Thrive Community Support Circle

Thrive Community Support Circle (TCSC) encourages community members to visit the drop-in space for various needs and necessities, including: emergency food kits and/or baby supplies, lunches, community celebrations, free counselling, clothing, hygiene supplies, referrals, crisis counseling, income tax rebates, EIA or CFS support, housing support, birth certificates, or to attend one of the other 20 free programs. They also have their own Community Safety Club that is member driven and goes out into the community to make connections and discuss current safety issues. They have approximately 300-600 members visiting per month.

TCSC has hundreds of volunteers who are encouraged to create goal plans and meet with supervisors in one-on-one meetings using play therapy exercises to help them with goal setting, life balance, hurdles and struggles. They work with, disability (physical and intellectual) programs, newcomers, single mother programs, people coming out of incarceration, and students.

TCSC moved into their new space in January of 2023, which includes a small patio like space (just 16.5 feet x 13.25 feet!) that can be accessed through the drop-in centre. It hasn’t been used for anything yet because over the last few months roofers used it as their storage area while they replaced the entire roof of the building and the turf carpet is ripped and unsafe.

The centre’s hope is to transition it into a green space for staff to plant herbs for their community lunches and for staff and volunteers to enjoy a sunny space and fresh air.

“Front line community work in the inner city can be difficult and taxing, at times, and being confined to an indoor space all day can feel isolating and suffocating. In our new space, we have windows for the first time. Having a space outside would help with better mental health and a true break away from the work space.”