It's a unique service that continues to meet the needs of our community.In fact, according to the reports given at its annual meeting May 16, Partners Family Services (Partners) exceeded its own expectations in 2011.One of the key factors to Partners' continued growth and success was its increase of core funding from the Ministry of Social Services. Executive director Collette Lessmeister acknowledged that this funding enabled the organization to continue its work of meeting the needs of individuals and families, as well as the needs of some of the most vulnerable people of our communities."We were able to get the sustainable funding we were asking for," said an emotional Lessmeister at the meeting. "Unfortunately, there's been so much fluctuation in this organization in years past, it's been hard to keep staff. Now it's really important that we can keep going with the staff we have and move forward, and start reaching for the stars and go for the unattainable."Not only staff changes but staff expansion were discussed at the meeting. In September 2011, Partners took over the administrative and operational duties of the Before and After School Program offered in Humboldt, and run by Kayla Klimosko. September also brought a new face to Partners when they hired Lauchlan Maclean to co-ordinate its new Child and Family Services Program. Another new addition to Partners in 2012 is Vicky Lund, a Saskatchewan native who recently moved to Humboldt. Lund is replacing intake worker Pamela Lemky for the time being, and is taking on the role of support worker. Intakes have been an important part of the services Partners offers to the community. In her year-end report, Lemky noted the steady increase of intakes over the last two years, proving by its statistics that it is a much-needed service in the Humboldt area. A total of 2,761 women, men, children and youths were served through Partners' services and programming in 2011.As for the programs Partners offers, program co-ordinator Crystal Perkins said that 2011 was a busy year. As well as three core programs in the Partners Wellness Series (Anger Management, Self Esteem, and Healthy Relationships), they were also able to offer presentations in the schools and to the seniors, as well as outreach projects.Partners hosted the youth event, "Battle of the Bands," out of which grew the bi-monthly Youth Musicians' Collective. Planning is in the works for a second Battle of the Bands i at the Humboldt Curling Rink, during the annual Summer Sizzler in June. The success of the Soup Kitchen, started last summer and involving Partners, has played an important role in the community. Everyone present at the meeting acknowledged James Folster for making the dream a reality. Folster reported that in July 2011 when they started the project, there were seven or eight people who came to the weekly meal. Now the soup kitchen is serving 30 meals a week, and Folster says the support from volunteers and the local food stores to help run it has been exceptional.Partners will again be running its summer program for children this year. Olyssa Nieman is back to co-ordinate the program, as well as to run the new program for girls that began in May and runs through June, called Just Girls.Under new business, a bylaw changing the name of the corporation from "Partners for Rural Family Support Inc." to "Partners Family Services Inc." was passed, as was a bylaw to officially change the logo of the organization.
