PORT CARES Group started as a grassroots organization in 1986

Port Cares has come a long way since its grassroots beginnings in 1986. The organization started as a conversation between friends Joy Kennedy and Bill Roberts who wanted to create the organization that would help the community in need.

At their first meeting held Feb. 6, 1986, Kennedy, Roberts and a few others were appointed to the first staff positions at Port Colborne Community Association of Resource Extension. The organization, now known as Port Cares, had its base of operations in the conference room at Port Colborne High School.

Pam Swick Janjac, Port Cares’ development officer, was a board member in the first few years of the group’s operations. She said that in the late 1980s, there were a lot of cuts made to essential services by senior government.

Swick Janjac said the aim of the organization was to help the community through similar services, adding “there was a big need at the time.”

One of the services was the Parent and Children Today ( PACT) program, which offered aid to young or single families. PACT operated first out of First Lutheran Church but later moved to Port Colborne High School alongside Port Cares.

A year later, the Port Cares office was moved to Charlotte St. in the old Richardson’s Insurance building. The organization was funded early on by the provincial Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Secretary of State Women’s Directorate. As part of the initial funding, an active women’s committee was formed to raise awareness on issues such as violence against women.

Funding in 1989 from Human Resources Development Canada created the pre- employment program for women to focus on non- traditional jobs. A recession in the early 1990s led to expansion of the pre- employment program on Durham St.

In 1992, the Port Cares Action Centre opened. Around the same time the organization’s administrative office and community resource centre were relocated to 550 King St. The new space allowed for Port Cares to provide services for adults to increase their educational levels and skills while credit classes were added to its Action Centre.

In 1996, Port Cares expanded its employment services program and moved to 92 Charlotte St., thanks to a contract with Human Resources Development Canada. All education classes, client services and administrative offices were moved to its current location when space became available.

Having everything under one roof was a concept developed to meet the needs of clients in an underserviced area isolated due to a lack of transportation. Swick Janjac said the organization worked with a local bus company to bring a transit service to Port Colborne.

“We ended up getting funding larger dining hall area, offices and an area for an amalgamated food bank for Port Colborne.

The PACT program evolved into the Ontario Early Years Centre in 2002 with sites in Port Colborne, Crystal Beach, Smithville and Beamsville.

While funding for some of its programs, such as employment services, are done through government grants, a majority of Port Cares’ services, such as client services, and funding for building expansions, rely on general fundraising and from events such as its Soup Fest and annual silent auction gala or from grants from agencies such as the United Way.

Grant funding serves the organization well but often has a limited shelf life.

“When I started in 1989, we didn’t know if we could continue ( the next week),” Reinhart said. “You didn’t know if you left the job on Friday whether you’d have one on Monday.” eddie. chau@ sunmedia. ca Twitter: @ Edchautribune