2023 Media|Cyrus Centre

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cyruscentre

A non-profit providing supports, services, and emergency housing to vulnerable youth in the Fraser Valley.

Starting in November of this year, Cyrus Centre is

Starting in November of this year, Cyrus Centre is operating 5 warming centres in Parkland County. We are grateful to the churches that have offered space and feel blessed to be able to offer individuals in these areas a place to exit the cold during these winter months. For more information, check out the Alberta page on our website!!
#alberta #endyouthhomelessness #cyruscentre #stonyplain #sprucegrove #parklandcounty

It's cold out there! Have you registered for #CNOY

It's cold out there! Have you registered for #CNOY24 ? Registration is open, and we are so excited to be back in person this year! Please find the link to register in our bio! We hope to see you there!
Event Details:
Date: February 24, 2024
Location: Seven Oaks Alliance Church
Cost: Registration is $25 but it's free if you raise over $150
Food: There will be coffee, hot chocolate, chili & buns, and @bantericecream
Why: raise money for Cyrus Centre and support the homeless, hungry, and hurting in our community
@cnoyorg #endyouthhomelesness #abbotsford #cnoy #fraservalley

Staff Feature: Meet Aaron! Aaron is the Outreach W

Staff Feature: Meet Aaron! Aaron is the Outreach Worker at our Abbotsford Centre.
1. I first started at Cyrus Centre in September 2020. So just about 3 years.
2. I love getting to know the youth that come through our doors. Specifically I like to help them find their passions and empower them to pursue their goals. Watching them recognize their value and worth brings me so much joy.
3. I had a youth who I had been working with for months ask me for help in getting off of drugs. They worked really hard and were able to stabilize and began to act like a kid again. They told me that for the first time in a very long time, they had hope. I believe that they wanted to get clean because they felt that everyone at Cyrus cared and loved them. That is a time that I will hold onto as I encourage more youth to find helpful hobbies and strive to live a flourishing life.
4. I love to spend time in nature with my family. You can find me riding my bike, going for walks, or playing some sort of game outside.
#cyruscentre #endyouthhomelessness #abbotsford #chilliwack #fraservalley

Laundry. It's that one task many loathe or procras

Laundry. It's that one task many loathe or procrastinate or both. Whether you like it or not, it eventually has to get done. It's probably one of those chores most people take for granted. Image not being able to do laundry. Imagine getting ready for work, school, or a job interview, and all you had was dirty clothes. It would be hard to be taken seriously for a job interview if you wore dirty clothes, and it would probably be hard to gain a bit of respect at work or school if your clothes were never clean.
Cyrus Centre is grateful to have the opportunity to offer laundry services to youth in our communities. For many youth, it is a starting point for building relationships with our staff and programs. A fresh load of laundry can be a metaphor for hope and new beginnings. It is an opportunity to start fresh. It may be simple to some, but it's a big deal for youth without regular access to a washer and dryer.
We always need donations of HE Laundry Detergent at both of our centres and additionally, at this time, our Babich House location needs a new or used (but still working) front-load washing machine. Please feel free to DM us if you or someone you know is in the process of getting rid of a washing machine!
#cyruscentre #abbotsford #chilliwack #endyouthhomelessness #fraservalley

February 24, 2024 Save the date and walk with us t

February 24, 2024
Save the date and walk with us to support the homeless, hungry, and hurting in our community.
#endyouthhomelessness @cnoyorg #cnoy #cnoy24 #coldestnightoftheyear #cyruscentre #abbotsford #fraservalley

Our Switchback program has provided long term supp

Our Switchback program has provided long term supportive housing for youth who thought they would never have place of their own to call home. Over the years the program has help youth get critical dental care, get their driver's license, restore families back together. It has helped youth enroll in university, get jobs, graduate high school, and access trauma counselling. The staff at Switchback have been the hands and feet of Jesus for these youth and some are coming to know Him personally. We are grateful for this opportunity to serve youth in a unique way and are proud of their many accomplishments.
#cyruscentre #switchback #abbotsford #chilliwack #endyouthhomelessness #fraservalley #home

We have a number of employment opportunities avail

We have a number of employment opportunities available to serve with our ministry. If you're looking for a job that is both challenging and rewarding and you have a heart for serving the needs of vulnerable youth we would encourage you to look at the job postings on our website! Find the link in our bio.
#endyouthhomelesness #cyruscentre #abbotsford #chilliwack #fraservalley #youthhomelessness #homelessness

Staff Feature! Meet Brett! Brett is a youth worker

Staff Feature! Meet Brett! Brett is a youth worker at our Switchback Location!
How long have you been at Cyrus Centre ?
I have been at Cyrus Centre for almost 3 years now. I started back in December 2020.
What is your favorite aspect of working at Cyrus Centre ?
I really enjoy building rapport with the youth and learning about their background and unique interests. It’s a real honour getting to hear their stories and create a safe space for youth to share about their life.
What is an important memory for you from your time at Cyrus Centre?
I remember working at Cyrus Centre one night and ordering pizza through Skip the Dishes. Unfortunately I forgot to update the address I was at and the pizza got delivered to Switchback. Because I was alone on shift I couldn’t leave the shelter to pick it up, so I phoned Switchback and asked the staff to be on the lookout for one of our youth. I knew this particular youth was in and out through the night on his bike, so I asked if staff could ask him to drop off my pizza. Not long after that phone call that youth hopped off his bike outside Cyrus and came inside with my Pesto Pizza. He handed it right to me and then hurried out the door. It was really thoughtful of him and just cool to see one of our youth display that act of kindness. It was telling of the impact we can leave on these youth over time and that our investment in them doesn’t always go unnoticed.
What do you like to do for self care ?
I enjoy going on short hikes when it’s nice out or chilling at a nice cafe. I also find hopping in my car and going for long drives is a nice way to clear my mind.
#cyruscentre #chilliwack #abbotsford #switchback #endyouthhomelessness #fraservalley

9:00am - At this point in the day the centre is se

9:00am - At this point in the day the centre is sending youth off to school and making a hot breakfast for Breakfast Club. Youth under 18 are expected to be at school or meeting with the Youth and Family Worker to work on their goals at this time. Youth aged 18-24 who may have spent the night on the streets or require support are making their way in for breakfast. At this time they have the chance to do some one on one work with staff to accomplish some goals such as looking for housing, finding a job, enrolling in school or seek help for mental health and addictions.
A big part of what Cyrus Centre seeks to do is work on individualized goal plans to help youth be successful and live happier and healthier lives. Something like learning to write a resume is a big thing we try to do here and we help coach youth with what to expect in an interview. We also are happy to offer rides to ensure youth get to a job interview on time. This is all part of the Life Skills Training component of the Breakfast Club Program.
#cyruscentre #endyouthhomelessness #abbotsford #chilliwack #fraservalley

Bikes are a great way to get around! Our staff wor

Bikes are a great way to get around! Our staff work with our youth and fix up old bikes with donated bike parts! It's a great way for our youth to learn new skills and it helps them get to school and work on time!
#cyruscentre #endyouthhomelessness #abbotsford #chilliwack #fraservalley #youthomelessness

Staff Feature! Meet Shirley! 1. How long have you

Staff Feature! Meet Shirley!
1. How long have you been at Cyrus Centre? 4 years
2. What is your favorite aspect of working at Cyrus Centre? Chatting with the youth when they come for meals
3. What is an important memory for you from your time at Cyrus Centre? Making cookies with several of the youth
4. What do you like to do for self care? Read
#cyruscentre #endyouthhomelessness #abbotsford #chilliwack #fraservalley #youthhomelessness #staffappreciation

To everyone who has lost a loved one to an overdos

To everyone who has lost a loved one to an overdose, we see you, we stand with you, and we pray for you. To all those on the front line, working so hard to serve those struggling and who have also experienced too much loss, we see you, we stand with you, and we pray for you. To those who continue to struggle with substance use, it is our prayer and our desire to serve you well, to help you, to provide you with a safe place where you can receive the support and connections to find healing.
Over the past few years, overdose deaths have increased exponentially. This year alone, we have lost at least one youth per month to an overdose. Our team is exhausted and there are far too many days where the feeling of hopelessness weighs heavy on our centres. While with Christ, we are not without hope, no one is immune to grief and loss. We ask that today you stand with us in praying for those affected by addiction, for those affected by overdose deaths.
Pray for those in government who create and change policy, pray that policies, funding and services would appropriately reflect the needs of our communities, the needs of families, the needs of parents seeking help and support for their children. Pray that our policies and services would drastically enhance and empower the lives of people struggling with substance use, and that all people in need of help would receive the high quality of help they deserve.
Pray for service providers in our communities as they work through these difficult times. Pray for renewed energy and renewed hope. Pray that their experiences do not harden their hearts but pray that their hearts continue to serve compassionately and lovingly. Pray for wisdom and discernment as they do their best to meet the needs of each individual they encounter.
#ioad #ioad23 #cyruscentre #endyouthhomelessness #abbotsford #chilliwack #fraservalley

You might remember that a few years ago we partner

You might remember that a few years ago we partnered with Your Choice to Donate and @fraservalleymetal to raise awareness about Youth Homelessness. We had scrap cars parked outside each of our centres and we asked our youth to write down all the things in their lives they would like to "crush". Their responses were powerful. Once the cars were covered we took them to Fraser Valley Metal Recycling where we all watch it get crushed.
What you might not know is we still have a fantastic partnership going on with Your Choice to Donate and Fraser Valley Metal Recycling in which you can turn your unwanted scrap car or scrap metal into funds for Cyrus Centre! It's easy and FREE. They even come and pick up your scrap car at no cost and you get a tax receipt for your donation! Check out the Get Involved tab on our website menu and click on Scrap Metal for a full list of items that you can bring to Fraser Valley Metal Recycling or to get complete details on having Your Choice to Donate come pick up your scrap car!
#cyruscentre #abbotsford #chilliwack #scrapmetal #scrapcar #CarDonation #fraservalley #endyouthhomelessness #youthhomelessness #awareness

Thousands of meals have been served through this l

Thousands of meals have been served through this little window. Countless connections made. Opportunities for fellowship to flourish. A sense of welcoming and safety is created. Needs are met.
#cyruscentre #endyouthhomelesness #abbotsford #chilliwack #homelessness #foodscarcity #awareness #getinvolved #fraservalley

We’ve experienced an increase of refugees in nee

We’ve experienced an increase of refugees in need of our shelter services. In order for them to feel safe and welcomed as they navigate this next season of their lives we are looking for community members to help us bless them by offering Halal meals at some of our meals times. If you, or someone you know cooks Halal and would like to sign up to provide a meal check out the link in our stories or go to our website!
#cyruscentre #endyouthhomelessness #youthhomelessness #halalfood #halal #abbotsford #chilliwack #fraservalley
📷: Google

Being open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year means t

Being open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year means that every hour has something going on! 7:00 in the morning is usually when you'll find staff walking from room to room knocking on doors, letting youth know it's time to wake up. Our shelters have been quite full over the past while, and if anyone has ever tried to wake up a sleeping teenager in the morning, you'll know how heroic our team is for being able to wake up a dozen teenagers every morning 😉. Morning time is busy, youth are often getting ready for meetings, school, or work. A warm, nutritious breakfast is always served but cereal is still a favorite around the centres. And of course, there's always a pot of freshly brewed coffee to go with it. #cyruscentre #endyouthhomelesness #youthhomelessness #abbotsford #chilliwack

Staff Feature: Meet Drew! Drew is a youth worker a

Staff Feature: Meet Drew! Drew is a youth worker at our Abbotsford Centre!
1. I've been at Cyrus for about a year and a couple months
2. My favorite aspect of Cyrus is seeing the youth getting excited over something and having them teach me about it.
3. An important memory for me was spending Christmas eve with the youth and goofing around getting them to set out some cookies and carrots as well as telling them to go to bed early or Santa won't come. I liked it cause obviously the youth are old enough to not "believe in Santa" but they played along and seemed to enjoy the tradition of it. Also it super super sucks they were in a shelter during Christmas, no one should have to spend Christmas at a shelter, so It was nice to be able to help make them feel a littler more at home.
4. I go to the gym (sometimes) and paint miniatures for self care.
#cyruscentre #abbotsford #chilliwack #endyouthhomelessness #youthhomelessness #youthworker #youthworkerappreciation

Highlights from Leap of Faith 2023! Huge thank you

Highlights from Leap of Faith 2023! Huge thank you to Overtime Marketing for putting together this awesome video! @otmportfolio
#endyouthhomelessness #cyruscentre #leapoffaith #lof23

A team of many talents. Recently a few of the sta

A team of many talents.
Recently a few of the staff added some beautiful artwork to the picnic tables in the outdoor space at our Abbotsford Centre. It's cool to see how staff use their unique gifts and talents to serve the youth and make Cyrus Centre such a welcoming place for all the youth who walk through our doors!
#endyouthhomelesness #cyruscentre #abbotsford #chilliwack #homelessness #staffappreciationpost #fraservalley

Staff Feature: Meet Alyssa! Alyssa is the Case M

Staff Feature: Meet Alyssa!
Alyssa is the Case Manager at the Switchback
1. How long have you been at Cyrus Centre?
Almost 7 years. Since October 2016
2. What is your favorite aspect of working at Cyrus Centre?
I love supporting the youth and walking alongside them as they find their own voices to advocate for themselves. Seeing them gain confidence and hold their heads high is such a win.
3. What is an important memory for you from your time at Cyrus Centre?
4 years ago a client walked into Cyrus Centre asking me to help her see her son. She had no way to make it to any of the supervised visits and was missing out on her time with him. The ministry had told her that they were looking into permanent placements for her son. Not only did I get to be apart of some really fun play dates with a super cute kid, I got to watch this mom stand up for herself and express what she wanted and what she needed. Today, she has her son fully in her care.
4. What do you like to do for self care?
Going to the movies! And eating all the junk food
#cyruscentre #endyouthhomelessness #abbotsford #chilliwack #fraservalley

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