Don Trepanier and Mike Toth joined us from The Grace Cafe and The Annex to talk about the support they provide to the less fortunate in the community. Don is the Chairman of the Board and Program Director.  Mike is the the newly appointed Executive Directory.

 

The idea started in 2014 when Don's wife Ginny was driving home in the snowy winter and saw an elderly gentleman shuffling along looking like he could use some help.  She stopped and offered him her "roll up the rim" win of a free coffee and went home and told Don that they needed to do something to help people like this.

 

The Grace Cafe was born of this vision and became a place where homeless people, low income people, people with addiction or other mental health issues could go for a warm coffee and a bit of food.

 

With the activity in The Grace Cafe, Don noticed that many of the patrons were in need of addiction support and founded and opened The Annex in 2022.  Here the public can get support and direction for their addictions in many forms.

 

Everyone agreed that the work they do is very badly needed and really appreciated learning more about it.  Joanne thanked the speaker, noting that a bear will be donated to a women's shelter in the area on their behalf.

 

For more information, visit their website at http://theannexcentre.ca

 

 

 

On behalf of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas, Patricia Martyn, Chair of the Community Service Committee and President Mark Holmes presented a cheque to The Grace Cafe to support their work.