FAQs (frequently asked questions)
Where do you get your funding?
We receive the funding needed to keep the doors of the NPC open 4 days a week from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm from various sources. The NPC reaches out to the entire community of Norfolk for funding in the following ways:
- Fund & Friend Raising events throughout the year including our annual banquet, Who’s Got Hope Tour and Labouring on the Billboard event, to name a few.
- Baby Bottle Campaign------NPC, along with many other Pregnancy Centres around the world, offers a Baby Bottle Campaign a couple of times per year. Empty baby bottles are delivered to churches, businesses and organizations around Norfolk. Those choosing to take a bottle are asked to fill it with donations to support the centre.
- Canada Summer Jobs Student (CSJ)-----for the past several years NPC has applied for and been accepted to receive a summer student. The CSJ pays the approved student minimum wage. We often pay extra to the student to help them with their success and goals.
- Municipal Government Funding----not really. We apply for some funding from our local municipal government. They offer an opportunity for non-profit, charitable organizations to apply for some funding. In the past, we typically receive $1,000.00 from the application of this once per year grant.
- Grants---we apply for grants from various organizations.
- Businesses, Service Clubs, Individuals.
We are so thankful to all of our donors and cherish each dollar we receive. We use the money wisely to ensure we are offering the best programs and supports to families in our community.
Is NPC a branch of a church or churches?
NPC is an independent organization with its own charitable status. We are a provincially incorporated organization. Although many churches support the work we offer to those who choose our services we are not affiliated with any one church, denomination or business.
Why do you say you are NOT a medical facility?
We do not want to confuse the people who choose to come for the supports and services we offer. So we try to make it clear that we are not a medical facility. Because each Pregnancy Centre is run independently some choose to have ultrasound services as a choice for women. We do not have these needs in our local area because access to those services is available in our community.
When a medical issue (s) arises during a client’s visit to the NPC we highly recommend they seek medical advice from a medical professional.
Some examples, of when we advise clients to seek medical attention:
- They think they are pregnant
- They think they may have a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)
- They are suffering with potential Post Partum depression
- They want an abortion
Do you serve the LGBTQ community?
Yes, we serve anyone who chooses to walk through our doors and engage in the supports and programs we offer. Currently, we are serving several members who identify with the LGBTQ2 community. We offer non-judgmental education, love and support.
Yes, we serve anyone who chooses to walk through our doors and engage in the supports and programs we offer. Currently, we are serving several members who identify with the LGBTQ2 community. We offer non-judgmental education, love and support.
What are your salaries and how many people do you employ?
The salaries for the NPC are approximately $90,000.00 per year. This amount is shared between four (4) part time staff. The cost to run our FREE programs and services is $ 147 000 per year. We could not run our programs and services without volunteers who generously gave 4241 volunteer hours to NPC.
Some charities choose to add their wages in the costs of the programs. We choose to follow CRA rules and separate the wages from the cost of the programs.
According to the Canadian Council of Christian Charities and many others, the NPC staff is working at a “sacrificial” pay scale. Ultimately, the pay each salaried person receives is FAR below the going rate for helping organizations of our nature. Many helping organization’s Executive Directors receive $90,000.00 per year alone and many are on the Sunshine list.
NPC prides itself on being good stewards of our donors' money. As mentioned, the approximately $90k per year in salaries is for four dedicated and amazing staff including: Executive Director, Client & Volunteer Services Director, Centre DevelopmentCoordinator, Program Coordinator.
All of the financial records are available on line through the CRA website at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
I hear the term Pro Choice or Anti Abortion, where does the NPC fit into this?
Statements such as Pro Choice or Anti Abortion are not terms we use at the Norfolk Pregnancy & Family Resource Centre for many reasons:
- Many statements beginning with Pro or Anti are often based in political arenas. We are not a political organization therefore; we do not use such terms.
- In fact, these statements can often be very condemning to women and their families as they are faced with heart wrenching decisions. When statements with Pro or Anti are used they can cause a woman and her family additional stress. Using these terms can make a person feel as though they are making an improper choice or feel as though they are being forced into something they do not want based on a political view. Many of our clients say, “I don’t like the Anti and Pro talk because it makes me feel like I am doing something wrong or making my decision to please others. I need to make a decision that is best for my life and my family’s life not what is best for a political group or other group.“
- Pro choice is misused and misunderstood in our culture. When a person is faced with a decision the best choice they can make is to choose to learn ALL of their options so they can make an educated decision about what is best for them and their family. Pro choice is not about a person making a choice a political group, activist or other group wants them to make. True choice is about having the knowledge, education and support to make the best choice for them and their family.
- At NPC, each pregnant client receives information on all options, enabling them to make their own informed decision.
- Feedback from many of the families we have helped say overwhelmingly that pro and anti terms makes them feel as though they are being judged and perhaps making a decisions that is not their decision, but someone else’s.
Whatever decision the woman and her family chooses the NPC will support the family throughout that decision.
