In Branch:
Those wishing to learn job skills and earn a small honorarium are encouraged to choose one or more program opportunities. Once an agreement is made, an individual work schedule is created based on the individual’s interests, strengths, skills, abilities and availability.
Expectations for participants reflect a regular employer’s expectations: Start time, end time, coffee and lunch breaks, holidays, sick days, phoning when unable to attend. However, in some cases extended sick days may be required, as such, they take as much time as needed and may return without fear of repercussions. The participant basically picks up where they left off.
Purpose:
In a safe and supportive atmosphere, participants are provided an opportunity to develop transferable job skills.
Objective:
To support job skills and maintenance, which may lead to integration within the mainstream workforce.
Outcome:
The VOCATION PROGRAMS offered assist in maintaining, and in some cases rebuilding independence, establishing daily routines, as well as building confidence and social networks. Overall pride of workmanship is demonstrated by individual commitment and participation in respective programs, therefore supporting a path to safety, security, connectedness and acceptance.
As Good As New Store
Located in downtown Prince Albert, the As Good As New store sells gently used quality clothing. People in Prince Albert and surrounding communities may either donate or support our unique Preferred Customer consignment opportunity. Those working in this program will focus on inventory management, customer account maintenance, product displays, customer service and cash register experience
Quilting
Participants creatively design and systematically build beautiful patchwork quilts. This process supports design creativity; problem solving skills; detailed intricate sewing processes: The quilting process includes cutting material into squares; pinning and sewing the overall quilt construction. Quilts are sold throughout the Prince Albert community and have made their way across Canada. Quilts have been requested for personal and professional gifts, prizes during community fundraising events, trade shows, and community raffles.
Kitchen Program:
Affordable Meal Program
The Kitchen program prepares balanced and nutritious lunches Monday to Friday for people who attend the Prince Albert Branch. People have a choice of pay Paying for meals daily. Or, by purchasing monthly meal ticket for $32.00. We serve over 7,000 meals in a year.
Drop In Coffee Service
Those participating in the branch can enjoy 2 free coffees per hour, served from 8:30 to 11:30am and 1:00 to 3:00pm. We serve over 200 cups of coffee per day, five days a week.
Community Kitchen
An opportunity to learn how to cook.
Our kitchen is opened to those who are interested in learning how to cook and bake. The participants may be participating because they reside in one of our housing units or they simply have an interest in an opportunity to learn a new skill they enjoy. The meal they prepare will be served as part of the Affordable Meal program.
Participant activities include: meal planning, food preparation, clean up, food storage and organization. Participants are reliable and dedicated to the program. They take their roles, and responsibilities very seriously.
Janitorial
Participants are responsible for maintaining daily standards of cleanliness of the organization’s 18,000sqft building, three floors approximately 6000sqft each. Pride of ownership is demonstrated through the efforts of our janitorial staff.
BBQ – A Summer Initiative
A Peer supported awareness and fundraising opportunity.
Our venue is set up in front of our As Good As New store where we sell BBQ burgers, hot dogs and pop. Monies raised through this venture supports our recreation program.
First Nation’s University Diner Program
Peer supported Affordable Meal program in partnership with the First Nations University to ensure their student mental health is supported through an affordable meal program.
Participants in both the BBQ and DINER programs are responsible for set up; tear down of the service; Public service skills, and understanding roles and duties assigned are critical to the success of the program.
Firewood
Firewood is gathered, split, stacked and loaded onto pallets or into bags to create affordable bundles to be sold as a revenue opportunity for the branch. Monies made from this program will support a variety of branch initiatives. People can acquire firewood by making a $125.00 donation for a pallet of firewood or $15.00 for a bundle of firewood. Pre orders are welcome and encouraged as it is first come first serve as product is available.