Weston girls get involved at Girls’ Club

WINNIPEG, MB – The spicy smell of seasoned ground beef permeates the air at The Salvation Army Weston Corps. Good natured laughter rings out as a young girl tries again and again to fold her tortilla-wrapped creation – maybe this time it will be in a way that contains all the ingredients. At the next table, girls braid friendship bracelets out of skeins of embroidery floss. The knots in these bracelets are not the only bonds being created today.

The Winnipeg neighbourhood of Weston grew up around the Canadian Pacific railyard and the maintenance jobs the yard created in the first half of the 20th century. As job opportunities at the Weston Shops slumped, so did the neighbourhood. The average household income in the area falls below the Low Income Cut-Off measurement of poverty, which can translate into exclusion and marginalization for the girls of Weston.

Lieutenants Keesom and Tina Phanthaamath took over as the officers of The Salvation Army Weston Community Church in 2014, and the couple immediately set themselves the task of assessing the needs of their new community. Tina oversees the program, and has a wonderful collaborator in the form of Rebecca Ward. Rebecca has volunteered with the club at Weston for the last five years, and is very proud of the rapport she’s built with the girls that come every Tuesday night.

Moving forward, there are plans to provide more support and encouragement to those attending Girls’ Club. Guest speakers from the extended community will be invited to speak to the girls about topics relevant to their needs, such as: nutrition and exercise, safety and legal issues, health and hygiene, and any other specific information the girls might ask for.

If you wish to help out with a donation or want to discuss the possibility of being a volunteer or guest speaker at Girls’ Club, please contact Tina at 204-786-5066.

Featured image: Lt. Tina and volunteer Rebecca (floral print) demonstrate food preparation to Weston girls