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Communites Are More Prepared Than Ever Thanks To The Success Of The 2004 Cost-sharing Program

August 31, 2004

Thanks to receiving Gaming Funds, Emergency Social Services Association (ESSA) initiated its highly successful cost-sharing program to assist ESS teams to acquire urgently needed equipment and materials to support ESS activities at the local level. Since April of 2004, Gaming funds were used for a wide range of services including $25,000 in matching grants for communities which have generated over $50,000 of increased ESS materials including first aid kits for Reception Centres, radios and emergency identification vests for ESS volunteers, Reception Centre Kits, comfort kits for evacuees and other supplies.

Fast Facts:

• ESSA's primary source of funding comes from the Ministry of Human Resources, through the Ministry's Emergency Social Services (ESS) Program Office, and from fees paid by member communities throughout the province.
• ESSA communicates with its members through a newsletter, mESSAges, which is published on a quarterly basis and distributed to ESS volunteers throughout the province free-of-charge.
• Each year, ESSA offers a variety of seminars and workshops to support the work of ESS volunteers.
• ESSA organizes and hosts an annual meeting of ESS volunteers in each of the Provincial Emergency Program's (PEP's) six geographically designated regions of the province.
• ESSA has nine Regional Representatives in the six Provincial Emergency Program (PEP)-defined regions of the province who carry out the Association's mandate at the community level.
• Registered under the Societies Act of B.C., ESSA is governed by a volunteer board of directors consisting of 13 elected members (12 voting members).
• ESSA has 2 paid staff members: Executive Director, Joan Smulders, and an Office Liaison, Kerry Evans.
• ESS Program with the Ministry of Human Resources is a volunteer-based emergency response program, providing basic needs to people affected by an emergency or disaster.
• When people in our community are forced from their homes due to an emergency, ESS volunteers step in to provide basic needs, such as food, clothing or lodging. Emergency Social Services are available for 72 hours immediately following the emergency, allowing affected residents the time to make more long-term arrangements and begin the recovery process.
• ESS Team members train throughout the year in preparation for disasters, volunteering not only their time and energy but also their expertise.
• Emergency Social Services has 5 staff members: Director ESS Program, Jeff Cornell, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Maggie Grant, Program Administrator, Cheryl Venn, Program Assistant, Christine Ritson and Provincial ESS Coordinator, David Tomaz.
• Emergency Social Services (ESS) Toll-free contact number: 1-800-585-9559.