Page 5 - CLH Foundation - Connected - Winter 2020

BRIDGING

THE GAP

HOME C OOKED MEALS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

A $6,000 donation from Huronia Community Foundation through The changes in daily life created by COVID-19 have been
Community Foundations of Canada and the Federal Emergency significant for SIL individuals. The most painful has been the loss
Community Support Fund is making a positive impact every of access to their social networks; they have always received
week with a project called “Bridging the Gap.” With this support, support and seen their friends in person. CLH direct support
members of CLH’s Supported Independent Living (SIL) program professionals have been a lifeline in navigating these challenges.
can look forward to a delicious and hearty Friday night supper,
prepared and delivered by the SIL direct support team. “Bridging the Gap” came from conversations with supported
individuals in SIL, and from our commitment to maintaining
social engagement and support even when all the usual means
SIL individuals are able to live on their own, with support from CLH.
Needs vary among the 33 individuals in the program. Some find are not possible. Our hope was that a sense of comfort could be
living independently enjoyable and just need help with specific delivered via a home-cooked meal, and five months in we can
tasks; others require frequent ‘check-ins’ to help with daily living. see that it’s working, providing stability as well as a wonderful
Every one of them struggle to make the monthly stipend they meal with a “side” of comfort and care!
receive through ODSP stretch far enough to cover rent, food, and This has been a big undertaking for Supervisor Janet Schmidt
simple needs. It’s a challenge to get through on the income they and the SIL direct support staff but they have seen the positive
have, and many don’t. impact of the program, which will continue well into the new
year. Melissa Wright says she and her fellow SIL team members,
Roseanne Quesnelle, Jody Woods, Amanda Shala, Glenda
Mitchell and Trisha Walker, really pull together to assist each
other with cooking, packaging, delivery, phone calls and all the
other details involved in making the program work each week.

Karl Martell shared with us that he looks forward to the meal
from SIL staff and is thankful to them and to the Foundation for
funding it.

We are thankful to Huronia Community Foundation, Community
Foundations of Canada and the Government of Canada’s
support of this initiative.

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