The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

"A Family Tradition for 132 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, October 14, 1998 - 9 Community Care: There for you Volunteers the key to organization whose aim is to provide care, comfort to the community By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star Whenever anyone asks Sharon Barton why she vol- unteers her services with Scugog Community Care, she has no trouble coming up with an answer. "For me, it's giving'back to the community," she says. "Some people give to churches; well, I give to my community." Mrs. Barton became involved in Scugog Community Care 15 years ago, when she served on the advisory committee. Since then she's enjoyed friendly visits with seniors, delivered Meals on Wheels, and is cur- rently involved with COPE, a community mental health program that offers a support system to adults with emotional or psychiatric problems. It was after retiring from a varied nursing career in 1988 that Mrs. Barton became involved in volunteer work. She initially became involved with COPE in 1990, when she became the program manager in Brock Township, serving the Cannington, Beaverton and Sunderland areas. Upon retiring from that position in 1994 she became a volunteer working with Elaine Knight, program manager for COPE in Uxbridge and Scugog. : With COPE Mrs. Barton helps run a womens' support group once a week, and also gives one-to-one support. Many of the women have emotional or mental health challenges, or are dealing with other issues such as grief, transitional problems, divorce, empty nest syn- drome or loneliness. "I'm a good listener, and if I can help at all, 'm only too glad to do it," said Mrs. Barton. "I've received a lot of compassion and understanding from people in the community throughout my life, and now it's my turn to give back to the community," she said. "I feel it is very rewarding when someone will let me walk their walk with them." Besides volunteering with COPE, Mrs. Barton also enjoys delivering Meals on Wheels once a week. There is always a need for volunteers in all facets of Community Care, she said: "Why, the other day, when I went to pick up the meals, staff from the office were there pitching in, too, because of lack of help." Volunteers can help in three areas: Scugog Community Care offers the Respite Program, Home Support Program, and the COPE Mental Health Program. The Respite program is a service providing temporary relief to caregivers of frail elderly, disabled adults, including those with Alzheimer Disease. Two services are offered: in-home respite, and adult day programs. A nominal fee is required. In the Home Support Program volunteers are needed to drive clients to medical appointments, shopping and other appointments, deliver Meals on Wheels, and visit people who are lonely or isolated. Also, help around the home in the form of light housekeeping, errands, EVE ray 14 SE 3 Sharon Barton, a volunteer with the COPE mental health program, says she enjoys working with Community Care because it gives her a chance to contribute to the community. Meals on Wheels is among the services provided in Scugog Township by Community Care. Last week, Regional Councillor Ken Gadsden (left) and Ward 2 Councillor Ken Carruthers volunteered to yard work, grass cutting and snow shoveling for seniors or the disabled is provided. A nominal fee is charged for some services. Volunteers who assist in the COPE program are trained in communication and life skills. This experi- ence enables volunteers to provide emotional support to clients. Any person 16 or older who is under emotional stress may apply personally to this program or through their physician, social worker, public health nurse, minister or counselor. As always there is an ongoing need for volunteers. As the cold weather season approaches many volunteers are planning for their trip to the sunny south, making the need for volunteers an urgent one. For further information about programs offered through Community Care, contact 985-8461 in Port Perry or 852-9560 in Uxbridge. " Anniversary SALE Thurs., Oct. 15th to Thurs., Oct. 22nd 4 FREE DRAWS for Gift Certificates Valued at S d 25cqch user WHITE TAGS 50% OFF 0 PINK, GREEN, 10% ORANGE TAGS OFF () help the program. They visited several clients, including Josephine and Norm Ramsay. Last week was Meals on Wheels Week, while all of October has been designated Community Care Month. 3 , The Best of the Wurst October 16-17-18 Try the best German foods and music in the region at our Octoberfest celebration this weekend at the Great Blue Heron. oon AUTHENTIC BAVARIAN WIV [ex ~g Joleln BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND All You Can Eat Buffet City Limits Showband. S p. (079) 1 + tax Oct. 17 - 8pm - 1am Oct. 18 - 4pm - 8pm Blackjack # Super 7's Blackjack ¥ Roulette ¢ Let It Ride # Hold 'Em Poker ¥ Pai Gow Poker # Big Six Wheel ¥ $5,000 Nevada Tickets ¥ Roulettes Restaurant & Bar GREAT BLUE HERON | CHARITABLE CASINO & BINGO Island Road, Port Perry 905-985-4888 » 1-888-29-HERON Licence #0000004. Baagwaing Community Associaion. Mus! be 19 years or older