PWA Staff Update

You can find the original letter here.

September 22nd, 2022.

PWA STAFF UPDATE

Dear Community Members, Peers, Volunteers and Community Partners.

I hope this letter finds you well and healthy.

We would like to share with you, some of our most recent staff updates:

PWA bids farewell to:

1. Rajesh Pisharody who has served as Income & Community Liaison (ICL) for over 15 years. We want to express our gratitude for all the hard work and dedication Rajesh has provided to each member of our community.

2. Angela Stultz who has served as Strategic Programs Manager for over a year serving our community through our Anti-Indigenous Racism & Anti-Black Racism work and providing support to our community with the implementation of the Legal Clinic at PWA among other important programs.

Angela & Rajesh, we are thankful for everything, and we wish you all the very best in all your new endeavors.

Bill Handley & Kyle Vose are both presently on long-term leave from PWA where they have both worked relentlessly. Bill and Kyle, we send you both positive doses of healing and strength.

Jordan Schwartz: is joining us as an Interim Income & Community Liaison (ICL) to bring support to our other ICLs Errol and Shaz.

Somdatt Ramessar, will assume responsibilities as Service Access Manager. Somdatt will still have oversight of the Essentials Market but has put in place a Peer-based model for the Essentials Market’s operations.

A huge thank you to Angela & Rajesh for all your contributions to the PWA Family, we appreciate all of your hard work and love.

Bill & Kyle, you have our hearts and prayers. Take good care of yourselves.

Congratulations to Jordan who started his journey with PWA as a student and is now transitioning to the Interim ICL position and to Somdatt who has been impacting our community since his first day as Food Programs Coordinator.

Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or comments. I can be reached at imcknight@pwatoronto.org and (416) 506-1400 ext. 239.

Sincerely,

Ian McKnight (He/Him)

Director Programs & Services

Toronto People with AIDS Foundation

Tele: (416) 506-1400 ext. 239

Email: imcknight@pwatoronto.org

To read the original letter, please click here.

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Service Update from PWA

Hello PWA Community, Premier Ford declared a state of emergency in Ontario in an effort to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. With this news, PWA will be moving into Stage 4 of its Preparedness Plan. During Stage 4, PWA will remain open, continuing to provide food, financial assistance, harm reduction and connections to other critical services within the community. If you need help, please reach out to us and we will do our best to assist you. During Stage 4, you can continue to:

  • Receive food from the Essentials Market weekly, but instead of coming on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2pm to 7pm, you can come at any time and pick up a pre-made food hamper (one per week)
  • Pick up and drop off financial assistance receipts or cheques and harm reduction supplies
  • Meet with our staff one-on-one, but with a 2 metre space between you and staff
  • Consult with staff by phone and email as normal

 During Stage 4, PWA will:

  • Be open from 12pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday
  • Not be providing coffee or snacks, to minimize risk of contamination
  • Not be offering hang-out space/time in our lounge except to those waiting to see a staff person or to pick up food, financial assistance, or harm reduction supplies
  • Not be offering haircuts, massage, or any group activities, including Bike Rally related meetings
  • Not be having our volunteers and peers on duty
  • Be asking people who aren’t feeling well to stay home and call/email us for support

 We remain committed to supporting our community through this challenging time. As one of our Bike Rally leadership volunteers said recently, “We have been through the HIV epidemic, it is part of our past and our present that we pull together in challenging times – and we will keep doing so.” We will continue updating you whenever major changes to our office or services occur. Please don’t hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or concerns. All my very best to you,
Suzanne PaddockExecutive Director

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