Schreiber Senior Centre hands out hampers

The Schreiber Senior Centre was established in November of 2018 to provide a service to seniors in the township. A combination gathering spot and brain storming hub, the centre allows members a safe place to create and implement programs specifically targeted at seniors. Schreiber has a high percentage of older people and the township recognized the need to encourage participation and provide programmes catering to their specific needs.

Cathy Carlino was appointed Programme Director and through her leadership skills the centre has grown from strength to strength. Various activities such as indoor walking clubs and fitness programmes to book reading and entertainment have all been well received. Senior citizens are encouraged to take up membership and partake in the events. The group also provides other services to the community through its fundraising events, one example from last year being the very popular afternoon barbecues on the main street during the summer months.

With the onslaught of COVID 19 the municipality closed all municipal buildings to the public, effectively halting any in person activity at all of its locations, including the recreation centre, the library and the municipal complex where the senior centre operates from. Never one to be inconvenienced, Cathy decided she would need to reach out to seniors and let them know that they are still being supported and came up with the idea of finding a sponsor to help organize a helping hands hamper. This would be in the form of a gift bag containing some food items and literature and general information about events and services in the community. It was decided from the offset that all materials would be locally sourced.

Cathy was quick to research grants that might be available to cover costs of the hampers and nearly $8000 dollars was eventually secured to help with the project. The government of Canada emergency community support fund, Thunder Bay community foundation and the United Way of Thunder Bay all pitched in to provide the necessary funding.

The Schreiber Public Library is a partner with the Senior Centre and Donna Mikeluk and Linda Williamson were on hand to supply reading materials and pack bags along with Evan Cole, the Director of Recreation for the township of Schreiber. Kim Krause of the Schreiber Media Centre was there to document the day, filming the volunteers filling the two hundred plus bags with goodies for the seniors. The following few days were scheduled for pick up and in some cases delivery. The side door of the municipal complex served as a dispatch area where residents could come and pick up their hampers. Those that were able were encouraged to pick up and deliver hampers to those that were either confined or unable to physically get to the centre.

The reaction to the the event was extremely positive, and left the seniors feeling that they were not only being thought of but cared for as best as possible during these difficult times.