "unsung heroes," says Jackie Hunt, executive director at Volunteer Manitoba. "I think it's particularly important (these days) because we want to re- mind people that there's so much good happening right now," Hunt says. The dinner celebrating this year's award recipients was originally sup- posed to take place last week, but had to be postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We're now going to take the next six or seven months and highlight these people," Hunt says. "It's a blessing to now have a little more time to show- case the amazing work (these) volun- teers are doing." Campeau hopes the recognition inspires others. "These awards are nice because they help spread awareness about volunteer opportunities so that more people can get involved," she says, pointing to the pandemic. "Volunteers are needed, especially now." For a list of this year's winners, visit volunteermanitoba.ca/awards. If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron. epp@gmail.com. Awards gala to fete 'unsung heroes' Generous recipients aim to motivate others Volunteer opportunities THE following is a list of volunteer op- portunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, please contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can assist you in finding an opportunity. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba. ca or call 204-477-5180. Not sure how to help during the COVID-19 pandemic? Kids Help Phone is running expedited training so volunteers can become crisis responders and help young people from their own home. For more information, go to http://wfp. to/3uo. 1justCity needs volunteers to help make sandwiches, lunch kits and meal kits, and help hand them out. Volunteers can also help from home by preparing sandwiches and individually wrapping them. For more information, email volunteer@1justcity.ca. The Canadian Red Cross is seeking volunteers. When disaster strikes, you can help, and the Red Cross can show you how. Go to www.redcross.ca/volunteer, email volunteer@redcross.ca or call 1-844-818- 2155. Oak Table is seeking volunteers to help with its lunch service, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Thursday. For more informa- tion, email volunteer@oaktable.ca. Winnipeg Harvest is seek- ing volunteers to help sort donations in its warehouse. For more information, call 204-982-3663 or email volunteer@ winnipegharvest.org. Meals on Wheels is seeking volunteers to deliver meals to vulnerable people in the Winnipeg area. For more information, call 204-956-7711, email info@mealswin- nipeg.com or go to www.mealswinnipeg. com. Agape Table is seeking volunteers to help prepare and serve breakfast, and run the food bank. People from all walks of life are welcome to provide nourish- ment to guests. For more information, call 204-786-2370 or email volunteer@ agapetable.ca. Caregiving with Confidence is seek- ing volunteers to make weekly phone calls to help family caregivers of older adults. This service provides a friendly contact for the caregiver on a regularly scheduled basis. Volunteers are only to provide a listening ear and support, not advice, and work closely with staff to ensure the needs of the caller are met. All calls can be made from the comfort of your own home. For more information, email cwc@ aosupportservices.ca. DANIEL CRUMP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Alison Campeau, 31, one of this year's award winners at the 37th annual Volunteer Awards, says volunteer recognition helps inspire others to give back to their communities as well. GOING THE EXTRA MILE DOUG SPEIRS Crafting connection within age of isolation ArtsJunktion delivers at-home art projects in repurposed mission JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ArtsJunktion co-executive directors Helga Jakobson, right, and Lou Gandier are preparing and delivering 50 to 100 crafting kits every week to help Winnipeggers keep busy while stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic. ArtsJunktion in the Exchange District was forced to close its doors with the arrival of COVID-19 last month. That's when the non-profit, led by co-executive directors Lou Gandier and Helga Jakobson, hatched a new plan to keep art accessible to Winnipeggers during the pandemic. 'We believe in the power of healing that creative pursuits bring. We believe crafting and creativity are ways people can cope with the difficult parts of life' - Helga Jakobson, ArtsJunktion AARON EPP VOLUNTEERS B_02_Apr-13-20_FP_01.indd B2 4/12/20 7:49 PM ;