PAGE 10, WHITBYFREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15,.1989 Volunteers needed to keep up with Community Care service By Feroneh Neil Currently providing a range of services for 900 senior citizens, Whitby Community Care is in need of volunteers. Administrator Marie Brooks- Smyth is finding it difficult to keep the number of volunteers apace with the increasing num- ber of people needing service. Moreover, financial support from the Town, a grant of $2,000, was previously withdrawn when there was an increase in -United Way funding to Comrnunity Care. Municipal financial support is given to Community Care pro- grams in Brock, Uxbrdge, Osh- awa and Ajax-Pickering. "We have their (Town of Whitby) support, but it's not the help we need," says B3rooks- Smyth, a lifelong volunteer. "Councillor (Marcel) Brunelle, who sits on our board, appealed on our behalf last year but he was not successful." Support is given to 'Whitby Community Care from service clubs and individuals. "The Kinsmen and Kinettes provide for us the 'Slave for a Day,' and these people do a lot of the heavy work that needs to be done,» says Brooks-Smyth of an example of service club support. "We also got a van fron the Lions Club to· help out with transportation we provide." Community Care began in Whitby in 1978, largely due to the efforts of Brooks-Smyth, Margaret Hart and Eleanor Rycroft at meetings held in 1977. The service "officially" began on Feb. 24, 1978, with Brooks- Smyth as administrative coor- dinator. LUNCHEONS at the Knights of Col- of the services~ provided by Whitby umbus Hall in downtown Whitby, one Community Care. Free Press photo Money available for the first year of operation totalled $7,565, provided by the Ministry of Com- munity and Social Services, Ministry of Health and United Way. Community Care's mandate includes seniors, the handicap- ped and those with special needs, the latter two on a referral basis. Services include transportation for medical reasons, shopping errands, help at home (cleaning house, yard work, clearing snow), small repairs, income tax service adult sitting, security checks and home visits. "We phone seniors every day and chat with them.- If the per- son doesn't answer the phone, then we go over to make sure that everything is alright," says Brooks-Smyth. "For home visits, we visit people who are lonely and then match them up with another lonely person." Meals on Wheels and lun- cheons at the Knights of Col- umbus Hall are another service, and the Meals on Wheels service has been expanded by Brooklin and district church groups to that area. Clients range from two-year- old cerebral palsy victim to a 100-year-old citizen. Community Care has worked on committees and conferences involving special needs housing, job evaluations for the handicap- ped, day care studies of seniors, and gerontology for Town plan- nmng. "Whenever we see a need, we try to get back to the government to see what can be done about it," says Brooks-Smyth. "It is quite a challenging job." She salutes the work of her current volunteer workforce. "We get a great response from the kids during the summer, and there are a lot of seniors who feel that they are in great shape, who want to help out others who aren't,"she comments. "The seniors appreciate it, the volunteers and drivers are very caring. "I lorf't know what we'd do without them, and I 'don't think that the town could survive with- out it." Anyone wishing to help out can call 668-6223. New location for Durham Region Hostel Services New units RESIDENT Roy Mizrphy in the new former Salvation Army building which Durham Region Hostel Services loca- underwent extensive renovation and tion at 133 Simcoe St. S. in Oshawa, the construction. Free Press photo By Debbie Luchuk Durham Region Hostel Ser- vices providing housing for men who fiave a limited or no income, recently relocated to the former Salvation Army building on Sim- coe St. S., Oshawa. The new location provides not only traditional hostel accommo- dation but also apartment units. The building was officially opened Jan. 19 after extensive renovations and construction. "There are two sections in the hostel, the hostel and the apart- ment part which is rent-geared- to-income to help men get back into society," says Ralph Shaw, employee of the hostel. "They (the men) are coming from all over Durham Region, and some are travelling across the country. Some are employed, some are not. The majority of the men only make minimum wage, and can't afford full rent," Shaw said. "The average age of the men would shock you, some are quite young. With welfare as good as it is, and you can't get a good job, you're better off on welfare, with everythingpaid for. "Sonie of the men have an alcohol or drug problem, they may be outpatients from Whitby Psychiatric (Hospital), or just have no family support." The hostel, the only such faci- lity between Kingston and Toronto, provides meals as well as beds. There is capacity for 60 beds between the hostel and the apartment units. The new hostel location has been funded by the Ministry of Housing, Durham Region and the area municipalities includ- ing a $5,000 donation from the Town of Whitby. The balance of the cost, more than $300,000, was raised by the private sector. Individuals, groups, churches and area businesses contributed amounts from $2 to$85,000. Shaw said the hostel's daily needs are funded entirely by the community. There is no govern- ment funding. Shaw said food, clothing and money are given amply by mem- bers, groups and businesses in the community on a regular basis. Shaw is not bitter about the men's situation, and he does not blame any level of government for their nability to find afford- able housing. He is happy that affordable housing is being looked at by the Province and Region, but said that there is much to be done yet. The hostel has an ongoing need for food, clothing, and monetary donations. Shaw or any other staffer at the hostel wiil entertain inquiries over the phone at 576-0150 or in person at the hostel. Joseph Peleg to perform at Oshawa symphony concert On Sunday Feb. 26, 8 p.n., the Oshawa Symphony Association will present the fifth concert of the season at Eastdale Collegiate Theatre, Harmony Rd. N. at Adelaide. by Smetana, 'Scene with Cranes' and 'Valse Triste,' both by Sibelius, and Shostakovich's 'Symphony No. 9.' 4Luditions for 'Picnic Sponsored by Imperial Oil The Whitby Courthouse Limited, the concert will feature Theatre will hold auditions on Joseph Peleg, violin, and the March 7 and 9, 7:30 p.m., for the Oshawa Symphony Orchestra May production of the William conducted by Winston Webber in Inge play 'Picnic.' a program that includes Mozart's Seven women and four men 'Violin Concerto No. 5' in A between the ages of 16 and 60 major, 'Bartered Bride~ »Oà rtirè' are needed- for various roles in the stor of a romance in the 1950s. e film version starred William Holden and Kim Novak. The Courthouse Theatre pro- duction will be directed by John Foote. For more information about auditions, call 985-0611., Peleg's musical intensity in chamber music or in solo performance has brought him engagements and recordings in Canada, Europe, Israel and the United States. He has a bachelor of music degree - from the University of Toronto and a master of music from Indiana University. During this time, Peleg studied with violinists Lorand Fenyves and Joseph Gingold. k -ile also hadithe opportunity to work with the eminent virtuosi Joseph Szigeti and Nathan Milstein in Europe. A native of Hungary, Joseph Peleg spent his youth in Israel, comng to Canada in 1968. Tickets are $12 each for adults, $11 each for seniors and $6 each for students and are available at Saywell's and Long & McQuade in Oshawa, Middleton's in Whitby, and Rickaby's in Bowmanville or by calling the ,office at 579-6711.,