2021-04-28

Growing Friends seeks to expand services

Representatives of a community program promoting music, gardening and healthy eating in the Municipality of Chester want to make sure they reach people most in need of social contact and access to safe and nutritious food.

In recent weeks, supporters of Growing Friends went to civic politicians, not to seek funding assistance, but for help and guidance to connect with more citizens.

"We're trying to locate isolated people who are battling loneliness or food insecurity," Dawn Harwood-Jones told the council, presenting on behalf of the organization which focuses on creating supportive relationships with older adults living in the municipality.

"Our biggest problem is isolated people are isolated ... it occurred to us politicians are the people who have to knock on everyone's door," she explained during the presentation.

"Obviously, there's confidentiality, but we feel that the councillors are the people who are most likely to find and connect us to people who are just lonely, or if you suspect they may have food insecurity. We're also trying to connect them to our free community dinners."

Growing Friends is closely connected with Our Health Centre (OHC), the municipality's community gardens and the performing arts program Musical Friends. OHC's board member Lorraine Burch also joined Harwood-Jones in the recent presentation to the local government. Burch mentioned a Canadian Red Cross project that sees volunteers make telephone calls to those in need of social interaction or who need transportation information.

The local community health board recently approved a $4,000 subsidy to help the Growing Friends project carry on pandemic-safe musical offerings, which would see supporters teaching youths one-on-one with youths, while following public health measures and performing outside isolated seniors' homes or similar facilities.

Councillor Sharon Church and other civic politicians knew of constituents who would benefit from Growing Friends' efforts, however she noted that some potential recipients may not make a point of requesting help.

"I know if you call and ask them if they need help, most people are going to say no, but if it was a surprise visit just to serenade them on the lawn, I think that would be a very nice gesture," she noted.

The group expects to have funding in place to engage a free in-person community meal program starting later this year, but, depending on circumstances, it would pivot those assets to online cooking workshops and providing meal boxes and recipes to charity for distribution.

Growing Friends was previously responsible for leading dissemination of more than 30 food baskets in several communities.

"We'll try to contact you with the people we know that would appreciate a visit," said Allen Webber, the municipality's warden.