As the cost of living rises, Helper Bees is facilitating a program to try and alleviate some of the financial pressure people in the community are under, while also considering environmental impact.
The program called Living Better on Less is back in-person, for the first time since the pandemic. Last year the program ran under a hybrid model.
Helper Bees is an outreach program run out of the Church of the Apostles, and provides meals to the communities. A variation of the Living Better on Less program has run since 2009 under the church.
“People affiliated with the church decided that there was a need for a program that helped people cut their environmental footprint by consuming less and therefore saving money,” said Susan Carey, main facilitator of the program.
She said the program is especially relevant right now because of rising costs, particularly for those with less disposable income.
The program is already underway but people are still welcomed to join and can register through email. The program is free and participants can come to all program weeks, or a couple. It is run out of the Guelph Community Health Centre at 176 Wyndham St., on Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. until March 2.
During the program Jobs. Opportunities. Enterprise. (J.O.E.) a charity with job training for adults with developmental disabilities, will be providing refreshments.
“There will be guests with lived experiences and opportunities for folks to share their own experiences,” said Kate Nixon, co-facilitator of the program.
Each week is themed, and the upcoming program date is titled Healthy Homes and Communities. Ward 1 councillor Erin Caton will be a guest and will teach participants how to make cleaning agents that are cost friendly and friendly to those with chemical sensitivities.
“We know Living Better on Less isn’t going to solve the systemic issues that are forcing people to be impoverished or solve the environmental crisis. But rather we see it as a pragmatic approach to try and alleviate some of the hardships that those in our community are facing while also being kinder to the environment,” said Nixon.
