“There are 32,000 children living in poverty in Ottawa. We believe we have been called to impact all the children across the city.”

Janet Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

More than one year into COVID-19 restrictions, CityKidz is still waiting for the green light to restart their interactive Saturday Playhouse program. Recognizing the profound need children have to be in a community rich in positive relationships, CityKidz Ottawa has been working hard to stay connected with the 100 children they serve in the Overbrook and Caldwell areas.

“Being in community affects how children experience the world, express themselves, manage their emotions, and establish positive relationships with others,” states Wendy Turpin, executive director of CityKidz Ottawa. “When children are put into isolation, this impacts their social development and mental health considerably. A child needs to be in some type of community to assist in their own sense of well being and mental health.”

Turpin says this has been a hard year for the CityKidz children. “They are living in small homes that are usually overcrowded. They are stressed and sad, worried about family members and worried they may get COVID themselves.”

Many of these children have watched as their parents lost jobs and now have to turn to the food bank for necessities. Their busy homes make online schooling a challenge. Several of the children have lost close family members this year, too.

“There is a real need out there and we are only impacting 100 kids across the city.” Photo courtesy of CityKidz.

Despite being unable to meet in person, CityKidz has come up with new ways to stay connected with the children. Every week, eight volunteers visit each home (taking the required precautions)to check in, identify any needs, and to share activity sheets, treats, and grocery store gift cards. The children received craft care packages, pumpkins, pyjamas, and “Prayer Bears” used to encourage the children to pray for one another. Children also received Christmas presents and Tim Horton’s gift cards for their birthdays.

“If there are any needs, I look into how we can help,” shares Marsha O’Brien, home visit captain for the Caldwell area. “It may be getting them extra food, school supplies, or other resources. Through these tough times, we have been given great opportunities to share Jesus’ love and we have been able to let them know they are not alone.”

On top of the weekly visits, CityKidz is starting Fun Squad 2021—a scaled-down version of the Saturday Playhouse program that takes place right at the children’s front doors. While taking precautions, the children will participate in games, dancing, and receive gifts, a poster, and snacks. Fun Squad 2021 will also include a lesson about hope.

“There is a real need out there and we are only impacting 100 kids across the city,” Turpin recently shared with local pastors. “There are actually 32,000 children living in poverty in Ottawa. We believe we have been called to impact all the children across the city.”

CityKidz is currently recruiting additional volunteers both for their existing program and to expand into other areas in the city.

“The resilience of the children in the past year has been our motivation to continue doing whatever we can to bring a little faith, hope, and love to their front doors,” Turpin says. “Most of all, we want to reassure the children that having even a little faith can shine a very bright light into this current darkness called COVID-19.”