Give Manitoba

10 give Manitoba | JUNE 11, 2022 "We have people coming to us who are homeless, who weren't homeless before the pandemic." Support services are also in demand. These services were available through the pandemic, though on a smaller scale. At the same time, gender-based violence and substance abuse have increased, Drebot explains, so there's a need to resume regular support groups along with a need for donations. "The need has gone up and the donations have gone down," Drebot says. This is, in part, because people were donating the money they would have spent on transportation and those pricey lunchtime lattes had they been in the office. As they return to work, the excess income — and the donations — is less. N.E.E.D.S. is also hands-on in the community, assisting newcomers as they get settled. "We work with people from Day 1 when they arrive in Canada," says Meagan Botelho, service delivery team manager for N.E.E.D.S. "There's a learning curve to understanding the systems we have in place." Things we might take for granted, like the ability to read and understand report cards or a bus schedule, aren't so easy when you're trying to find your footing in a new country. Then there's the issue of schooling itself, as refugees arriving in Canada often experience a gap — along with an extra gap if they arrived during a period of remote learning. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Vince Barletta, CEO of Harvest Mantioba. (Supplied photo) (Supplied photo) (Supplied photo) CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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