What it's worth, will it work?

Sometimes (often) we feel we just can't do as much as we'd like for clients.

One client of mine was facing particularly difficult financial straits this month for reasons outside of her control.  I offered to provide some grocery gift cards to help bridge the gap.  I was only able to get a $25 card, and felt a little sheepish giving it to her - I mean, you have a $0 bank account balance and need to eat for a whole month - how far is $25 bucks gonna go?  When we met again she told me she really appreciated my help and the card.  The day she went to the grocery store with it they had a "dollar sale".  How perfect!

Sometimes we worry that the situations our clients are facing are too difficult, and we worry about the barriers they face.

I helped this same client make a call for emergency rent bank help.  We were both surprised to find out how long it would take to complete the assessment and get help approved and processed.  She let them know the homeless deadline she was facing and they actually called her back really quickly.  She got in for an interview and to receive her money.  She called me several times that day distraught because it was a very dehumanizing experience for her.  But she got the money.  Got it to the landlord and secured new housing.

The next day the workers who called her back so quickly and processed her request went on strike.  If someone had not deigned to give her priority, what would have happened?  Sometimes when we think we face the impossible, the improbable happens.

When we work hard, sometimes it just might work out.

Sweet, sweet fundraising

The agency I work for is a non-profit.  This means that we run off of government funding, grants, donations and the like.  This is generally okay with me.  Although I like getting paid, I don’t like making money off of people.  Way back when I was a student, I had a retail job.  I was generally an excellent employee (obviously), except my numbers sucked because I just wasn’t comfortable pushing people to spend money.  Anyway, this is getting off track.

The point is – DONATIONS.  They are great.  Altruism is a wonderful thing.  People give money so we can keep our doors open helping others.  In my personal life I donate to a number of worthy causes as much as I feel I can.

One thing that happens a lot where I work bugs me however.  Internal fundraising.  The United Way drive (since we have programs funded by them), the loose change collections to fund an upcoming special event, the membership drives for which you pay an annual fee, collecting contributions for the silent auction, the cookie dough sales, whatever.  More so than when I worked at other places, it seems almost every month there is a new way they are looking for money.  Isn’t it enough that I work for you people for a pittance?* 

I may have ranted about this to co-workers before.  I may have complained about it a bit at team meetings. 

But then.  This afternoon I am sitting at my desk trying not to let my mind wander as I catch up on notes, but it’s happening – that infamous 3:00 wall.  I’m so hungry I can’t even think.  What to do?  Search my lunch bag and eat the half a stale granola bar that is left in there for some reason.  Not cutting it.  Search my desk drawers, come up with an old pack of soup crackers.  Not cutting it.  Until like magic, she appears! 

“hey Nectarine!  Team SuperAmazing is having a bake sale for the upcoming (enter name of agency fund-raising event).  We have chocolate chip cookies, brownies, lemon…”

Stop.  You had me at chocolate chip!  And there was free lemonade to boot!  Internal fundraising, me and my tummy thank you.  I have never been so happy to contribute.

*it’s not actually a pittance, I am grateful for the income I have.  But it’s not exactly big bucks either

Fiscal, Financial, Federal...there's probably one more "F" word I could add here...

Any one else feeling the end-of-fiscal-year crunch right about now?  I haven't posted much of late as I've had some time spent in all day trainings at I'm also trying to get all my notes, stats, logs and whatnot done in time for the end of fiscal.

Money pressures are everywhere at the moment.  When our final numbers are tallied soon, we'll find out if we (my program at work) made quota in order to maintain our current funding.

My taxes are all prepared, but I have yet to take that depressing step of actually submitting them (we owe this year due to my partners self-employment income).

And the big one of course is that both the Ontario and Federal budgets came down this week.  Like a hammer, each one.  I'm hoping to get a better look at them in the days to come.

Once I've done all this, I'm also going to go roll all my pennies to deposit in the bank before stores won't take them any more.  My old peanut butter jar is going to seem so empty from now on...*


*for those of you out of the loop, one of the federal budget items everyone is talking about is that the Conservative government has announced the end of the 1 cent coin in Canada.  No more "take a penny, leave a penny" in the Great White North.

First day back from vacay, 9:01am

This is what greets me...

Problem: My client rents a basement apartment where the landlord and his family live upstairs. They went away for more than 3 weeks and did not leave her with contact information if anything goes wrong. They also did not leave her with any way to get her mail as it is delivered to their post box (to which they have the key). She has bills due, but does not know the names of the companies, or the amount of the bills.

Solution(?): She wants me to come and hang around the post box all afternoon to intercept Canada Post and obtain her mail.* She figures they will give it to me (as opposed to her) because I'm her "worker". Sometimes I wish that pseudo-title held half as much weight as many clients seem to think it does.



*NO, I am not going to do this (as if I even had time). I'm seeing her ASAP to help sort something out, and determine if she will let me talk to the landlord when he returns. Oy.

Case Manager: Expert in Everything

Voicemail left by a client over the weekend:

"I got my flyers today, they have a sale on an 8GB ipod for (insert $$ amount) and my sister says she can get an extra 10% with her seniors discount. Can you call me back and let me know if that is a good deal?"

Records and Receipts

Source: Wikimedia Commons

We in social services spend a lot of time in coffee shops.  And when I say a lot, I mean a LOT.  My agency will reimburse me (up to a certain amount) for beverages purchased on client meetings.

Of course I always forget to ask for a receipt.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

December 6. I couldn’t let the whole day go by without remembering that it has been 21 years since the Montreal Massacre at Ecole Polytechnique. Vigils will be held across Canada today to remember the woman who were killed or injured, and to recognize the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.




Throughout this year the ongoing debate about the long gun registry has reached a fever pitch. The registry was put in place after the events of December 6, 1989 in hopes of preventing future tragedies. I hope this story doesn’t trump important discussions of femicide and violence around this time.



It seems more encouraging to highlight things like the December 6 fund, an initiative of the YWCA offering interest free loans to women leaving violent and abusive homes. We know that finances are one of the major reasons that women may not leave an abusive relationship. Initiatives like this that offer women the opportunity to use their own ideas and skills to create a new life are invaluable. I’ve known a couple women who have benefited from this fund, and they continue to be grateful.



So here’s to an end to all gender-based violence, and a rose to remember the women who have suffered it.