Grand Manan plan aims to help youth get back on track

Harvest House Ministries initially came to Grand Manan last year in response to the deaths of three Grand Manan residents C Nadene Cook, Anthony Dow and David Lambert on October 10, 2004 C the latest in a series of vehicle related deaths of the island's youths. Many residents would say that those numbers seem to be increasing in recent years, and most relate it to an escalating alcohol and drug problem. Regardless of investigations and increased awareness, the underlying source of the problem, that some say is infiltrating the community, has residents concerned.

The Harvest House outreach group held a public meeting the evening of September 23 following a closed session with community leaders and a presentation to grade 9 through 12 students of the community school earlier that day.

The outreach team is proposing that, in conjunction with the office of the community coordinator and with the support of the village, school and local authorities, an effort be made to provide an outlet for those struggling with addictions. Harvest House would like to see alternative housing options made available to those in domestic situations for whom temporary shelter would be constructive and that appropriate counselling be made more readily available to those in need.

Several remarks were made that the numbers were less than reflective of the severity of the situation and the percentage of the island that stands to be impacted, if not already impacted. On the other hand, Harvest House was pleased with the genuine interest of citizens who were there and said the students of Grand Manan Community School seem to be more receptive to the alternatives they are offering to help keep them on the "straight and narrow."

Harvest House is targeting its efforts toward the youth of Grand Manan, primarily between the ages of 16 and 25. They are calling on educational and other community leaders to get involved in this movement, to bring credibility to what they are trying to accomplish, in addition to what else they can contribute. They are in the process of acquiring a facility on the island that would allow them to initially provide temporary housing for 10 men and five women. Their plans include returning to the island in November to start training those in the community willing to take an interest.

Harvest House generally works with those 16 years of age and older with the goal of reaching troubled individuals before they end up "in the system" in some form. Their approach is one of confronting, in a non-threatening environment, the issues that are leading individuals astray in an attempt to redirecting them to be more functional members of society. Their mission, in part, is to be a catalyst for healthy change within the community they serve. At the same time, they seek to represent those individuals who do wind up in legal trouble, as a voice of advocacy for social justice. Their overall goal is to provide an unconditional support network to help break destructive cycles, a network they claim is interdenominational.

Harvest House, however, is a religious organization, which raises the question of whether such a program will be widely accepted among those who for whom it is meant. Adding to the complexity is the "church versus state" overlap because not only do they function as a ministry, they want to work within the school system with the support of the justice system and local government.

At the village council meeting of October 3, Community Programs Coordinator for Grand Manan, Karey Ingalls, pledged her support for Harvest House. Ingalls said she feels strongly that their service would be a huge asset in assisting those in need within the community and sees the value of extending that service beyond that directed at the young people. Ingalls directed attention to the isolation of the island as a consideration in whether it would be practical to launch a program of this sort on Grand Manan.

The outreach ministerial group operates on charitable donations and has received government funding in the past. While there was no representative present from the RCMP at the meeting, Harvest House does apparently work with members of the legal system to provide post-release housing, counselling, training and corresponding work opportunities, to individuals attempting to reintegrate into society from prison facilities. For those leaving facilities for substance-abuse problems, they offer a place to go immediately afterward in cases where the provision of additional structure would be beneficial.

Full details of how they apply the beliefs and standards to which they hold their members can be found at http://www.hhoutreach.org .