SUNDRE — A new program launched earlier this summer offers local elders not only an opportunity to connect over a catered meal, but also to learn more about resources available in the community followed by some musical entertainment to wind up the evening.
Since June, the Sundre United Church has every second and fourth Wednesday evening of the month hosted the initiative – dubbed Sundre Seniors Socialize – for people ages 55 and over.
Federal grant funding in the amount of $25,000 through the New Horizons for Seniors Program facilitated the effort to introduce the free-to-attend service.
Interested participants are required to register in advance so organizers can ensure there are enough plates to go around for everybody, said Joyce Wicks, a church leadership team director.
Every cent received from the federal government’s grant, Wicks elaborated, is spent right back in Sundre to the benefit of local businesses.
While the sessions begin at 5 p.m. through to the end of August, the program's schedule will shift over to more of a luncheon timeline come the fall. The September meal is set to begin at around noon; a time preferred by seniors at that time of year to avoid being out or on the roads after dark, she said.
Sundre United Church leadership team chair Cheri Jahnke said the intent is to continue the program for about a year until at least next March.
But with anywhere from about 55 to 65 people attending each event so far, Wicks said the initiative might – pending sustained interest – potentially be extended.
“The term of the grant is until the end of March 2023,” she said. “But the program could continue indefinitely.”
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, no shortage of seniors have been left feeling isolated and lonely, Jahnke said.
“And we have so many new people to Sundre that we want to show them what they have,” she added.
Some of the delegates who have attended to date include representatives from local organizations including but certainly not limited to Sundre & District Museum, Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society and Sundre Municipal Library, she said.
In a nutshell, she said the idea is to give people a chance to “share a meal and learn about Sundre.”
While the Sundre United Church put in the legwork to fill out and submit all of the grant application paperwork and hosts the sessions, the program itself is not directly affiliated with the church.
“We’re not trying to say, ‘You need to come to our church,’” she said. “We’re doing this for the seniors…we think that’s important for Sundre.”
Wicks told the Albertan in response to emailed questions including what inspired the initiative, that the United Church of Canada had informed the local leadership team about the federal grant funding program.
Following two years of various pandemic-related restrictions, many older residents “were needing an outlet to meet their mental, emotional and socialization needs,” she said.
“For Sundre United Church, that aligned with our mission of caring and sharing with our community residents.”
There so far have been “excellent evaluation responses,” she said.
Among some of the feedback received was high praise for the delicious meals, the topics presented, as well as lots of love for local performances by groups like the community choir and musicians such as singer-guitarist Gerald Ingeveld as well as extraordinary pianist and violinist Jamie and Laurie Syer.
The primary intent was to deliver a chance to alleviate the loneliness onset by the pandemic in a rural community for people who might be single, divorced, bereaved, isolated due to a disability, or perhaps even simply newcomers to the community seeking to make fresh connections, she said.
“Due to the high cost of the internet and accessibility limitations, most seniors are not connected virtually and so need a face-to-face program,” she said.
But there are also numerous other objectives being met as a result, such as the opportunity to enjoy a nutritious meal, she said.
“When living alone and with food prices so high, this meets a basic need,” she said.
Additionally, participants get to learn more about community resources that could enrich their quality of life, she said, adding other topics help better equip them to, for example, protect themselves from phone and internet fraud in the digital age.
There is also the benefit of exposure to many local musicians, which further fosters an enjoyment of fine arts and culture of Sundre-based performers, she said.
And the New Horizons program encourages participants to get involved by volunteering during the programs. An advisory committee consisting of five people plans and oversees the initiative, but others are invited to lend a hand and help with, for example, setting up a session or cleaning up afterwards, or providing assistance serving the meals or even volunteering as entertainers.
As an added bonus, she said the sessions also present a chance to place a spotlight on the venue, which boasts a “great sound and projection system” as well as a “new exterior ramp for handicap accessibility including double door entry for motorized scooters.”
Further, the building also offers a baby grand piano suitable for concerts, music recitals, weddings or funerals, she said, adding a roomy meeting area that easily facilitates physical distancing is available to community organizations for rent.
Contact Wicks either by phone at 403-638-1950 or alternatively through email at [email protected] for more information or to register for an upcoming event.
