Sometimes You Just Need to Know Where to Start

In a small community like Stanstead, we are pretty good at helping one another find what we need.

We know who to call, who might be hiring, who offers a certain service, or who can point us toward someone who knows more. That informal network is one of the strengths of living in a place where people know each other.

But when it comes to bigger life changes like finding a first job, returning to school, changing careers or getting back into the workforce, knowing where to start isn’t always so easy.

Connecting People to the Right Support

That is where the partnership between Phelps Helps’ Compass program and Townshippers’ Association’s GUIDE program is making a difference.

At Phelps, Compass has become a familiar place to begin. We tend to meet people early in their journey: a young person looking for a first job, someone considering CEGEP or vocational training, or a participant who needs help with a CV, an application or simply figuring out their next step.

But our community includes people at every stage of that journey.

GUIDE extends the support beyond where Phelps’ expertise naturally ends. Their team brings professional employment and career guidance, connections to training, and opportunities such as UpSkills. Instead of duplicating services, we can connect people to the right expertise while keeping that support accessible here in Stanstead.

Local Connections, Broader Opportunities

And there is a local face behind that partnership.

Tanya Rhodes, a Fitch Bay resident and member of the GUIDE team, is available on site at Phelps Helps. For us, that matters. Rather than handing someone a phone number for an organization they have never visited, we can introduce them to Tanya in a place they already know.

It creates the kind of seamless support that makes sense in a rural community.

A teenager might first walk through our doors looking for a summer job. A few years later, they may need help choosing a new career path. A parent who has known Phelps through their children might one day be ready to return to school or work. Someone else may simply feel stuck and need a conversation about what options are out there.

Support That Meets People Where They Are

Not every person needs the same thing, and no single organization can provide everything. The strength is in knowing who can help—and making sure people don’t get lost along the way.

That is what good community partnership looks like to us: local relationships connected to broader expertise, with people at the centre.

So, if you are thinking about work, education, training or a change in direction—or know someone who is—come through the door and ask.

You don’t need to know exactly what you’re looking for yet. Sometimes you just need someone to help you find the right place to start.

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About Phelps Helps

Phelps Helps is a community-led non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, teens and young adults in Stanstead and the surrounding area. Through free educational, career and youth development programs, Phelps works alongside young people, families, schools, volunteers and community partners to create opportunities and remove barriers.

To learn more, volunteer or get involved, contact info@phelpshelps.ca, visit www.phelpshelps.ca or call 819-704-0799.

To learn more about GUIDE, visit townshippers.org.