Dear friends and supporters of Equal Opportunities West:

 

On behalf of Equal Opportunities West (EOW) and the persons with disabilities we support in our day program, I need to ask you for your help.

 

EOW is growing and our facility at 851 Cavalier Drive no longer has sufficient space to accommodate the 122 clients that will be in our care by July 2019.

 

Established in 1979 as as a non-profit organization, EOW provides persons with disabilities individualized supportive services to help secure competitive employment. EOW's is an inclusive agency and welcomes participants from all ethnic, cultural and gender backgrounds. The agency actively identifies and serves women, indigenous clients and deaf clients. Currently about half of the multicultural staff and half of the clients are women. Five staff members are fluent in ASL, an additional 10 are currently receiving training in ASL and there are 12 deaf participants in the program. EOW has a close working relationship with the Manitoba School for the Deaf (MSD).  

 

EOW's programming aims to proactively change the culture and perceived value of individuals with disabilities. EOW empowers individuals through choice and goal setting in their careers and personal life. Through our services and programs, such as E-waste recycling, computer refurbishment, kitchen work or outside employment, individuals have the opportunity to choose their career path, earn a pay cheque, and achieve their goals. The program has been highly successful finding participants work in restaurants, hotels, care homes and retail. EOW is dedicated to encourage individual participants’ social and personal growth.

 

The EOW E-waste recycling initiative was designed to provide meaningful work to program participants and in 2018 recycled over 300,000 pounds of E-waste. In 2015 EOW was certified by the Electronic Products Recycling Association as an EPRA depot.

 

With an in-house kitchen and lunch program participants learn valuable  nutrition, cooking and baking skills as well as table manners to prepare them for work in a hospitality setting, aid in social situations, and become more independent in their own food choices. 

 

In April of this year we will be adding another location at 3570 Portage Avenue to provide adequate space for all current program participants and to allow for future growth. Every day we offer all participants a healthy, nutritious and affordable lunch prepared in our kitchen by program staff. We also offer breakfast to a number of clients who are unable to provide their own. This service ensures that all participants receive proper meals during their day. Since the new building does not have a kitchen we will have to install all new equipment at this location. Here is where we need your help!

 

I am asking for material or financial donations to obtain the following equipment needed to deliver our lunch program at the new location:

 

• 1 large refrigerator 25+ cubic feet

• 2 kitchen stoves

• 2 dishwashers

• 1 washer/dryer combination, stackable

 

Your generous contribution to this cause will be instrumental in making the ongoing delivery of the lunch program a success for our program participants.

 

EOW will issue a tax receipt for all donations over $25.00.

 

On behalf of the people in our care I thank you for your support.

 

Yours truly,

 

 

Susan Morgan

Executive Director

Equal Opportunities West