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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-04-19, Page 34 , Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 19, 1989—Page 3 Centre for the Homebound - 10 years of loving s6pport for seniors from page 1 Young, Patricia Watson, Sharon Warwick, and Prank Field. The Wingham Armouries was chosen as the home for the Day Centre and with the cooperation of the Town of VTnnghamn necessary alterations which made the building more accessible were carried out. In December 1978, a Canda Works Grant was obtained to hire four summer students, Doreen Taylor, Anne Adair, Mary Ellan Foran and Lynn Anderson, and to buy some supplies. These employees worked for the Winghann and Area Day Centre Committee to administer the program work as facilitators with par- ticipants to live independantly and establish the service on a permanent basis. Community interest was promoted by presentations to council and service clubs. Seniors and seniors' organizations were in- terviewed. The Wingham and District Hospital Foundation provided $5500 seed money to maintain the program and pur- chase dishes and cutlery. This money also helped to pay volunteer drivers 210 per mile reimbursement for bringing people into the program, groceries and two mon- ths of operations. A New Horizons Grant applied for by the Seniors Club, provided craft supplies, material for ceramics, tape recorder and portable shuffleboard table etc., George Taylor, president of the Seniors Club was most cok-operative and helpful both during the organization and later on the Board of Directors. The centre opened April 17, 1979 with four participants and two volunteers. One month later, 13 seniors attended with the help of seven volunteers. On June 14 the centre was opened two days per week. By September 1979 there were 23 clients in at- tendance. The clients paid $3.®m on a daily basis, which covered the cost of food for the meal. The first Boy rd of Directors as previous- ly listed, elected Catherine Walsh, Direc- tor of Nursing for the Huron County Health Unit, as the first chairperson. Catherine, Ran Kurhana and Louise Marritt applied for provincial funding at 50 percent of pro- posed costs, and engineered the incorpora- tion of the ay Centre. The Day Centre owes a lot of gratitude to these three for unravelling the red tape. During the first years, cash flow pro- blems were the Board's greatest concern, being responsible to raise the other 50 per- cent. Increasing numbers of clients re- quired additional staff. On one occasion Miss Walsh took out a personal loan to keep the centre going. Huron and Bruce Counties were then asked for financial sup- port. The remainder of the revenue was collected through fundraising and dona- tions. The 1980-81 budget was $24,747, the budget for 1988-89 was $119,905. The pro- gram has come a long way. The Program Today The area served by the Day Centre is roughly that of the Wingham and District. Hospital, five northern townships and towns of Huron County and two southern townships and towns of Bruce County. In 1988 there was a total of 57 clients from Huron County and 29 from Bruce County, spread over three program days. Transportation is provided by volunteer drivers who only receive reimbursement for their mileage. More recently the government of Ontario has increased fun- ding to 70 percent of the approved operating budget, leaving the eBoard of Directors with more time to expand programs It's hoped that in April 1989 the day cen- tre will open a fourth day to provide a "Day Away" for persons with Alzheimers or related disorders, to provide relief to care vers. Several persons requiring wheelchairs for mobility have attended the centre and it became necessary to purchase a used van equipped with a lift for persons in wheelchairs. This van is also available to persons In the community, on a donation basis, when the van is not required by the Day Centre. Several volunteers operate the van. Maintenance of the van is looked after by Keith McLaughlin, one of the drivers and board members. Various fundraising events have been held by the board over the years and each year a community appeal campaign is conducted by sending out letters to service groups, churches, individuals and businesses in the fall. The centre has indeed been very for- tunate to have had excellent staff over the years to carry out the program, beginning at its inception with the Summer Employ- ment Program. The program couldn't operate without the help of over 60 volunteers, who give valuable assistance in the kitchen, with the program and as volunteer drivers. Board of Directors Many excellent citizens of the area have contributed their time and talents to act as board members and volunteers at the cen- tre. The aim of the board is to assist the homebound elderly to remain living in- dependantly in their own homes for as long as possible. The current board of directors includes: Jeanette Wardrop, Chairperson; Bill Ren- wick, treasurer; Mary McLaughlin, secretary ; Janet Reid, retired Public Health Nurse, Wingham; Ruth Thompson, retired Public Health Nurse, Lucknow; Marie de Vos, concerned citizen/volunteer; Gordon Wall, Wingham Senior Cifizens Ctub; Keith McLaugbiin, concerned citizen/volunteer, Wingham; Betty O'Donnell, concerned citizen, Lucknow; Bill Woodley, DON, Wingham Hospital; Rev. Rea Grant, Wingham Ministerial Association; Pastor Dwayne ° Thielke, Christian Reformed Church, Lucknow; Don Carter, Wingham Town Cour -.i1. Programs at the centre vary with bus trips and various activities. Program days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Each client is contacted by phone to arrange pick-up by volunteer drivers. This telephone contact is an important part of the Centres' func- tion and appreciated by the 95 seniors. The Board of the Homebound Centre believe they have a Centre, second to none in Ontario and thanks to their fine stiff and volunteers are providing a much needed social, recreational, educational program plus a nutritious hot meal to seniors who are homebound in the surroundin, g com- munities; and thereby helping to enable them to remain longer in their homes. Drop into the centre for their open house on April 20 at 1 p.m. and help the Wingham and Area Day Centre for the Homebound celebrate their 10th anniversary -10 years of giving loving support to our seniors. AtC�kihavethe ,„pp Ipyou PARTS VALUE OF THE MONTH Let Cook's help you get your crop into the ground this spring. We handle a full range of dry and liquid fertilizers, crop protection products and quality seed. 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