As a youngster, the front porch of Michael McCoy’s family home offered him a view of the world as he knew it.
In an era long before digital connectivity, a universe of TV programming, and a plethora of structured activities vying for our attention, small-town Timmins, Ontario, provided a rich community experience where neighbours shared their lives and experiences — both good and bad — while offering support and hope.
It’s those values and that sense of community McCoy, who retires as executive director of Touchstone Family Association next March after 30 years in the field of community care, is wishing to continue through a unique, family service he started 10 years ago.
The Front Porch Program offers barrier-free access to counselling and support services to anyone who asks for it.
“In the summer time, everyone sat out on the front steps of my neighbourhood,” said McCoy. “People traded family stories, kids played. And there was a sense of community. You knew your neighbour was someone you could rely on.”
Today, few neighbourhoods have that. As a result, McCoy believes people often live in isolation; they fear asking for help as it carries a stigma or they face a monetary barrier that makes it impossible to even think of reaching out.
“So, we just started off very slowly. But, through word of mouth, we now field an enormous amount of calls, to the point we sometimes have a three-month waiting period.”
Last year, a total of 130 families in Richmond received help and Touchstone provided 882 hours of direct counselling with youth and families. “The Front Porch is about getting people to not be afraid. Families run into difficulties. No one gets through life with a perfect score.” McCoy said. “We’re trying to say it’s perfectly okay to not understand something. It’s also about getting back to hope. If somebody knows the porch light is on, they are going to knock on the door. If the light’s not on, they are going to pass by.”
McCoy said he was taught at an early age that, in a community, there are always people in need, and being part of that community means taking care of one another.
“Growing up in an environment where the adults made you aware of that, it stays with you,” he said.
“I think that government needs to understand that there’s a need for this service. And if someone doesn’t take the initiative to provide the service to prove the need, it will never happen,” McCoy said.
Because clients of the Front Porch are not referred to the agency by the Ministry of Children and Family development (as is the case with other Touchstone programs) the Front Porch doesn’t receive government funding.
But McCoy argues it is vitally important to catch families before their situations get to the point where the ministry is involved.
“So, we need people to support us to provide advocacy for families who want help, support, and want to change.
“I would very much like Richmond to be a national leader in that, because we talk a lot about being a family-based community.”
The Front Porch operates on a donation basis.
To help fund the program, and others, Touchstone has been the beneficiary of the annual Tee-Cup Charity Golf Tournament.
And now a new, crowdfunding initiative called FundAid is taking part to help provide support.
“Richmond deserves to have a barrier-free, family support program. In fact, every community should have that, in some way, shape or form.
“If everyone gave a dollar, we could run this program for two and-a-half years, as it stands rights now.”
For information on FundAid, visit www.fundaid.ca/touchstone or call 604-630-3525.
