At Cowichan Valley Youth Services (CVYS), we believe every young person deserves access to high-quality mental health care. We are deeply committed to dismantling barriers to access this support and are immensely grateful to our community partners, Peninsula Co-op, for joining us in this mission. Thanks to your Community Support Grant, CVYS’ mobile outreach counsellors continue to support approximately 15 youth with bi-weekly sessions provided directly in their home communities, covering over 750 kilometres within a 12-month period and ensuring equitable access to mental health support for youth living in the more isolated and rural areas of our region. Of these unique youth (between the age of 13-18), the most common presenting needs include anxiety, family conflict, parent-teen connection issues, depression, and relationship challenges. These challenges can also sometimes intersect with experiences of poverty, housing and food insecurity, and problematic substance use – experiences often exacerbated by the isolation felt by those who live in more rural areas. Thank you, Peninsula Co-op, for helping countless other youth in Cowichan to thrive. We hope to continue to partner with you in this work to empower more young people to take control over their mental health and launch into young adulthood with confidence, connections, and hope. How You Can Help The non-profit sector is facing increased financial uncertainty as individual donations continue to decline and the competition for grant funds increases amidst current political and economic challenges. What this means for Cowichan Valley Youth Services and our clients is that our services are more important now than ever, as is continued community support by our dedicated funders. Societal uncertainty and economic hardship can add to existing feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, and helplessness for individuals and families, all which can contribute to growing relational tension. CVYS is here to support young people and their caregivers navigate these difficult times while staying connected and communicative. While we work to support those who need us, we trust that the broader community and our partners will continue to see our value and our impact and offer whatever support they are able to help us too, navigate these unprecedented times! To learn more about CVYS, you can visit our website at http://www.cvyouth.ca or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.

Stumbled upon pure goodness yesterday! Three sweet girls selling lemonade….not to buy candy or other stuff for themselves…but for the local Children’s Hospital Amazing! They had quite the sales pitch too - You’ll get to see how it’s made and everything” Lol. The whole thing was super touching Stumbled upon pure goodness yesterday! Three sweet girls selling lemonade….not to buy candy or other stuff for themselves…but for the local Children’s Hospital Amazing! They had quite the sales pitch too - You’ll get to see how it’s made and everything” Lol. The whole thing was super touching

Mid Island Co-op is proud to partner with Nanaimo Art Gallery to make art more accessible for local elementary and high school students. Through their Schools Program, the gallery connects artists with students from across the central Vancouver Island area. Expert-led sessions cover a multitude of media, including pottery, dance, printmaking, and more for youth of all ages. Encouraging exploration and connection through art is a cause that we are thrilled to be a part of.

Loaves & Fishes is working hard to prevent waste and get food to people who need it. They run about 400,000 pounds of food each month through their Nanaimo warehouse and are in the midst of building a larger warehouse to handle the volume of food they’re distributing across Vancouver Island. Coastal Community is proud to support Loaves & Fishes in their work to improve food security for Islanders. Our donation for Loaves & Fishes’ Port Hardy warehouse repairs was made possible by our Sharing our Success initiative. Learn about Sharing our Success: https://www.cccu.ca/about/community/sharing-our-success Learn how you can help with Island food security: https://www.nanaimoloavesandfishes.org/