Chris Palmer, of Mercy Mercy, performing Friday January 27 with Darryl Torchia at SSCOPE at 1466 Arlington St.

Darryl Torchia, part of Mercy Mercy, performing live at 8:00 pm at Treasures by SSCOPE stage on January 27th.

We’re kicking off our Community Days on January 27th (and every 4th Friday of the month) with two great live music performances at 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm, plus Treasures thrift store specials and Open Mike all afternoon until 7:00 pm.  Everyone most welcome to come out and support SSCOPE and mental health!!!. View the full news release here.  There is a special plea for donations of Vinyl recordings and other music such as CD’s and Cassettes, plus all musical equipment as we expand our Musical department at Treasures. 

The text of the flier being delivered into the neighboring community is below.  Call 987-6300 if you need more information.  See you there.

 This Friday January 27^th (& every 4^th Friday of the month)

its Shop and Song Night at Treasures by SSCOPE thrift shop

 Treasures by SSCOPE at 1466 Arlington Street open til 9:00 pm this Friday January 27^th.

Many 1 Time and Hourly Specials from 12:00 noon on and extra specials at 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and 8:00 pm

Kick out the Winter Blahs with 2 Great Live Performances Starting at 7:00 pm

***The Home Street Band with Marv Thiessen, (SSCOPE Operations Leader on guitar and vocals) 

***Mercy Mercy-The Chris Palmer & Darryl Torchia Band

***plus Open Mic(rophone) from 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm

Please Note: All proceeds from the sale of items from the Treasures by SSCOPE thrift shop go to support SSCOPE’s programs to create meaningful employment and income for the over 140 and growing individuals with mental health issues who are part of our program.

Treasures by SSCOPE thrift store visitors and our new Treasures performance stage will see a great new Band, Taylor and Young, on our new Performance stage on Friday January 13 between 1:00 and 2:00 pm 

Hear their unique funk rock sound here

Drop by to hear their music and browse the Treasures vinyl bins, vintage clothing or collectibles, or even bring some vinyl in (or anything else for that matter) and donate to SSCOPE to assist our fund raising and work to support mental health through meaningful jobs and real income.

Watch for our next Open Mike days on January 27th, February 24th, March 23 and April 27, all Fridays and then our big Rockin’ the Ridge third annual get the summer started  Festival on Saturday May 26 

If you are a band or single performer and you would like to perform for an audience on any of those dates in support of SSCOPE and our work on behalf of mental health in the community, just call 987-6302 or email us at sscope@sscope.org

Global TV News in Winnipeg interviewed employee members of SSCOPE and ran a news story on Wednesday evening at 6:00pm January 4th, on our Christmas Tree pickup and recycling program.  The program not only creates additional work for member employees with mental health difficulties, it helps raise funds for our non profit and our mission, and it’s an important part of recycling and reuse in our community.  

View the Global news story HERE

Shaw Community Channel 9 is also currently airing a recent interview about SSCOPE and our Christmas Tree program which we do annually in conjunction with the City of Winnipeg CHIP-IT program, as part of our fundraising efforts to continue to expand our employment programs and services for our members with a mental health and related disabilities.

View the Shaw Community 9 story about SSCOPE and Christmas Tree recycling HERE

Here’s the link to the story.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/mental-illness-reaching-epidemic-level-136420518.html

It’s a worthy read and we encourage everyone to join this conversation about mental health.

The article notes employment levels are considerably lower for individuals with persistent mental health problems, something which SSCOPE has worked to address for the over 20 years of our existence. Currently we employ 40 to 50 individuals every payroll, with over 135 employed through SSCOPE in 2011. Our goal, with sufficient funding resources and development partnerships, is to at least double that by 2013, end of year.

We’re picking up Trees again in 2012 for removal and recycling at the Chip It sites operated by the City of Winnipeg. Donation per tree to our non profit is $20 or more per tree. Please call 987-6300 to book your pickup or email sscope@sscope.org.

Thank you for supporting SSCOPE and our employment programs for mental health!

Unloading at a local Chip It Site in 2011

Approximately 45 employee members attended our Christmas luncheon on Friday, December 16 at Canton Buffet, plus our Staff of six, and several members of our Board.  Members who have gone on to school later in the year, such as Melissa and Keith, returned.  Members from previous years, such as Derek and Travis, came out to renew acquaintances and explore rejoing our workforce.  A lot of chat, happy faces and plates piled high.

An unprecedented turnout, for SSCOPE, just another sign of the rapid growth and solid responses we are receiving for our new enhanced employment and on the job training activities were have been able to develop after our move to 1466 Arlington St. 

All members received a Gift Certificate to Treasures by SSCOPE our new retail thrift Store. for their Christmas shopping, plus a small Christmas gift based on public and agency donations received, designed on a profit sharing principle, based on their hours of employment with SSCOPE during 2011…plus of course a fabulous all-you-can-eat buffet. 

And right after lunch, the job crews, in good spirits and with full stomachs, went back to snow shoveling our customers’ properties…..and they will continue on Saturday…

Latest addition to SSCOPE's crew moving vehicles, a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban donated by Manitoba Hydro to help us serve our ever growing list of customers and jobs

SSCOPE recently found itself needing an additional vehicle to move crews around to the jobs sites as a result of a large new contract we received.  A donated or loaned used vehicle would fit perfectly into our need for an additional work vehicle during high peak times. 

Manitoba Hydro stepped forward almost immediately to our request, and blessed us with a fully saftied and repaired 2000 Chevrolet Suburban that just happened to be coming off it’s life for Manitoba Hydro.  An almost one of a kind for them, with three rows of seats, this was very serendipitous time for SSCOPE.  Thank you Hydro for supporting employment for mental health in Winnipeg and supporting the self initiated stable coping and recovery lives for our members.

One it’s first day of use, December 16, we were able to deliver Ryan and Nigel to a job site at Sentinel Storage as part of our new Community Placements employment program, vist 15 City of Winnipeg properties to clear snow and transport 12 member-workers to our Christmas luncheon.  Thank you sincerely to Shirley, Doug, Steve and Mr. Brennan of Manitoba Hydro for seeing the value of the SSCOPE program to the community.

Our letter to Bob Brennan, President of Manitoba Hydro is below:

_______________

November 25, 2011

Mr. Bob Brennan, President

Manitoba Hydro

360 Portage Ave

Winnipeg, MB R3C 0G8

Dear Mr. Brennan:

We are writing you to request your immediate assistance to our non profit organization, if possible, with an additional vehicle requirement.  SSCOPE is a registered charity: # 135298115RR0001

We recently received a large snow shoveling contract with the City of Winnipeg for City Hall, police stations, libraries etc, that will create 12 new jobs within our organization, plus we do snow shoveling work for Manitoba Housing and over 75 other residential and commercial properties.  Earlier this week one of our crew vehicles was damaged by vandalism and we are unable to continue to use it.  We are now looking at the most cost efficient ways to replace that vehicle at this late date.

We are hoping the Manitoba Hydro may have a Crew Cab truck or passenger van you could loan or donate to SSCOPE that would at least take us through the end of the snow season season to early April, 2012.  We would also be pleased to take on additional snow shoveling.

By way of background, SSCOPE is currently actively developing and expanding our mission of providing employment to needy individuals in Winnipeg with mental health issues.  We are adding more and more training components to the on the job experience we already provide. The demand for our services continues to grow.  Each month we receive 10-15 new applications, in November already over 20.

We want to give our over 130 active members/labour force more usable skills to help them in transition from basic labour jobs to working in construction, automotive, retail and the food services industry. Existing WRHA core funding just partially covers on the day to day operating expenses of the organization.  It is the goal of the Board of Directors and the Staff for the organization to become self sufficient within two years.

Your assistance is important to allow us to continue to expand our mission to serve more individual and provide a higher level of skills and experience to them, making them more employable and more productive within the city and provincial labour force.  We of course will provide full and appropriate recognition for Manitoba Hydro.

Please contact me for any more information your require about our request or SSCOPE in general. My direct email is bob@sscope.org and direct phone is 987-6302.  Thank you sincerely

Yours sincerely,

Bob Rempel

Executive Director

2010 Christmas Luncheon at Canton Buffet

SSCOPE Christmas luncheon will be held December 16 at Canton Buffet at 1111 Logan Ave., at McPhillips starting at 11:45 am. See directions here.  Our third year in a row at this venue, it’s a popular location with an all you can eat buffet. 

All employee-members who worked with SSCOPE this past year are being contacted by the Office and being encouraged to attend our 2011 Luncheon and celebration of the strides forward for the organization in 2011.   Staff and Board Members will also be in attendance.  If members need a ride to the lunch please be at SSCOPE’s office at 1466 Arlington St.

We thank our many customers and suppliers who generously donated to the cost of the luncheon for SSCOPE and to our Member Support Fund to allow us to provide door prizes, gifts and certificates to our employees.  Treasures by SSCOPE , our own thrift store, will be also be providing all those in attendance with a Christmas gift certificate.

In 2011, over 130 employees with mental health disabilities and other issues, have worked with SSCOPE, within our supported work environment, earning nearly $100,000 in wages.

Karaoke fun, Great live music, late shopping at Treasures on November 25th at SSCOPE’s Treasures thrift store and we’ll do it again on January 27th.  Open mike all night, (contact Bob at 987-6302 if you or your group would like to perform on behalf of our mental health cause at SSCOPE) and an opportunity to kick out the winter blues a little.  

Now here are the photos from our November 25th event:

L.L. Folk Group, a D.B. Blues band spinoff were the featured act on November 25th

Board member Brian Timlick drops in to enjoy Treasures Stage performances

Marv Thiessen performing “Simple Man” at Treasures stage

Staff and Members enjoy the socializing at the first Treasures Shop and Sing Night

Sign Designer and Painter, Richard Williams

Treasures window as of Friday December 9th

A new SSCOPE employee-member has brought years of signage experience to the organization allowing us to begin a new on the job training experience in the Signage industry for some of our members.  What better way to get started then to get SSCOPE’s offices and Treasures Thrift store ready for the Christmas season.  View the pictures and results below and we welcome you to drop by before Christmas to support our Gift Fund for our employee members through your generous donation or purchases at Treasures.

Fittingly, a SSCOPE staff member, team leader Marvin Thiessen, is the first performer on the new Treasures by SSCOPE stage

Our stage is nearing completion and other preparations are continuing for Friday’s Treasures by SSCOPE live music and karaoke fun night as we kick off the Christmas season and celebrate recent successes at SSCOPE.  Everyone most welcome to join with our employees and support SSCOPE. 

The L.L. Folk Group (a D.B. Blues Band spinoff) will be performing at 8:00 pm with karaoke starting at 5:00 pm.   Hourly specials at the store, great donated door prizes up for auction bid and many buy-one-get-one free deals as well.  For more information call 987-6300 or email sscope@sscope.org

SSCOPE has recently added a 2011 Ford F150 XLT 1/2 ton Truck to its complement of work vehicles thanks to the generosity and support of the Winnipeg Foundation, the Thomas Sill Foundation, and the Manitoba Community Services Council.  It was purchased from Parkside Ford in Winnipeg after a competitive bid process.  The vehicle will be primarily used as the lead vehicle for equipment and crew transportation for our Property Maintenance division.  SSCOPE also continues to operate our 2000 3/4 Ton Crew Cab vehicle,, our 2007 Ford F450 3 Ton Moving and Deliveries Van, plus a rental passenger van for moving crews as needed.

SSCOPE takes on large and small snow shoveling jobs on contract to provide meaningful work for our members

A new employee-member referred to us by one of our partners, the EIA Marketabilities Team, recently told us how important being hired at SSCOPE, and the importance of work in general was.  We believe in the importance of employment to stabilize and assist recovery, and we know our employee members do to.  We want to share their words so that when you hire SSCOPE to work for you, the community knows how important being able to work is, for those with a mental health disability or issue and how much you are helping.

“The first thing I think of is a sense of self worth and appreciation. Coming from a very unbalanced life as to what a normal society considers work ethics, my perspectives draw me considerably close to co-dependency. Working allows me freedom to live, function and spend as I choose. With the appreciation of each day at work, my interactions with others and the provisions to purchase my necessities and wants at my leisure. Knowing I am able to depend solely  on my effort has freed me from a lot of anxieties and unwanted ties to co-dependency.  This is my statement of the importance of work for me as a mental health consumer.”

New Signage Outside SSCOPE Treasures Thrift Store at 1466 Arlington St.

Please join us on Friday evening, November 25th at Treasures by SSCOPE at 1466 Arlington St. as we get Christmas Shopping started with many Buy 1 Get 1 Free Specials, plus kickoff use of our coffeehouse style permanent stage in the facility witk karaoke and live performances.  It will also be a celebration of a large new contract for winter work recently awarded to SSCOPE.  Treasures will be open from 10:00 am to Late that day.

See the flier here and see you at Treasures, Friday night November 25th

Four SSCOPE employees filling the North Hill order

We are nearing completion of a new assembly and packaging contract for North Hill Environmental involving the labeling and filling of 3900 units for retail sale. 

Our new facility at 1466 Arlington allows us to store and warehouse the items for the owner while the work is ongoing. In addition we are able to provide transportation services to the owner’s location with the three ton truck we own, when the job will be done later this week.   Jim Hilderman, owner of North Hill, has worked closely with SSCOPE during the contract and it has proven to be a good working relationship.

SSCOPE workers and supervisors demonstrated we can take on projects like this and we are actively seeking out more to continue to provide a wide variety of work opportunities through our “businesses for a cause”, at SSCOPE Inc., said Bob Rempel, Executive Director.