Media Releases
September 2011
Day of Caring Re-Scheduled
The special “Day of Caring” to construct a spiritual walking path to benefit local people has been rescheduled. Originally planned to take place on Saturday, Sept. 17, the Day of Caring presented by the United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes will now be held on Saturday, Oct. 1 in Lindsay.
Each year, the United Way’s Day of Caring sees local businesses, agencies and volunteers join together to produce a community project. This year’s project is the layout and construction of a labyrinth walking path at Hospice Kawartha Lakes, a division of Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes. The lead business will be Sir Sandford Fleming College. Due to the current strike action by college support workers at Fleming and all community colleges, the project has been rescheduled, says United Way executive director Penny Barton Dyke.
Despite the change, some work on the labyrinth has already taken place, thanks to the support of Bob Howe Landscaping, which has provided the path’s centre and a sitting stone for the middle of the labyrinth. The company donated its time and materials to make the centre of the path, said Hospice Kawartha Lakes director Jill Sadler.
The use of labyrinths as a meditational or spiritual device is an ancient practice that has grown in use in communities and at facilities in the past few years. The path is usually laid out in a pattern that allows the walker to begin and end the trek at the same point, while experiencing a journey that may assist in emotionally helping to experience personal growth.
“This is the type of project that will provide anyone who is interested with the chance to help out,” Sadler said. “We would love to see the community embrace this project. We are going to require help with the laying out and digging of the pathway on Oct. 1, the laying of gravel, limestone screening and topsoil, as well as transporting materials and supplies. Anyone with some time and interest in helping is welcome to join us on Oct. 1.” Work will commence at 10 a.m.
People interested in volunteering their time or expertise for the Oct. 1 Day of Caring is asked to contact Jill Sadler at Hospice (705-324-7323 ext 501) or Penny Barton Dyke at the United Way (705-878-5081) to discuss details.
Seasonal Helpers for Home Cleanup Sought
The need for help around the home tends to increase in the autumn and winter seasons, and Community Care hopes to connect residents with the assistance they seek. The agency is presently recruiting for its brokered helpers program. The service is designed to match residents with people who could perform tasks such as light yard work, snow clearing and other seasonal maintenance chores.
“At this time of year, we have a definite need to get more brokered helpers registered in our database, as many residents will be calling our agency to inquire about people who can clear snow or help with yard work,” says Joan Skelton, Director of Community Support Services.
Community Care acts as the broker between helpers and clients who contact the agency to inquire about assistance. The agency offers a listing of individuals who provide assistance with home maintenance and repair. Brokered helpers must be registered with the agency and arrangements for service and payments are made directly between the brokered helper and individual requiring assistance. Brokered helpers wishing to register with Community Care will be screened with an interview and reference checks, and must also provide a current police check with the Vulnerable Sector Search.
Help is currently required throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes, but particularly in Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls and Lindsay. Anyone interested in contacting Community Care about registering as a brokered helper can discuss the program further with Volunteer Services Co-ordinator Eileen MacCormack at 705-324-7323 ext 163 or e-mail her at emaccormack@community-care.on.ca.
Personal Growth Program For Seniors Returns
You’re never too old to stop learning, about yourself and about others. That philosophy is the driving impetus behind an annual personal growth program being offered by a local agency this fall.
The next sessions of the A Time For Me program presented by Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes are scheduled to run from Sept. 28 to Nov. 9 in Lindsay.
A Time For Meis a nationally-recognized program that focuses on personal strengths and growths, and healthy aging. It is designed for people over 55 years of age and deals with many myths about aging, says Kerri Daley, program manager for Lindsay Community Care.
“People can learn at any age, and seniors have a great deal of experience and can be of great value to anyone they deal with,” she says. “This program is for people who would like to enrich their life and get to know themselves and others better.”
Weekly sessions will run for eight weeks. Cost of the program is $30 per person. The sessions will be held 9:30 a.m. to noon at Community Care’s administration offices in Lindsay (34 Cambridge St. S.).
Topics of discussion will include building on personal strengths, improving listening skills, enriching relationships, making new friends, benefiting from life experiences and making new starts following significant experiences. Past participants have said the course gave them emotional lifts, provided an opportunity to clarify and express their feelings, and inspired them to carry on or face new challenges by focusing on strengths, self-confidence and friendships.
A Time For Me is led by trained facilitators (Joan Smiley, Lynne Kimmett) and course materials are included in the regitration fee. Refreshments and snacks are also provided. People may register by contacting Community Care at 705-324-7323, ext 231.
Further information:
Kerri Daley
(705) 324-7323, ext 231
Change in Adult Day Program Location
The service remains the same, but the location of the Fenelon Falls Adult Day Program operated by Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes will change next month.
After operating the Adult Day Program for many years at 70 Murray St. in Fenelon Falls, Community Care will relocate the program to the Fenelon Falls United Church on April 1. Officials with Community Care expect that there will be no disruption in the three-day per week program. Fenelon Falls United Church is at 123 Colborne St.
“Community Care is pleased to continue to offer this important programming to clients in the Fenelon Falls area on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays,” said Adult Day Program Supervisor Rosanne Moloney. “Our hours will continue at 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and we will be offering an array of activation activities such as crafts, music and outings for frail seniors and individuals with special needs. Our Adult Day program also includes a mid-day meal and two snacks.”
The program is affordable and is presented by trained staff and dedicated volunteers, Ms Moloney said. The service can help improve quality of life for seniors, lift the burden from caregivers, and is designed to help clients remain active and live at home longer, rather than having to consider a move to a long-term care institution.
Jethro Staples, chair of the Official Board of Fenelon Falls United, said being able to provide a new location for the program fits nicely with the church’s community outreach mandate.
“We are very happy that the church is in a position to help Community Care out. It’s a nice, comfortable fit with our church’s outreach goal, which is to offer the building, when we can, to others in the community,” Mr. Staples said. He added that the Adult Day program provides a much-needed respite for caregivers of clients.
Moving the Adult Day Program was necessitated by the recent addition of the new affordable housing building adjacent to 70 Murray St.
“We would like to thank the Fenelon Area Independent Living Association (FAILA), which has provided a home for our Adult Day program for many years,” said Joan Skelton, Director of Community Support Services with Community Care. “The addition of the affordable housing building has resulted in an increased need by FAILA for common area space for tenant programming. We appreciate the long notice period provided by FAILA, which gave us the time needed to secure a new location in Fenelon Falls for our day program and put the plans in place to ensure a smooth transition.”
Community Care continues to operate its Home Support Services, including Meals on Wheels and volunteer driver transportation from the FAILA building at 70 Murray, as well as providing assisted living services to some tenants in the two buildings.
“The partnership between FAILA and Community Care is a successful model of community support services delivery and we continue to work together with FAILA and other community partners to provide valuable services that support independence for seniors and people with special needs,” Ms Skelton said. “We are very appreciative of the support shown to us by the Fenelon Falls United Church in welcoming us to their church hall and we look forward to working with them.”
Community Care also operates Adult Day Programs in Bobcaygeon on Wednesdays and Fridays, Burnt River on Wednesdays, and Omemee Mondays and Thursdays. For further information about the program, contact Rosanne Moloney at (705) 324-7323.
Kinsmen Support Appreciated
Community Care’s Program Manager (Lindsay & Fenelon Falls) Kerri Daley and Director of Marketing Mike Puffer were presented with a $500 donation from the Kinsmen Club of Lindsay in support of the agency’s new tote bags for frozen meals and other items. Kinsmen Doug Dent and club president Jim Brough purchased the first two bags. The environmentally friendly, re-usable bags are now available for purchase at Community Care offices throughout the City.
