Links2Care Community support groups amalgamate under new name

Halton Hills Community Support and Information and Halton Helping Hands have amalgamated under the new name Links2Care. The two organizations have come together offering multiple services for seniors and people with disabilities in Halton-- which includes Home Help, Friendly Visiting, Home Maintenance and Repair, and Client Intervention and Assistance. In addition, in Halton Hills, Meals on Wheels, Congregate Dining, Wheels to Meals and Reassurance programs are available. There is also a supportive housing program in Acton. In Oakville and Burlington, a new grocery shopping service is now available together with a respite program, which is being developed. In Halton Hills Links2Care also provides programs which include early learning and development programs for parents and their children at Ontario Early Years sites, Open Door and Off the Wall youth resource centres, community support for people experiencing difficulties and information and referral. Last November, Joan Barham, executive director of HHCSI, said the main reason for the merger was to be able to offer better services to Halton Hills seniors. At that time she said the Halton Hills agency did not provide home help (light housekeeping) as that was provided by Halton Helping Hands, which HHCSI referred clients to. The amalgamation was to make it easier for senior and disabled clients to access the services offered by Halton Helping Hands. It was also to bring some of HHCSI's programs into south Halton such as the Client Intervention and Assistance program. Both agencies have been offering services in their communities for more than 30 years. Links2Care will build on those services as the organization moves forward in supporting people of all ages in the development of caring and responsive community. For more information about Links2Care, and the programs and services available call 905-873-6502 in Georgetown and 519-8533310 in Acton.

Dale Thibideau of Georgetown Runners recently visited the Links2Care office (formerly Halton Hills Community Support and Information) at 36 Armstrong Avenue to present a cheque for $1,000 to Links2Care executive director Joan Barham. The funds were raised by the club at their annual Egg Nog Jog, held at Terra Cotta Conservation area.