Family Resource Centre scores fresh new facility

The Family Resource Centre of West Hants has finally found a new home since being displaced three months ago. Their new location at Dufferin Place, 14 Water Street, is bright, spacious and, best of all, absolutely beaming. “This is defiantly a good spot,” said Healthy Beginnings coordinator Lisa Hennigar. “It's a happy place.”

The centre officially moved in Nov. 2 and already families who utilize the service have been by to get a sneak peek of the new space. “What a difference,” said Carla MacPherson, who dropped by with her son last week. “It’s not gloomy; it’s nice and bright and cheerful.”

There are a few adjustments to be made at the new location, but not many. The walls are painted a soft lilac and everything is fresh and clean. Books are organized on shelves, toys perfectly in place waiting for little hands; everything there is primed for play.

A kitchenette for preparing snacks is needed. Programmer Kim Chambers said the only piece missing is a four-foot length of counter top.

However, the opening isn’t official yet and programming will be limited until after the New Year. “It was such a mess at the old location, so we just want to be prepared and make everything perfect,” Chambers said.

It has been a long three months for staff and those families the non-profit centre serves. “The closure has had an affect on everyone,” said executive director Mary Lou Bennett. “We’ve missed the families tremendously and they’ve missed us.”

Chambers said she has been flooded with e-mails since the centre’s temporary closure, all families waiting to hear when the facility would reopen. “Everywhere I go, even the grocery store, people stop to ask how things are coming along and if we found a new space yet. It’s nice to know the centre is so valued.”

Former centre flooded

The former location at the Windsor Community Centre flooded last August. “There is just no way we could run programs for children and infants in those conditions,” Bennett said.

The Lions Club was the least affected by the flooding and had offered use of their space to the centre for the interim. “They were absolutely incredible and went out of their way to help,” Chambers said.

The new facility is considerably more expensive, but as Bennett put it, “It's totally worth it. We absolutely had to find a place and soon, even if that means we have to pay more.”

What the staff and board are faced with now is keeping the new space afloat. “We will have to work that much harder to fundraise,” Bennett said. A charity auction already is booked for Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Windsor Legion from 7 to 9 p.m.

Chambers said it is always difficult to ask for contributions from local businesses that have maintained their support for so many years. “It’s just very hard to keep asking but we are going to need more help and support to keep this location going, and it's going to have to come from the community at large.”

Centre staff noted as well that the new location is ideal. It doesn’t hurt to be next door to a Tim Hortons but it’s also a matter of increased visibility and accessibility. “There are no more stairs and corridors to get through,” said Chambers.

Another plus for the center is sense of anonymity. “We we’re always associated with the Recreation Department before, but we’re not. We are our own entity.”

And one that will continue to give families of Windsor and West Hants a venue to play, laugh and learn together.