Well, we certainly were back in business this summer with a wonderful Open House and community BBQ in June, and group outings to Yamaska National Park beach, the Verdun beach, the Granby Zoo and water park in July and August.
Through generous funding received from our friends at the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation as well as the Organix Foundation, and thanks to the efforts of our lovely staff: Lori, Missy and Trevor, these intergenerational outings were a great success.
And, of course, throughout the summer we enjoyed many fun and relaxing days with our members; simply socializing, playing music and eating watermelon and popsicles out on our peaceful sidewalk-terrace.
After two years of not being able to enjoy any of these activities, we were all so thrilled to be able to get back in the swing of things, be with each other and have fun!
Serving our meals both indoors and on the terrace, our three fabulous summer-program staff, Kai, Paige and Sequoia helped make sure that everyone received welcoming hospitality and care during the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.
The Mission’s fabulous Leadership team of volunteer-members continued to ensure that our friperie Joyce, our Community Art group, our weekly food bank and our free meals program ran as smooth as usual.
Through the generous funding of the Anglican Foundation of Canada we were able – for the first time – to send children to the Quebec Camp Lodge in Hatlely, QC. Walmart Canada helped us equip the kids with sleeping bags and other camp necessities. In fact, we actually sent 14 kids to overnight camp. We were also able to send Paige who joined the kids and volunteered her services in the camp kitchen for a week!
Bringing TLC to the Mission on a regular basis, our Chaplin, Rev Ros Macgregor brought us lovely cards of encouragement, little gifts for special occasions and again helped us get our garden blooming in the spring. With the sudden passing of three of our dear friends at the Mission this past winter and spring, Ros made sure to offer her care and support to all who needed a shoulder to cry on.
While we did have a bout of COVID-19 at the Mission during the summer, thankfully, it was a mild case for the majority of people who had it.
While none of us know what’s in store for the fall in terms of Covid-19, we’re planning to move forward with a visit to the apple orchard and pumpkin picking fields in September. As the fall unfolds, we’ll continue as always to try and find ways to help our community through whatever may come – with compassion, care, dignity …and fun too.
