The Orillia Lions Club - and other clubs in the district - launched a campaign this week to support long term-care centre workers in the region, making deliveries of coffee, pastries, and muffins to the day- and night-shift staff.
The project started after the Lions Clubs in the district received a grant about a week ago to support health-care and custodial workers in nursing homes.
“The hospitals have a lot of other support happening in the communities right now, but the nursing homes were kind of being forgotten about,” explained Denise Naughton, zone chair for Lions Club 36 east region.
Local McDonald’s restaurants were happy to help the Lions Club with the campaign, getting orders coordinated and providing a small discount for the initiative.
“We just wanted to boost morale and give these local long-term care workers support,” Naughton said.
Deliveries were made earlier this week to Orillia’s long-term care centre workers at Trillium Manor, Leacock Care Centre and Oak Terrace Long Term Care Home.
“We were really pleased to see that the community was recognizing the hard work that’s going on in long-term care,” said Crystal Rosewell, Trillium Manor’s program and support services supervisor.
The special delivery to Trillium Manor was not only uplifting for the staff, but helpful during a time where policies restrict workers from leaving the building during their shifts.
“It just makes us feel like we are a part of the greater part of the community. Sometimes, when you are in this industry you feel like you are a little shut off from the world and I think everyone’s feeling isolated right now. So it just makes us feel a little more connected,” Rosewell said.
The staff at the Leacock Care Centre are expressed thanks for the kind gesture from the Lions Club and McDonald’s.
“We just can’t say enough about how much we appreciate that. It’s a very stressful time, of course, for the residents and their families but it’s hard on the staff, too,” said Leacock Care Centre administrator Vittoria Trainer.
Having the support of the community during these trying times is truly moving for the Leacock staff.
"It makes us cry it’s so awesome. That love and support makes all the difference in the world," Trainer said.
The Lions Club has funding to make one more round of deliveries for long-term care centre workers next week.
