Friendly Times Community Connections-Canada

Ongoing Charitable Programs (All Programs Are Free) It Takes a Village (ITAV) (Ongoing & Expanding) It Takes a Village (ITAV) provides emergency childcare and family support services for parents and caregivers facing crises. It ensures children have a safe nurturing environment during family hardships while assisting families in accessing necessary resources to restore stability. Key Services Offered: Emergency Childcare – Temporary care for children during crises such as medical emergencies homelessness domestic violence and mental health challenges. Family Support Services – Resources referrals and direct support to parents for housing counseling financial assistance and parenting programs. Preventative Care – Early intervention to help families access support before crises escalate. Community Collaboration – Partnerships with social service agencies hospitals shelters and community organizations for holistic support. Special Initiatives: Children’s Crisis Nursery Programs – 24/7 temporary care for children from families experiencing hardships. ITAV Crisis Intake Line – A year-round service assessing and supporting families in crisis through direct care referrals and resources. This program aims to prevent child neglect and family breakdown by providing immediate and long-term stability. Compassionate Warriors (Ongoing & Expanding) Compassionate Warriors is an educational initiative that teaches empathy diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) to school-aged children. It delivers workshops in schools focused on emotional intelligence anti-bullying and fostering an inclusive culture. Community Outreach & Support (Ongoing) This program provides marginalized communities with workshops referrals and culturally relevant resources. Services include mental health support parenting workshops and financial literacy education for newcomer families racialized individuals and low-income households

New Charitable Programs (All Programs Are Free) Vibes of the Village (New Program – Launched This Fiscal Year) Vibes of the Village offers free cultural dance and music programs for underprivileged children. It integrates live drumming spoken word and community storytelling fostering cultural pride and artistic expression among Black and Indigenous youth. Child Care & Emergency Care Referral Program (New Program – Under Development) This initiative will provide free licensed crisis prevention child care services with culturally competent programming. It also includes an emergency referral system connecting families in urgent need with available child care providers. Home for GBV Survivors (Upcoming – Planning Phase This Fiscal Year) This initiative aims to establish safe housing and wraparound services for gender-based violence survivors. Efforts this fiscal year include conducting needs assessments forming partnerships and developing a sustainable service delivery model. Youth Leadership & Empowerment Program (New Program – Launching This Fiscal Year) This program equips youth with skills and confidence to become future leaders. Program Components: ? Leadership Development Workshops – Training in public speaking teamwork and decision-making. ? Civic Engagement & Advocacy – Teaching youth how to engage in social justice and community organizing. ? Mentorship & Networking – Connecting youth with professionals and community leaders for career guidance. ? Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy – Workshops on financial management and business planning. ? Volunteer & Service Learning – Hands-on community projects to build leadership experience. This initiative fosters confidence resilience and strong identity development empowering young leaders to drive meaningful change in their communities.