Community Care Northumberland has issued a press release sharing statistics from its Enhanced Rural Living Program.
Funded from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, by Northumberland United Way's Community Impact Investment Fund, the program provides financial subsidies to Community Care's low-income clients to help them remain safe, healthy and independent in their own homes and communities. The subsidy allows them access to programs they otherwise might not be able to afford.
One example is Meals On Wheels, which provides both hot and frozen affordable meals delivered directly to a client's home. Another example, Home Help, provides brokered workers to help clients with basic household tasks. As well, drivers and fully accessible vans are made available to transport clients to vital medical appointments and treatments.
The subsidy is available to Northumberland residents based on need, with particular emphasis on residents who live in rural areas where other services may not be available.
As of the program's first three months, they have been able to subsidize 113 Meals On Wheels (both hot and frozen), 124 Home Help hours, 88 medical drives (both volunteer and specialized one-way trips) and 216 dialysis drives (also both volunteer and specialized one-way trips).
“I am always amazed at the support the community provides to the Northumberland United Way's annual fundraising campaign,” CCN executive director Trish Baird said in the press release.
“We were especially pleased to receive a $35,000 grant from them to fund this subsidy program.”
It has previously been funded by a grant that is no longer available to them, Baird explained, leaving the need unmet. The help from United Way allowed Community Care to maintain this program.
“Our statistics prove the need for this program and, together with the Northumberland United Way, we have improved the quality of life for low-income individuals who live in the rural areas of our county with both in-home and transportation supports,” she said.
Community Care Northumberland is a multi-service volunteer-based support organization that connects clients with community resources to help them experience a higher quality of life. Meals On Wheels, friendly visits, community dinners, transportation services, hospice-palliative care programming and Home Support are part of the list that covers the needs of their client base – provided by staff, partners and volunteers in a way that maintains trust, dignity and mutual respect.
For more information about Community Care Northumberland programs or its Enhanced Rural Living Program, visit www.commcare.ca.
