Page 8 - CLH Foundation - Annual Report - 2020-2021
P. 8

Bridging The Gap




           With Homecooked Meals






          A $6,000 donation from Huronia Community Foundation through Community                     in SIL, and from our commitment to
          Foundations of Canada and the Federal Emergency Community Support                         maintaining social engagement and
          Fund is making a positive impact every week with a project called “Bridging               support even when all the usual means
          the  Gap.”  With  this  support,  members  of  CLH’s  Supported  Independent              are not possible. Our hope was  that a
          Living (SIL) program can look forward to a delicious and hearty Friday night              sense of comfort could be delivered via a

          supper, prepared and delivered by the SIL direct support team.                            home-cooked meal, and five months in we can
                                                                                                    see that it’s working, providing stability as well as a
          SIL individuals are able to live on their own, with support from CLH. Needs               wonderful meal with a “side” of comfort and care!
          vary among the 33 individuals in the program. Some find living independently

          enjoyable and just need help with specific tasks; others require frequent                 This has been a big undertaking for Supervisor Janet Schmidt
          ‘check-ins’ to help with daily living. Every one of them struggle to make the             and the  SIL direct  support staff  but  they  have seen  the  positive
          monthly stipend they receive through ODSP stretch far enough to cover rent,               impact of the program, which will continue well into the new year. Melissa
          food, and simple needs. It’s a challenge to get through on the income they                Wright says she and her fellow SIL team members, Roseanne Quesnelle,
          have, and many don’t.                                                                     Jody Woods, Amanda Shala, Glenda Mitchell and Trisha Walker, really pull
                                                                                                    together to assist each other with cooking, packaging, delivery, phone calls

          The changes in daily life created by COVID-19  have been significant  for                 and all the other details involved in making the program work each week.
          SIL individuals. The most painful has been the loss of access to their social
          networks;  they  have  always  received support and seen  their friends  in               Karl Martell shared with us that he looks forward to the meal from SIL staff
          person. CLH direct support professionals have been a lifeline in navigating               and is thankful to them and to the Foundation for funding it.

          these challenges.
                                                                                                    We are thankful to Huronia Community Foundation, Community Foundations
          “Bridging the Gap” came from  conversations  with supported  individuals                  of Canada and the Government of Canada’s support of this initiative.






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