Peace Arch Community Services volunteer programs:
Peace Arch Community Services offers a number of volunteer based programs that can assist individuals living with long or short term disabilities or illnesses, as well as individuals and families living on limited incomes who are in need of a 'hand up' in dealing with everyday living.
This is a program that provides grocery shopping service for those residents of the peninsula who are unable to shop for themselves. You may need the service on a long or short term basis. Age and/or income is not a factor.
Referrals are made by doctors, home care, family members, Senior Support Services or you may refer yourself by calling 604-542-4357. You will be sent a package outlining what you can expect and what is expected of you and the service starts the week after the referral is made. Save on Foods at South Pointe is the store that is used for this service.
Monday morning (even when the Monday is a holiday) a volunteer will call and take your grocery order. You MUST be home to receive the call. The store has a Deli, Bakery and Pharmacy so you may include these items as well. Be sure to say what size or brand you would like and if you will take a substitute if the item is not available.
Tuesday morning a group of volunteers do the grocery shopping for all the clients. The person who phones you may not be the person who shops your order, so be specific with brand names and sizes. If an item is not available the volunteer will call to ask what you want them to do. After the order is shopped a volunteer will call you to let you know how much it costs. The amount includes the cost of the groceries plus the delivery charge.
Tuesday your groceries will be delivered to you between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm and you MUST be home to receive them or have made arrangements for someone to receive them for you. The store where the shopping is done provides the delivery service; it is not done by the volunteers. If you are not home or don't hear the delivery person come the order is returned to the store and you will be charged for a second delivery.
You can pay for your groceries by personal cheque or credit card. The credit card number is given to the volunteer who calls you for your order. The delivery people cannot accept cash and do not take the credit card information from you.
Tipping: You are not obligated to give the delivery person a tip even if they ask for one. You may give them a tip if you wish but you are not expected. If you feel you are being pressured by the delivery person please call 604-542-4357 and the coordinator will talk to the Save on Store manager.
Should you encounter any mistakes with your order make sure you keep the bill and call 604-542-4357 to tell them about the problem. One of the program coordinators will call you and help straighten out the problem.
You should always tell the volunteer who phones you when you will be away and when you won't need the service. Let us know when you want the service to resume. If you don't want groceries one week all you need to say is 'not this week but please call next week'.
If you are moving out of the area or you are now able to shop for yourself just tell the volunteer caller you no longer require the service.
Supported in part by ScotiaMcLeod ( White Rock Branch), Client donations, handiDART.
This program provides assistance to residents of the White Rock and South Surrey area who are unable to use public transit and have no other means to reach essential health related appointments within the lower mainland area. You are asked to exhaust all other transportation options including handiDart (if eligible), family, friends etc. before calling for a ride. Age and/or income is not a factor.
The drivers are volunteers who use their own vehicles and have gone through an thorough interview process with the Manager of Volunteer and Information Services. All volunteers have had a Criminal Records Check and asked to submit a Driver's Abstract which outlines any driving infractions over the past 5 years.
Referrals are made by Home Care, Senior Support Services, Social Workers, family member or you may self refer by calling 604-542-4357.
Call the 604-542-4357 number and say you need a ride to go to a medical appointment. You will be asked the date and time of the appointment, the location and address, what is the purpose of the appointment and how long will it take. You will also be asked if you use a wheelchair or walker/cane and if someone will be accompanying you. After the receptionist takes all your information a volunteer driver will be phoned for your ride and given the details. The volunteer driver will call you to confirm arrangements to pick you up, take you to the appointment, and bring you home.
At this time there is no set cost to the client. Donations of any size are gratefully accepted and encouraged with tax receipts being issued for all contributions. This money is used to reimburse the driver for the kilometers put on the car while taking you to your appointment.
The more notice the better - at least a week would be best. There are a limited number of drivers so the more notice you can give, the more assured you are of having a ride to your appointment. Rides are based on the availability of drivers and on some occasions we may be unable to get a driver for you.
If for any reason you are unable to keep your appointment it very important you call 604-542-4357 and cancel your ride so the driver can be used for another client.
Peace Arch Community Services provides this service on a year round basis with the emphasis on completing tax returns for the previous year starting in mid-February until the end of April.
This service is for families and individuals with low or limited income who are under the age of 65 years and meet the low income levels established by the Canada Immigration and Revenue Agency. You cannot be self employed or receiving income from investments or rental property.
Volunteers are trained by Canada Immigration and Revenue Canada to do simple tax returns. The Volunteers are NOT tax experts and will do their best to answer your questions. They are not professionals on tax law or complicated issues.
During the peak months of February to April, look for notices at the PACS Food Bank and PACS Main Office with specific drop off times. Bring all of your T4, T5, and other income related papers along with the current years tax forms to either location between the specific times listed on the notice and a volunteer will interview you and collect all your paper work.
All your personal information is handled confidentially by the volunteers who actually complete your return. The return may be done electronically where possible, manually if not. You will be called when your return is completed so you can pick up your copy. If it has been filed electronically there will be a form for you to sign which we forward to the Revenue Agency. If the return has been done manually or cannot be e-filed there will be a copy for you to sign and for you to mail.
Volunteers are able to do taxes for these years but you MUST provide the financial information and slips as well as the tax forms for those years. The forms are available at the Canada Immigration and Revenue Agency located at 9755 King George Highway between 97th and 96th Avenues in Surrey.
Call 604-542-4357 and make an appointment to go to PACS Main Office. You MUST supply all the information as listed above.
Peace Arch Community Services, in partnership with community members and businesses, provide hampers for families and individuals in need and live in the White Rock /South Surrey area. We ask the people applying for a hamper to sign a form that gives us permission to share their name with other agencies providing hampers. This is done to ensure the resources of the community are spread around so all those in need have the opportunity to receive a 'hand' up during the holiday season. For more information call 604-542-4357 mid to end of October.
The Christmas Day Dinner has become a much loved tradition and actually takes place on Christmas Day. The First United Church located at Centre and Buena Vista in White Rock generously provides the facility, and our team of community volunteers provide their time. The event starts at noon with a traditional turkey dinner served at 1:00 pm. The dinner is intended for individuals and families who will be by themselves or far away from family on Christmas Day, however everyone is welcome. Call 604-531-6226 after November 30th to register for the dinner, and let us know if you need a ride.
