| Community Connector Corrina Santos attended the Costi Housing Host Webinar Oct 19th representing Volunteer Markham and partnering with Volunteer Toronto, Volunteer MBC to inform Ukrainian newcomers about volunteering opportunities available to them and their children. Volunteering can help foster a sense of community togetherness by building relationships and networking opportunities. “COSTI has taken on the responsibility of organizing accommodation for Ukrainian newcomers and essential orientation and referral services in the Greater Toronto Area. A team of COSTI Housing Workers and Settlement Counsellors are ready and available to support the families. All Ukrainian newcomer families are received by the Canadian Red Cross, given a welcome package, and transferred to either a settlement organization or to COSTI. Families are then matched by COSTI with vetted volunteer hosts for accommodation. Once settled and feeling comfortable in their new home, families will receive short-term support with their immediate needs: help with enrolling their children in school; medical, health and financial needs, information and referral services to help access employment opportunities and the labour market and English as a Second Language classes. Our Settlement Workers also lend their support in helping Ukrainian newcomers become familiar with their new neighbourhood and community supports.” For more information visit: www.costi.org |