CCHC to extend services in area

Posted Apr 19, 2012 By Laurie Weir

EMC News - Friday the 13th was a lucky day for residents of North Leeds as the Cross Roads Community Health Centre's satellite office, the Guthrie House, received a $55,700 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

According to Natalie Wood, a grant review team member, the monies will be used to increase Guthrie House's capacity to offer services to seniors and youth in North Leeds.

Marty Crapper, the executive director of CCHC, says the mandate of the Trillium grant includes a community component.

"We have to work together as a community in order to be successful when applying for a Trillium grant," Crapper said before the official ceremony.

"We have been working together with the Lions and Lioness clubs of Elgin and they have donated some $8,000 to Guthrie House. That has helped us with renovations."

Those renovations included widening an internal doorway to make it accessible as well as the addition of three accessible doors. They also revamped the boardroom.

With the Trillium grant, Crapper says the plan is to increase Guthrie House's capacity by 15 per cent to offer services to seniors and youth in North Leeds. Currently there are services such as Keys Employment Services, Ontario Works and a children's mental health component.

MPP Steve Clark was on hand for the recognition and presentation to the group.

"We (the province) wouldn't be able to do things like this if it wasn't for community builders like the Lions and Lioness clubs of Elgin," Clark said.

"It's about people like you who will make this community more viable for seniors and youth."

Crapper added: "Guthrie House is our community hub from which a range of health and social services are made available to the residents of North Leeds. It's a lot easier for people of Elgin and area to come here for services than to drive into Brockville or Kingston.

"There are a wide variety of services offered through CCHC starting with primary health care and continuing through second stage of medical help like "keeping people healthy instead of patching them up when sick."

ljweir@metroland.com