FirstSteps open again

BY KEITH LACEY

The local business community has rallied to restore a non-profit agency that worked with some of this community's poorest and most downtrodden members.

After closing operations in December due to lack of funding, FirstSteps, which has provided counselling and services to Greater Sudbury's poorest citizens for two years, is back in business again.

Thanks to the generous support of nine local businesses spearheaded by Gerald Legault, president of Breakers and Drills America's Sudbury office, enough funding has been found to re-open FirstSteps.

FirstSteps, located in the Samaritan Centre on Elgin Street, re-opened its doors earlier this week.

FirstSteps provides drug assessment and counseling services, peer support, transportation, job training and placements and networking services with other non-profit community organizations.

Jeremy Mahood, pastor at First Nations Church, which initiated FirstSteps two years ago, said the local business community deserves a giant pat on the back in restoring an agency that helps so many people who need help the most.

"Sudbury has always rallied around helping the most vulnerable members in this community and this is just another shining example of that," said Mahood.

Legault deserves most of the credit for coming forward and ensuring his business and others would provide the funding to allow FirstSteps to reopen, said Mahood.

"Gerry is really the person who made this happen...he deserves most of the credit," said Mahood.

Legault modestly said he's only trying to give something back to the community and credits the other business owners involved for showing such strong support.

FirstSteps did too much good work for so many less fortunate people to be shut down simply because of a lack of funding, said Legault.

There are a lot of poor people in this community who rely on community-run services, but many suffer from addiction and homelessness and need more than food provided at numerous soup kitchens in the city, said Legault.

"Just feeding these people doesn't change anything," he said. "We need to work together to try and help them break the cycle of poverty and addiction.

"Organizations like FirstSteps provide training and counseling and help these people get back on their feet."

Legault said he's personally committed to recruiting another dozen businesses to provide stable annual funding so FirstSteps can not only remain open, but hire more staff to offer even better services.

"We expect to have a total of about 20 businesses behind us...that's the goal we're striving for," he said.

Other businesses who have made significant contributions include William Day Construction, Corona Blasting and Drilling, Rainbow Concrete Industries, NorRoc Industrial Sales, Beavis Learning Systems, E.J. Mahood Inc. Consultants and Cambrian Ford.

Cambrian Ford donated a van to allow FirstSteps staff to pick up and drop off clients, drive them to job interviews and basically meet the transportation needs of the organization, said Mahood.

As a pastor of one of the busiest churches in Greater Sudbury, Mahood said it always warms his heart when members of this community rally behind worthwhile causes.

He said all citizens have an obligation and responsibility to care for the "poor and broken-hearted" and these good samaritans deserve recognition for saving an organization that literally saves lives, said Mahood.

"This is a combination of the people of Greater Sudbury, the business community, and faith, at its very best," he said.

With secure funding now in place for the long-term, Mahood said he and Legault should have no problem recruiting other businesses to join the good cause and provide funding for FirstSteps.

Only days after reopening its doors, Mahood paid a visit to FirstSteps Wednesday afternoon and was thrilled to see dozens of clients accessing services and counseling.

"Word spreads fast on the street...and those people who live on the street or are poor know all about what good work FirstSteps does in this community," he said.

Business owners and organizations wishing to support FirstSteps, can contact Mahood at 673-6110 or Legault at 562-1957.