If you were to ask Colleen what it is that makes Ray-Cam Co-operative Centre so special, she would be hard-pressed to name just one reason. That’s because this United Way-supported agency has come through for her and her family in so many ways. A single parent with three children aged 10 and under, Colleen first became acquainted with Ray-Cam in the fall of 2013. She and her children had just moved to the Lower Mainland. When plans to live with extended family in the area fell through, the young mom found herself checking into a transition house with her kids. One of Colleen’s biggest concerns during this time was finding a daycare for her youngest child, Joseph, who was not yet able to attend school with his siblings. She was connected to Ray-Cam, whose staff worked quickly to secure a spot for Joseph in their daycare. It all happened within a few days of Colleen reaching out. The care that Joseph received – from learning to eat his vegetables to developing language skills through the help of a visiting speech pathologist – inspired Colleen to find out more about Ray-Cam and its available supports. She and her children started attending a variety of programs offered at the centre, building relationships with staff and with other families in the community. She also received assistance in finding a more stable housing situation for her family. Reflecting on the past two years, Colleen says, “Ray-Cam has made a huge difference in our lives. Being here, I’ve found the resources and support that I need to be able to cope and handle being a single mother to three children. I’ve also not only found support for myself, but my children have other children to interact with their own age. They have the male role models that are needed in a child’s life. They’ve built relationships with the staff.” And, she adds with a laugh, “when I attend family programs, it not only gets me the support I need, but it also has me socializing with other parents and other adults – which I don’t normally do.” Life as a single parent can be fraught with challenges, especially financial ones. Ray-Cam has helped Colleen make ends meet by providing groceries and meals for her kids during times when extra support has been needed. And it’s not only physical nourishment that her family has received at this United Way partner agency – they’ve also been nourished in other ways. “Having the happiness and the laughter…and just all that positive energy” – these are qualities that stand out for Colleen about Ray-Cam and its staff. “I don’t get a vibe where they’re just here because they needed a job. They’re here. They show, they care, they give off the happiness. It’s a really great feeling to be able to come here and feel welcomed and cared for by the people that work in the building.” These same individuals have also been Colleen’s biggest cheerleaders and supporters in her goal to finish school. In fact, she shares, “if it wasn’t for Ray-Cam, I wouldn’t have been able to attend school last summer.” She was able to do this because her kids were cared for by staff and enrolled in Ray-Cam’s day programs, which are funded in part by United Way British Columbia. Colleen dreams of becoming a registered nurse one day and, with the help of the people she’s met at this vibrant East Vancouver neighbourhood hub, she’s getting closer to this goal everyday. “It takes a community to raise a child,” says Colleen. For her and her children, Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre has been that community, where possibility is continually nurtured and bright futures paved. Behind every changed life is someone who made it happen. None of the work that United Way does would be possible without the support of our donors. Help move families from poverty to possibility. Please give generously. 
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