MCC Thrift Store Supports Local Organizations

Please take a moment to read this amazing story from the Eden Foundation.

MCC Thrift Store board chair Gord Kornelson, presented five charitable agencies with cheques. Each of the agencies received a portion of funds available from the proceeds of sales at the Steinbach MCC Thrift Store. Mr. Kornelson pointed out that not only does MCC support efforts overseas but also supports efforts locally.

Recipients of that generosity were South-east Helping Hands, Soup’s On, Anna’s House, Today House and our own Debra Stockwell on behalf of Segue Career Options and Eden Foundation. Ms. Stockwell was most pleased not only to receive support from neighbours across the street from MCC but equally as important has been the fact that the Segue Career Options program was recognized by MCC Steinbach as a service of significance to the community of Steinbach along with other local helping organizations.

On hand to receive cheques were Hank Klassen representing South-east Helping Hands, Joy Barkman representing Soup’s On, Vicki Olatundun representing Anna’s House, Simone Penner representing Today House and Debra Stockwell representing Segue Career Options.

Every child has the right to play, safe

Childhood bullying is common, we've all dealt with it. It seems like it is something that is more talked about now than ever before. Bully isn't just physical, it can be as simple as name calling and teasing.

This type of behaviour is likely to happen when children are not sitting in class with the teacher, they risk getting caught. Instead, bullying starts in the playground during recess. Recess is the time that children play, in a designated area, with very little supervision. It is highly unlikely that a child will get bullied close to an adult, therefore it goes unnoticed and unaddressed.

Bully will always be bullies, sometimes into adulthood. The problem will never go away unless it is addressed at a young age.

So what does playground staff need to do to control the environment and ensure that all kids are safe? Increasing supervision, provide training for such situations, and understand the procedures of conflict resolution techniques, just to name a few.

International Play Association Canada or IPA, offers guidelines for professionals working with and for children. They can provide education and training in areas such as bullying.

Bullying will never truly go away, the next generation of children will be bullied but instead of turning away from the situation, it is best that we educated the professionals caring for and teaching our children every day.

Head for the Hills - Eden's Bike Ride

Need something to prepare you for Imagine's September 22nd Run? Your in luck, Eden's Head for the Hills Bike Ride is scheduled is Saturday,September 8th.  This year will mark the event's 10th anniversary ride. 

The Head for the Hills Bike Ride has become one of Eden's most important fund-raising events of the year, with the last two years having raised in excess of $62,000 each year.  The goal for the 10th anniversary ride is to raise $80,000 and if that goal can be achieved, the bike ride can accurately claim to have raised $500,000 in ten years.

James Friesen the CEO of Eden Health Care Services combined his passion for riding with his compassion for those who deal with mental health issues and the Head for the Hills Bike Ride became a reality.

Over these past nine years, riders from all over have come to ride in the hills.  The ride is scenic and roughly follows the Trans Canada Trail from Colert Beach near Morden, MB meandering southward for some 36 kilometers to a destination along the edge of the Pembina Escarpment not far from the US border.  As in previous years, two routes are planned, one which takes the rider along a groomed trail through wooded areas as well as road ways and the second route taking the rider along a road course and equally as scenic as the first.

The cost of registration is low so that as many people as possible can have the experience of riding in an organized event.  Funds are fully tax-deductible and will be used to support the efforts and programs that the community has called Eden Health Care Services to provide on its behalf.

Riders can register online and those who are willing to sponsor a rider can also access the list of riders and donate in support.

SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a debilitating, mood disorder with a predictable pattern of recurrence during the fall and winter. Experts estimate that as many as 10 million North Americans may experience SAD. Initial symptoms may include feelings of lethargy, trouble waking and getting up or cravings for heavy or carbohydrate-rich foods.

These initial symptoms often lead to a mild mood disorder for a few weeks and then may progress to chronic low mood, inability to do work, loss of pleasure in usual activities, etc. Symptoms are often most acute in January and February. The severity of symptoms, are the indicator experts use to differentiate mild winter blues from more acute SAD. With both conditions, as days become longer, symptoms tend to clear up usually by early May.

Anyone can experience SAD cycles, even thought they may not occur every year. Women of childbearing age appear to be the most vulnerable, but SAD may occur from childhood through to old age, and men can be just as strongly affected as women.

Bright light therapy is simple to administer and effective for many SAD sufferers when using a well-designed bright light therapy system on a regular daily schedule. Bright light may be "dosed" by changing the intensity level, exposure duration and/or the time of day when it is used. Generally, the recommended starting dose is 10,000 LUX for 30 minutes in the morning soon after waking. Dosage is then adjusted (increased or decreased) to suit the specific needs of the user.

One large study of SAD patients undergoing bright light therapy, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found significant clinical improvement in about 80% of cases when bright light was scheduled at the optimum early hour. If the bright light was scheduled later, the response rate dropped to about 40%.

To determine the optimum treatment time for bright light therapy, the Automated Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire provided by CET (Center for Environmental Therapeutics), is an excellent guide. It may be used in consultation with your physician to prepare an appropriate bright light therapy treatment schedule for your individual condition.