Green Wood Coalition's activities are reflected in four streams:
1. Street Level Outreach
To assist and empower individuals experiencing difficulty navigating the systems, and barriers surrounding housing, income, health care and food security by providing individualized information and support. By adopting a relational approach, rather than a medical or social service model of care, we are able to connect with pockets of poverty in our community that can be missed by a broad strokes methodology.
A weekly Community Dinner is our largest gathering and has become an important connecting point for meeting new people and sharing information. Located at St John's Anglican Church (33 Pine Street North, Port Hope). This is where we build relationships between individuals who are well-off and those who face daily struggles with poverty and homelessness.
Delicious meals are provided by a roster of church groups, service clubs, and our own members. After serving ourselves at a buffet table, we sit together, shoulder-to-shoulder, to enjoy the food and social interaction. An outreach Nurse Practitioner, provided by Port Hope Community Health Centre, is available a the weekly dinner meet with with individuals, lowering the threshold of access to medical care, resulting in improved health and reduced usage of emergency services.
[Note: Due to pandemic protocols, our weekly Community Dinner is suspended until further notice. In its place, we are offering home delivery/wellness checks to individuals and families in Port Hope.]
Green Wood offers High Fidelity WrapAround, a life planning process that empowers individuals with complex needs, using a strengths-based, team approach.
2. Art Hive
To promote social engagement and emotional healing through hands-on creative activities, gardening and outdoor experiences, located in non-clinical spaces which are considered safe and welcoming by all participants. The Green Wood creative arts program, led by experienced art facilitators, is considered the most successful of our initiatives in creating positive change in the lives of individuals. There is a growing body of research that demonstrates the value of expressive and therapeutic art programs in recovery from trauma.
Green Wood’s community garden, located at 4 Centennial Drive in Port Hope, offers the opportunity for individuals and families to socialize while engaging in healthy physical activity, growing fresh, organic fruits and vegetables.
3. Recovery
To support people living with substance dependency to achieve the optimal health they desire. To provide easier means and methods of working toward harm reduction and recovery. Green Wood has adopted the Redpath recovery program and offer a small group series, as funding allows. This ground-breaking model has proven to be successful in the areas of substance misuse, violence, rehabilitation, and employability. We confidentially offer harm reduction supplies and consultation at our Community Hive (4 Centennial Dr., Port Hope, ON by appointment) and as a mobile service in Port Hope and Cobourg.
4. Community Capacity Building
To advocate for those living with mental health, emotional health, dependency and other factors that challenge their ability to navigate social and health systems, and to decrease the barriers to achieving optimal well-being. This includes active membership at planning tables such as Northumberland Homelessness Coordinated Response Team, HKLN Drug Strategy, and Northumberland Affordable Housing Committee.
Community 101 is an interactive series that explores ways of becoming a more healthy and vibrant community through caring for each other and seeking long-term change. Presenters from our community and visiting guests share information and stories, seeking to inspire further thought and action.
Annually, Green Wood presents 'IMAGINATE: We All Have a Story to entertain, inspire and motivate thought and action around the challenges we face as a society. It's a one-day conference and an 'Evening of Possibility' with short talks and performances.
