Throughout the year, Pelham Cares sees the generosity of our community with the many donations of food, funds and goods that are received almost daily, for Pelham families in need. It is never more evident than during the Holiday Season!
On Dec. 6, approximately seventy-five volunteers gathered to receive, sort and pack the tons of food that were so generously donated by the Pelham community. Our volunteers enjoyed coffee, hot chocolate and treats from Tim Hortons, and pizza from Volcano Pizzeria.
This 23rd annual event would not happen without the extraordinary efforts of the Pelham Community Food Drive organizers, Gerry Berkhout, Gwenn Alves, Syliva Berkhout and the many volunteers who braved the cold to go door to door to collect the tons of food donated by this caring community. We were very grateful to have access to space at Rice Road Greenhouses this year, to receive and sort the food. Miller Restoration came forward with vehicles and volunteers to assist in the food receipt, sorting and transportation back to Pelham Cares. We would also like to recognize and thank the OPP Auxiliary who collected food and monetary donations at the Fonthill Sobey’s on Dec 6th.
The food collected through these efforts provided for families and individuals in need during the holiday season, and will be distributed into the spring and summer of 2015.
Celebrating their 25th anniversary, the Fonthill Volunteer Fire Association held their annual toy drive, collecting toys which were distributed to our client families, as part of our Holiday Hampers. This would not be possible without the organizing efforts of Rod and Robin Richards, and those from the Association and other volunteers who assisted with this worthwhile effort, and of course so many members of the community who donated.
Thank you to the Lions Club of Fonthill who generously made their facility available for distribution of this year’s Holiday Hampers.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Pelham Cares, staff, volunteers and clients; a heartfelt thank you goes out to the Pelham community for your donations of food, money, toys and time. Too numerous to mention individual, including the schools, churches, service groups, youth groups, businesses and individual. Once again your generosity will go far to help families in need in this wonderful community of Pelham.
Tracy Holmwood, President Board of Directors
A new year with familiar challenges for seniors.
Maneuvering through the health care system when many had hoped to hear more from our elected representatives on these issues.
“Home First” program is underfunded. CCAC has cutback hours to homecare clients designated both chronic and palliative. Hospital emergency rooms see repeat patients as a result of insufficient home supports. Hospitals have fewer allocated beds and fewer professional staff which has left communication fractured.
Hospital services such as labs and MRIs have been transferred to the private sector resulting in higher costs and longer wait times. Other issues include transportation inequitable demographic resources and the risk of hospital closures.
Accessibility to good health care is necessary as is the seamless continuity required for the best outcome.
Seniors are a large and growing population making a considerable tax contribution in Niagara and our politicians need to remember we the seniors are viable. Visible and invested in our communities.
Louis Morgan, Pelham
