“A word from the director...”

What an amazing evening we had at our second Fundraising Dinner. St. John’s College provided an amazing dinner, including manicotti, cantilena, stuffed chicken breast and roasted potatoes, followed by incredible cheesecake. Thanks to Tom and all the youth that helped. Spider Jones shared some of his troubled past and the special people in his life that influenced him. Thank you to the committee and all the fabulous volunteers that contributed to this wonderful event. A special thanks to Becky, Christina, Daniel, Adam, Becca, Chris and Karin for sharing how the Youth Centre has impacted their lives. We are extremely grateful for the support we received at the dinner, and those of you that contribute to the work of the Mission regularly. I thank God for your generosity. Charlie

Needs and Requests - We are looking for willing men to put some volunteer time in at the Brantford Drop-in. The young men that attend the Drop-in are in need of positive role models. We are looking for a commitment of two to three hours once a week, between Monday and Thursday. Our emergency food bank has been low on non-perishables, such as; Soup, Canned Fruit, Kraft Dinner, Ravioli, Pasta and Sauce, Peanut Butter, Jam, etc. Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated. We are reliant on your continued generosity to be able to provide the critical services for the at-risk youth of Brantford and Paris. We thank you for your continued financial support. If you are interested in supporting us with any of the above needs please contact us at the Brantford location.

Why Not Brantford (519)759-2221, 86 Colborne Street W. Why Not Paris (519)442-2221, 19 Broadway Street W.

www.whynotcitymissions.com You can donate online with PayPal or Canada Helps

Community Helping Community

We had nine youth come with us to the Arden Ranch. There we had the opportunity to spend time with our youth and actively participate in new and fun activities with them. The weather was great and we went horseback riding, did archery, had a camp fire, went hiking and used the trampoline. We do a work program at the ranch every time we visit. The youth are able to help out with handy work in the facilities and the sur-

rounding land. This year they painted the front foyer and the upper hallway in the main building. Another fun and eventful trip for the youth of Why Not Brantford! We had an amazing time. We wish to thank Arden Circle Square Ranch for their wonderful hospitality.

Motivate Engage Empower Teach

Third Annual Trip To The Arden Circle Square Ranch

WIN A NEW 2010 Nissan SENTRA!WIN A NEW 2010 Nissan SENTRA!WIN A NEW 2010 Nissan SENTRA!

Brant Stereo Audiotronic 42” Plasma

Tickets are $20.00 each, or three for $50.00

They can be purchased at Why Not City Missions or

Brantford Nissan

Draw Date-Oct. 30th Early Bird-Sept. 6th Limited # of Tickets!

This is Becky’s story..

August 10, 1987

“I found out I was pregnant with Athena at 8 weeks, I had to make a decision on whether or not I was going to keep Athena. I thought that the best place for Athena was with her mom, and in order for me to do that I had to do get a plan. The CAS helped me

put a plan together to move out just before my 18th birthday. My mom and stepfather agreed to move in with me at my new apartment, so I could keep custody of Athena when she was born. I started going into labor at 26 weeks, the pregnancy was very hard on my body and there were times that they thought my baby would not survive. The doctors had to stop my labor until I was 34 weeks, and then I was able to deliver Athena. I wasn’t on birth control after she was born, as my doctor didn’t believe in prescribing women birth control unless they were married. I was scheduled for a sur-gery to remove my gallbladder, because I had started getting gallstones after Athena was born, but they called me after my pre-op appointment and told me my surgery was cancelled because I was 7 weeks pregnant. I had to go to the hospital at least once a month due to gallbladder attacks throughout my pregnancy. I went into labor at 30 weeks, and the doctors kept stopping my labor up until I was 40 weeks. Ruth was born, and one week later I went in for an emergency surgery to remove my gall-bladder. The following year after Ruth was born, I had to go into the hospital because I was having a miscarriage at 4 ½ months pregnant, I had to have a hysterectomy. Six months later I met with an OBYGN, and told her I wanted to have my tubes tied be-cause I knew I didn’t want any more children and because of the previous miscar-riages I had. She referred me to another doctor to discuss the tubal ligation, and I had the surgery within a month. I married their father 5 months after, and we split up a week later. He had custody of the kids for a few months, but I got them back and are in my custody. When I got Athena and Ruth back with me I was a stay at home mom for 2 years. I worked on getting a life plan together to help better their lives, and give them what I didn’t as a child. I know I still have my own issues some days where I feel down in the dumps, but I work through them with people at the Youth Centre I trust. I have gone back to school to work towards my high school diploma; I volun-teer at the mission 2 days of the week, and spend all my other time with my girls. My girls are my life, and if it wasn’t for me having them I would not be who I am today. I’m extremely grateful for everyone at the Youth Centre and what they have done for me and my children. I would like to go on and become a Social Service worker so I can help other youth that have been in similar situations I was in. I want to be able to make a difference in this world, and show everyone the love that I have received from those that helped me in times I needed them.”

Why Not Brantford (519)759-2221, 86 Colborne Street W. Why Not Paris (519)442-2221, 19 Broadway Street W.

www.whynotcitymissions.com You can donate online with PayPal or Canada Helps

Community Helping Community Motivate Engage Empower Teach

Our Community Partners • St. Leonard’s Community Services • Community Resource Services • Sexual Assault Centre of Brant • Woodview Children’s Mental Health

and Autism Services • Brant County Health Unit • Sir Wilfred Laurier University • Mohawk College • Salvation Army • Brant and Brant County Roundtable

on Poverty • Pregnancy and Resource Centre • Brant Community Living • Food Providers Group

ERIN MCLELLAN ‘YOUTH RESOURCE

WORKER’

AMY BEECRAFT ‘BRANTFORD YOUTH

RESOURCE MANAGER’

TREVOR BEECRAFT ‘MANAGING DIRECTOR’

RAY & WILMA VAN ENGEN ‘PARIS YOUTH RESOURCE

MANAGERS’

CHARLIE & SUE KOPCZYK ‘FOUNDERS AND

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

ALISHA HAUGH! A Criminology and Human

Rights student at Laurier, she has been a committed volunteer

since September 2008.

They got hitched!

Trevor and Amy tied the knot on

April 3rd, 2010.

Congratulations!

MONDAY YOUTH DINNER Every Monday evening we have a dinner for the youth provided by some of our community churches. I would like to acknowledge their participation and their commitment to help us. Some have been involved for over four years. Thank you. - Freedom Christian Community Church (two teams) - The Meeting House - Central Presbyterian Church - Langford Community Church

SATURDAY FAMILY DROP-IN Our Saturday Family Drop-in program serve 40 - 70 guests every Saturday afternoon. Hope Christian Reformed Church has been a tremendous support to provide food, refreshments, and a listening ear. We alternate weeks with a second team that also includes community members. Thank you.