Communitas Supportive Care Society in Abbotsford recently gave the public an opportunity to discover how the organization supports people of all abilities in their community and across B.C.
The organization held a Taste and Tour event on June 20, where people enjoyed food and drink from local vendors while learning more about Communitas.
Matt Dirks, chief innovation officer for Communitas, said the idea for Taste and Tour came out of a desire to do something unique that would connect the community to Communitas in a meaningful way.
He said the Taste and Tour focuses on relationships in a casual environment, allowing for more authentic connections.
“I love seeing who comes to these events,” Dirks said. “It’s often a melting pot of people: local dignitaries, family of the people we serve, donors, local business owners, former staff, current staff, funders and more.”
Sarah De Klein, who oversees the philanthropy department for Communitas, said the Taste and Tour events are an important way to connect with community.
“The Taste and Tours create an awareness about the scope of the work we do,” she said. “When our presenters share about the work they do in a way that clearly shows how much they enjoy it, it truly connects with our guests in a personal way.”
The 2024 Taste and Tour was the fourth event and the biggest one yet. For Dirks, it was exciting to see new faces and greet old friends. He was also grateful for the staff presenters who shared about the work they do.
“We are regularly out in community quietly going about our work,” Dirks said.
“What I love about this event is that it brings the community through our doors, and it gives staff and the people we support the opportunity to stop, reflect and share their incredibly inspiring stories.”
The event included food from Little Sprout Café and drinks from Ravens Brewing and Mt. Lehman Winery.
Communitas is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and the Taste and Tour focused on four areas where the organization has experience and hopes to grow.
Guests learned about new homes being built and about expanding services in mental health, in employment opportunities for people of all abilities, and in helping people with disabilities learn the life skills they need to live successfully.
De Klein was particularly grateful to see some of the Communitas50 Fund Champions attend and see how their fundraising efforts will make a difference.
“Having the opportunity to engage with our donors – as well as our funders and others interested in our work – is what drives us to host these events,” she said. “This is what community looks like.”
Visit CommunitasCare.com for more information.
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