Mental health, addiction and food supports available to Quinte West residents

Two resources in Quinte West aim to help the community’s most vulnerable.

The Mobile Community Resource Unit, a pilot project located in Trenton, connects residents with mental health and addiction support services.

The unit, located north of the Chamber of Commerce at 97 Front Street, launched in May.

Quinte West’s Mobile Community Resource Unit. (Photo: submitted)

Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Co-ordinator Laurie Caouette says it will remain on-site until September 2, 2022 and is available to anyone with questions.

“Residents that you know, having gone through a pandemic for two years, they may not have experienced mental health issues in the past but are experiencing now so they’re, they’re looking to see what’s available for programs or services in the community so we help connect them to those partners.”

They’ve received provincial funding for a three-year pilot with staffing coming from several partner agencies including the Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Centre, Quinte West Youth Centre, OPP and IMPACT team.

The MCRU will also host drop-in activities and special events throughout the summer, including seated yoga, Zentangle, mindful colouring, senior safety information sessions, and an Overdose Awareness Day event on August 31.

At the same location is the city’s new Community Cupboard offering access to free food and personal hygiene products.

Caouette says it operates on a “take what you need, leave what you can” principle.

“We don’t monitor how much people are taking because we’re very aware that those that are accessing the cupboard, you know, are dealing with food insecurity. We do ask that members of the public, if they are able to, to come and leave a donation, leaving it directly into the cupboard.”

Among the items most needed in the Community Cupboard: granola bars, protein bars, apple sauce, tuna snack kits (with pull-tab tops), chicken snack kits (with pull-tab tops), canned food (with pull-tab tops), bandages, dry pet food, water bottles, sanitary napkins, peanut butter, individually packaged crackers, canned soups/stews (with pull-tab tops), canned fruit or fruit bowls (with pull-tab tops), and donations of grocery store gift cards (to purchase items such as bread and fresh fruit).

The Community Cupboard will remain at 97 Front Street until September 2 at which time a new location will be decided on.

Caouette says Quinte West’s Community Safety & Well-Being Plan has been in the works since 2019 and was approved last year.

“And we have an advisory table that is made up of a lot of different partners from a lot of different sectors like education and policing, social services. All of those partners that you expect to see at the table that are, are helping our residents in one way or another.”

The province has mandated all municipalities enact such a plan focussing on affordable and appropriate housing and mental health and addiction strategies.

For more details about the MCRU or to view the weekly schedule, visit www.quintewest.ca/mcru.