The Salvation Army Oshawa
Community Services
Together we are making a difference
The Salvation Army has ministries in 132 countries throughout the world and in 400 communities across Canada. Last year, in Canada alone, over 1.9 million people were helped.
We love our local community. With our heart to God and hand to man,The Salvation Army Community Church has downtown programs that offer practical assistance to individuals and families. We are in Oshawa and work thorughout Durham. Our church helps those less fortunate with practical, emotional, and spiritual assistance. Our mobile outreach canteen truck provides hot meals in the Oshawa downtown core. Other programs include the Christmas toy warehouse, year-round food distribution, children’s camps, and our community garden. We offer counselling for: abuse, addictions, anger, depression, grief, theft, parenting skills, budgeting, taxes, and low self-esteem, as well as spiritual guidance. Our downtown Thrift Store profits go to subsidize all these wonderful downtown programs. Thank you for your support in helping us help those in need.
LOCAL MISSION STATEMENT
We are called to share the love of Jesus with our community through connection and service
NATIONAL MISSION STATEMENT
The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.
Programs for Adults
These services seek to promote healthy self-awareness and self-understanding. The goal of counselling is to equip and enable people to live stable, productive lives. Services address topics related to individual, couple and family issues.
- Marital/Couple Counselling
- Grief & Loss Counselling
- Anger & Stress Management
- Abuse & Trauma Counselling
- Spiritual Counselling Parenting
- Personal Boundaries & Relationship
- Self Image & Self-Esteem
- Budgeting & Financial Counselling
- Anxiety and Depression Counselling
Counselling is presented in a Christian context and upholds Biblical principles. No individual will be discriminated against in terms of lifestyle or background. Individual rights of confidentiality and personal beliefs are respected.
Affordable counselling is available for all individuals and families. A sliding fee scale is available for those with low income or financial constraints.
This program explores the offence of shoplifting itself: the reasons why people shoplift and the personal and social consequences of this behaviour, including issues related to police and criminal records. This program is geared towards clients 18 and older. Time of program is every other Tuesday evening from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Activities include Group Discussions and Group Work. This program requires a court referral.
Anger management teaches participants that anger is a healthy emotion that requires positive problem-solving skills, techniques and behaviours. It encourages participants to examine their perceptions, thought processes and personal boundaries in order to decipher and understand their emotional needs.
Participants may either enter a group program or work individually with a counsellor. The group program is on a registration basis, with a fee per participant
A number of these clients are sent by the courts for part of their fines or sentencing.
This program seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of self-esteem, personal boundary regulation and coping skills. Participants are encouraged to examine and reflect on their past history to develop greater self-awareness, which aids in the process of deciphering and understanding thoughts and feelings that have contributed to unhealthy, negative life choices and outcomes.
During the course of this program individuals are encouraged to keep a personal journal to help process thoughts and emotions. This exercise has also been known to facilitate learning, growth and maturity in individuals. A number of these clients are sent by the courts for part of their fines or sentencing.
Programs for Youth and Children
Participants attend for ten weeks, meeting for one hour each week. Participants must attend all sessions, demonstrate an active interest in the information and complete given homework assignments to attain a certificate of completion. The program is broken into four modules, Stress Management, Emotional Intelligence, Anger Management & Communication. This program is for teens aged thirteen to eighteen years; most of our participants are thirteen to sixteen years. Referrals come from Children’s Aid Society, Youth Justice, Group Homes and Parents & Guardians.
This program is offered to parents of children that are referred to Teen Anger Management. The goal of the program is to inform, educate and raise awareness of the effects of a child’s lagging skills that may contribute to explosive outbursts. Role of the counsellor is to teach coping skills, i.e. Anger Management or Cognitive Flexibility skills to youth, and educate parent/guardian in the use of empathy, defining the problem and inviting the child to problem-solve together. Once the program is implemented, the Counsellor remains as support to the family until conflict is resolved. Referrals for the program are from Children’s Aid Society, Family Doctors, Youth Justice and Family Inquiries.
This program is for teens that are willing to take responsibility for negative behaviour, admit they have harmed others, property or self, agree to stop the harmful behaviour, agree to forgive those that may have harmed them and to apologize or make restitution whenever possible to those they may have harmed. The program is a fifteen-week program, with possible continued support following the fifteen weeks. The program is for teens, thirteen to eighteen years. Candidates for the program are decided at the time of intake for the Teen Anger Management. Referrals are from Children’s Aid Society, Youth Justice and Family Inquiries.
The Summer Day Camp is a program for children aged 6 – 12. The group meets Monday to Friday from 9:00AM – 3:30PM Activities include Bible stories, songs, games, crafts, videos and various other special events.
The Fresh Air Camp is a Summer program for children aged 7 – 17. The Camps are split into two separate camps, one at Jackson’s Point (ages 7-10) and the other at Camp Newport (ages 11 – 17). Activities include Bible stories, songs, games, crafts, campfires, hikes, rock climbing and other special events.
Other Programs
The voucher program provides assistance to community members experiencing financial difficulties. Vouchers are provided for clothing, furniture, household items (to be used in the Thrift Store), transportation (local and out-of-town), rent, and utilities up to a maximum of $100 per individual/family. In 2012 our voucher budget was increased to $1200 per month. Opportunity for spiritual counselling and prayer is offered when discussing the individual’s situation.
The Christmas Kettle Cheer Program is very encompassing in the city with both the fund-raising as well as programming. Christmas kettles cover the prime locations in the city. Community support is received at the Toy Mountain bin at the Oshawa Centre and Angel trees located at local Trust Companies. The Director is available to visit various organizations and events to speak about our programs etc.
This is all combined with a special letter appeal that enables us to raise the funds needed to provide the level of assistance our community requires.
The program is in operation for people who are unable to handle their own finances. The majority of them are on either Ontario Disability or CPP Disability. They receive their cash on a regular basis through the trustee’s office and opportunity is taken to assist them with budgeting and other concerns they may have. We pay their rent as well as utility bills from their funds as well.
We also offer this program young people 15 – 17 years of age who are referred from Ontario Works whose monthly cheques come to The Salvation Army to cash for them.
Provide a safe place to discuss not only the components of knitting practice but a place of living community where persons can emerge from isolation.
OUR GARDEN PLOTS FOR THE 2024 SEASON ARE NOW ALL FULL!
Both in ground and raised accessible plots for individuals, families and local agencies to grow their own vegetables. The Salvation Army provides large plots (18 x 5) and gardening tools while the participants provide the Tender Loving Care. Volunteer participants are available to provide education and training if needed. There is a $25.00 fee for all materials and maintenance that are provided.
Canteen Vehicle available on a 24/7 basis to respond to emergencies in Oshawa. This is on an as-needed basis. Calls are originated by Police or Fire Departments or Durham region Emergency Disaster Services office. Calls are handled by Director of Community & Family Services and forwarded to EDS Coordinator. Director also handles calls from Whitby and Bowmanville with forwards to respective offices. Upkeep of vehicle and preparation of food and supplies are the responsibility of EDS coordinator. We provide refreshments as needed to First Responders and Victims of emergencies. This can range from a cereal bar and cup of coffee to a hot meal.
Feeding plan for homeless in Oshawa. Our canteen vehicle visits Memorial Park in downtown Oshawa every Tuesday 6-7pm providing dinner.
CRITERIA FOR CVITP TAX CLINIC: SIMPLE PERSONAL TAX RETURNS WITH THE FOLLOWING INCOME LEVELS FOR YOUR FAMILY,
Family Total family income includes an individual, or a couple, and their dependants.
- 1 person $35,000
- 2 persons $45,000
- 3 persons $47,500
- 4 persons $50,000
- 5 persons $52,500
- More than 5 persons $52,500, plus $2,500 for each additional person
CVITP TAX CLINICS DO NOT HELP WITH THE FOLLOWING:
- self-employment income or employment expenses (see exception below)
- business or rental income and expenses
- interest income over $1,000
- capital gains or losses
- foreign property (T1135)
- bankrupt individuals in the year of bankruptcy (or the year prior, if that return has not been filed)
- deceased individuals