About Steinbach Community Outreach
OUR MISSION
Steinbach Community Outreach was formed in 2008 to assist people in Steinbach and surrounding areas who are experiencing poverty and homelessness and are struggling to meet their essential needs by filling the gaps left by other programs and organizations. We do this by addressing their unmet essential needs of food, clothing, shelter and relationship; and assisting them in accessing available services.
THOSE WE SERVE
We assist approximately 12-15 people per month who are struggling with homelessness, and support approximately 400 households per year through our programming at our outreach center. Those we serve are families, single parents, and individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
HOW WE HELP
Our guests rely on us to assist them with basic start up items as they transition from the street into a permanent home. Once their basic shelter needs are met, we continue to offer our services on an ongoing basis, to assist in overcoming struggles and help them grow into the next step of independence and wholeness.
Practically, this looks like providing food, clothing, bedding, and toiletries. It's coffee and muffins and chatting around a table. It's welcoming, listening and connecting people with other services like the local food bank, soup kitchen, EIA, professional counsellors, and other agencies. It's helping people find affordable housing, filing income tax returns and driving them to appointments.
It is love, mercy and grace in action.
Steinbach Community Outreach was formed in 2008 to assist people in Steinbach and surrounding areas who are experiencing poverty and homelessness and are struggling to meet their essential needs by filling the gaps left by other programs and organizations. We do this by addressing their unmet essential needs of food, clothing, shelter and relationship; and assisting them in accessing available services.
THOSE WE SERVE
We assist approximately 12-15 people per month who are struggling with homelessness, and support approximately 400 households per year through our programming at our outreach center. Those we serve are families, single parents, and individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
HOW WE HELP
Our guests rely on us to assist them with basic start up items as they transition from the street into a permanent home. Once their basic shelter needs are met, we continue to offer our services on an ongoing basis, to assist in overcoming struggles and help them grow into the next step of independence and wholeness.
Practically, this looks like providing food, clothing, bedding, and toiletries. It's coffee and muffins and chatting around a table. It's welcoming, listening and connecting people with other services like the local food bank, soup kitchen, EIA, professional counsellors, and other agencies. It's helping people find affordable housing, filing income tax returns and driving them to appointments.
It is love, mercy and grace in action.
Irene Kroeker Founder, Executive Director and Client Aid Advocate
Irene is the founder and director of Steinbach Community Outreach. Irene's journey as a social justice warrior began in the classroom as an high school alternative education teacher. In dealing with these students she immediately recognized that the majority of them were hungry, living poverty and at risk of becoming homeless so she began feeding them on a regular basis at her own expense. Helping these students often meant helping their families problem solve their living situations as well. Very quickly word spread about what she was doing and the community became involved. What started in a corner of a classroom grew into a large community based organization. SCO moved out of the classroom and opened it's doors at the Steinbach Mennonite Church in February 2009. Irene was also the impetus for the founding of Today House, Steinbach's first homeless shelter.
Most of Irene's time is now spent assisting families and individuals on a one to one basis and participating in a few public speaking and media appearances. If you are low income and looking for housing assistance, support or need help dealing with issues in your life she is your girl! She will even go to appointments with you if you need it.
204-326-7954
Irene is the founder and director of Steinbach Community Outreach. Irene's journey as a social justice warrior began in the classroom as an high school alternative education teacher. In dealing with these students she immediately recognized that the majority of them were hungry, living poverty and at risk of becoming homeless so she began feeding them on a regular basis at her own expense. Helping these students often meant helping their families problem solve their living situations as well. Very quickly word spread about what she was doing and the community became involved. What started in a corner of a classroom grew into a large community based organization. SCO moved out of the classroom and opened it's doors at the Steinbach Mennonite Church in February 2009. Irene was also the impetus for the founding of Today House, Steinbach's first homeless shelter.
Most of Irene's time is now spent assisting families and individuals on a one to one basis and participating in a few public speaking and media appearances. If you are low income and looking for housing assistance, support or need help dealing with issues in your life she is your girl! She will even go to appointments with you if you need it.
204-326-7954
Myra Gerbrandt Drop in Center Director
Myra's huge heart serves her well when running SCO's drop in center located at 345 Loewen Blvd. If you are looking to volunteer with SCO she is the person to talk to! At the drop in center Myra's duties include organizing volunteers and programs; organizing fun evening events for guests and volunteers; collecting, organizing and handing out food and clothing donations; and providing a listening ear for guests when needed. In addition to running the drop in center Myra also does public speaking events with youth groups, schools and other agencies as well as coordinating media relations.
204-392-2650
Myra's huge heart serves her well when running SCO's drop in center located at 345 Loewen Blvd. If you are looking to volunteer with SCO she is the person to talk to! At the drop in center Myra's duties include organizing volunteers and programs; organizing fun evening events for guests and volunteers; collecting, organizing and handing out food and clothing donations; and providing a listening ear for guests when needed. In addition to running the drop in center Myra also does public speaking events with youth groups, schools and other agencies as well as coordinating media relations.
204-392-2650
Tammy Bekkering Director of Housing and Client Aid Advocate
Tammy's time at SCO is spent assisting families and individuals on a one to one basis. She helps people who come to Outreach find affordable housing and provides assistance with any other issues they may face. If you need help wading through paper work, connecting with agencies, or financial advice Tammy is your girl! She is even willing to go to appointments with you if you need it!
204-898-9033
Tammy's time at SCO is spent assisting families and individuals on a one to one basis. She helps people who come to Outreach find affordable housing and provides assistance with any other issues they may face. If you need help wading through paper work, connecting with agencies, or financial advice Tammy is your girl! She is even willing to go to appointments with you if you need it!
204-898-9033
Madeleine Thiessen Client Aid Advocate
Madeleine spends her time at Outreach caring for the needs of anyone who comes in our doors looking for help. She helps people who are struggling by problem solving any challenge they may be facing by listening to concerns and challenges, connecting them with resources, booking appointments and figuring out the best path forward.
204-371-6240
Madeleine spends her time at Outreach caring for the needs of anyone who comes in our doors looking for help. She helps people who are struggling by problem solving any challenge they may be facing by listening to concerns and challenges, connecting them with resources, booking appointments and figuring out the best path forward.
204-371-6240
Charlene Kroeker Office Manager
Charlene's main job at SCO is to do all the background stuff that keeps Outreach running. She does the bookkeeping, grant applications, and any behind the scenes organizational tasks that need doing. If you have questions about donations, donation receipts, fundraisers, or any general questions she's the girl to call! Charlene also helps people with filling out forms, making resumes, filing taxes or any other paperwork related items.
204-380-2692
Charlene's main job at SCO is to do all the background stuff that keeps Outreach running. She does the bookkeeping, grant applications, and any behind the scenes organizational tasks that need doing. If you have questions about donations, donation receipts, fundraisers, or any general questions she's the girl to call! Charlene also helps people with filling out forms, making resumes, filing taxes or any other paperwork related items.
204-380-2692
Meet Our Board
Elroy Peters
Board Chair |
Bob Schinkel
Vice Chair |
Dolly Fuchs
Treasurer |
Daryl Climenhaga
Secretary 
Brittney Penner
Irene Kroeker
Executive Director |
Tammy Bekkering
Eric Rempel
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Ingrid Penner
Deb Will
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Annual Report Books
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