needs

The initial catalyst for the Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit was the lack of operating space faced by 630 CHED Santas Anonymous.  Today, the Jerry Forbes Centre promises to address a range of issues faced by non-profit organizations across our community:  

• an urgent need for affordable, sustainable and flexible operating space (office and warehouse) 
• economic conditions that increase demands on non-profit organizations in our community 
• limited access to resources (technical, administrative, electronic and educational)
• “make-shift” work and/or volunteer environments
• inadequate volunteer access (public transit and parking)
   

impacts

Jerry Forbes Centre will impact non-profits by:

• allowing them to meet the growing demands for their services by providing them a single, permanent and cost effective office/warehouse facility to operate from
• reduce operations costs by providing common shared spaces for resources, meeting rooms and shared reception
• build capacity in the non-profit sector through mission enhancement, cross-organizational collaboration and build synergies in shared support services and multi-stakeholder initiatives
• create a community facility that will be self-sustaining, where costs to non-profits are significantly below commercial rates – participants paying only operating costs with zero base rent
• provide flexible leases for office or warehouse space to users whose programs or events are seasonal or short-term
• be a permanent home for Santas Anonymous, the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton and approximately 20 other small, non-profit organizations such as warehouse space for The Edmonton Folk Music Festival and offices for the Autism Society of Edmonton Area
• be a community hub that will create public awareness for all; as people visit one agency they will learn of the others  and so provide a multitude of opportunities to volunteers to give their time and talents

Jerry Forbes Centre will impact our community by:

• recipients receiving improved service and program delivery, as participating non-profits will focus less on administrative issues and costs and more on providing services to those in need
• being completely accessible and barrier free
• being accessible via public transit and having ample free parking
• being environmentally sustainable facility that aims to be built to LEED® Gold certification
• Edmonton volunteers will have a centre for excellence in volunteerism, where opportunities would be readily available in a secure, comfortable and welcoming environment
• creating a confident and caring community