Home For Life hosts weekly coffee social in Creemore

 In Community

Home for Life volunteer Rita Martin is starting a weekly coffee social in Creemore for anyone who could benefit from an outing and some companionship.
Martin has recently signed up with the Home For Life Program, operated by Community Connection in partnership with the South Georgian Bay Community Health Link.
The program aims is to enable people, mostly seniors and people with mobility issues, to live independently in their own homes for as long as they can.
Home For Life volunteers fill the role of a friend, someone to pay a friendly visit and offer companionship. They help by providing information, and reconnecting them to their community.
In addition to paying regular home visits to the person she will be matched with, Martin is organizing a coffee social in Creemore. (Home For Life already has coffee socials in Stayner, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach.)
Martin, and her husband Rainer Machold, are inviting people to Affairs Catering Bakery and Café on Wednesday afternoons for some social time.
Martin and Machold have a farm outside of Creemore, spending weekends in the area for 45 years and more recently becoming full-time residents.
“I believe there are many older people in the area who really would like to have a place to go and meet others,” said Martin. “Where people can look forward to getting together.”
Martin said she is a founder of the Toronto Waldorf Academy, and has had a varied and interesting career as a university professor, antiques dealer, and later took over her husband’s insurance business. She loves languages and travel.
The first coffee social at Affairs is Wednesday, April 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. They will continue at the same time every week.
Home For Life is unique to this area and is always looking for volunteers. The program was initiated eight years ago by local volunteers who saw that seniors living in social isolation could benefit from friendly visits.
The ideal volunteer is compassionate, empathetic, has a sense of humour, is comfortable with people and has some time to spare.
Once volunteers are screened there is an orientation and they are matched with someone in the area.
There are many ways to help. Most volunteers sign up for friendly visiting, which could include a chat over a cup of coffee or going for a walk. Others volunteer to rake leaves, do some yard work, or take the dog for a walk. And then there is the option to offer support by weekly phone call, through the telephone assurance program. The program also offers respite for caregivers.
For more information, visit www.homeforlifesgb.com, call 705-444-0040 ext. 149 or e-mail volunteer@homeforlifesgb.com.

Recent Posts

Leave a Comment

0