Project Angel

Since 1992, Members and staff of The Glencoe Club have generously donated time, money, and much needed items to several charities. This annual "Project Angel" tradition has been the champion for such charities as Inn from the Cold, YWCA, Women in Need, Servants’ Anonymous and several local community referrals. Every year there is an incredible outpour of generosity from our membership which has a remarkable impact on the charity we take part in. We are proud to support local homeless youth shelter Avenue 15.

Avenue 15 is sponsoring another fundraiser Annual Musicians Care Program. Click on link for further information.
The event will take place at the EPCOR CENTRE’s Jack Singer Concert Hall on February 29, 2012. Hosted by the gregarious and tremendously talented Russel Broom, the show features some of Alberta’s best singer/song writers taking turns sharing the stories, motivations and inspirations behind some of their finest songs. Come share an evening of music as these talented artists gather for an intimate and informal performance of their work stripped down to its raw essence.

Visit us on Facebook for up-to-date show information: www.facebook.com/musicianscare !

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2011 Project Angel

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Avenue 15

In 2010, The Glencoe Club adopted The Boys & Girls Clubs of Calgary's Avenue 15 homeless youth shelter. This facility and program provides homeless and runaway youth with temporary shelter and basic needs, as well as a comprehensive support system to assist them in reuniting with their families or finding alternative living arrangements. The Link and Launch programs provides youth with the opportunities to gain the skills and stability to be successful in other living arrangements.

More about the program

Avenue 15 or as it's known to its residents simply as “Ave”, is a rather unassuming building from the outside. Located in the heart of downtown Calgary, the youth shelter may not look like much from the outside, but what it provides to the residents is nothing short of a miracle. Kristin Johnson, the program coordinator explains that the residents have considerably varied pasts, and all cases must be handled in a unique manner, and delicately, as the teens are there by choice.

Street youth are often the product of physical or sexual abuse. Without adequate social adjustment, many of them find solace in a life on the streets. Free from abuse, but also free of responsibility and structure, the street life can be rather attractive. Kids often band together and for many it's the first time they feel like they belong. It can be a big step for them to turn around and seek refuge from this life.

After an emergency closure due to a flood a couple of years ago, a simultaneous reassessment of the program occurred. Changes were implemented to better reflect the needs of the teens. That was the beginning of the LOFT, LINK & LAUNCH program model. Each facet has a designated area within the Avenue 15 building, which The Project Angel Team had the privilege to see first hand.

LOFT
An emergency shelter meant for a single night stay.
The top floor of the house accommodates 10 teens. A simple cot, and access to showers and laundry is by no means cozy, as it is not meant to be treated like a home. What the loft lacks in spacial comfort it makes up for in emotional guidance from staff. It is here where trusting relationships begin, and in many cases, where the teens decide they want to make a change.

LINK
Shelter and guidance for kids who want to get off the streets.
As soon as an individual expresses the desire to make a change they are moved into the LINK program. The goal is to link teens to whatever resources they need, be it reunification with family, access to addictions services, gaining education or developing basic life skills. The link program separates boys’ rooms from the girls’. All the rooms are nicely furnished, and residence are allowed to decorate and personalize the space as they please.

LAUNCH
For residence with goals of independent living. This is usually reserved for teens who have been successful in the LINK program and would like to move toward a more productive lifestyle and gain the skills and resources for independence. Launch residence have their own room, which they pay "rent" for. Avenue 15 saves this money for the individual to help pay for damage deposits and setting up a home, when they are finally ready to live independently. The program has several life skill programs like this one that emulate successful real world behaviours.

The LOFT, LINK & LAUNCH model has proved to successfully satisfy the goal of getting teens off the street in one stay. A single stay can last for several months, but results in better long term success, and this criteria also prevents the program from becoming a revolving door. Avenue 15 rarely releases any of its residents back into unsafe situations, and they did not have any repeat individuals - no minor feat considering the unimaginable situations some of the teens come from.

Avenue 15 staff are educated (mostly with human services degrees), and they are well equipped to manage all types of cases. Kristin Johnson tells us, "A recent rape victim will not be in a position to be told to 'get a job'." It takes time to develop a trusting relationship with individuals who have been abused or never been able to trust any of the adults in their lives. The fact that this program is prepared to help teens lead “normal” lives and eventually independent ones, is incredible. We don't fix kids, they fix themselves' is the resounding sentiment amongst staff, and every resident and 'graduate' is a reflection of that.

In 2010 as a part of our dedication to service in the community, The Glencoe Club selected The Boys & Girls Clubs of Calgary’s Avenue 15 as our charity of choice.  In order to accommodate the needs of the shelter we had to rethink our Project Angel Campaign. 2010 Project Angel TXT - Transforming Xmas for Teens was the solution. This new approach renewed excitement in our long term supporters and attracted members who had never participated before. When we wrapped up the campaign - we were very pleased to announce record breaking success, but the staff and residents of Avenue 15 were even happier.