Community Care is stepping up to help North Kawartha Township residents, and is asking others to do the same.
After a fire destroyed Sayers Foods in Apsley on Saturday morning (December 5), many local residents who lack transportation have no access to food or regular groceries,.
The non-profit charitable organization, which serves the city and county of Peterborough, already offers Meals on Wheels, grocery delivery, and transportation support throughout North Kawartha.
Community Care is now offering to further subsidize these programs to ensure all residents can get the food supplies they need, according to the organization’s executive director Danielle Belair.
“Our program office in Apsley will assist residents who are unable to drive, those who do not own a vehicle, or will struggle to pay to travel to Buckhorn, Bancroft, or Lakefield to buy groceries by coordinating volunteer drivers to take residents shopping or delivering groceries to them,” Belair says.
With the loss of Sayers Foods, the closest full-service grocery stores are 40 kilometres southwest in Buckhorn, 45 kilometres north in Bancroft, or 50 kilometres south in Lakefield. The cost to travel to these locations ranges between $30 to $50 per trip.
“We will also provide meals through our Meals on Wheels to help bridge the need,” Belair adds. “Community Care is here as a lifeline and I would encourage those who can to join us as we support this community.”
Community Care is looking for volunteers who can take residents to buy groceries in nearby communities, deliver purchased grocery orders to residents, or deliver Meals on Wheels to residents. Those interested in volunteering can call the Apsley office at 705-656-4589.
The organization is also encouraging donations to help provide subsidized Meals on Wheels to Apsley and North Kawartha residents who need food support, and to pay transportation costs for volunteers who will be travelling out of the community to pick up groceries. To donate, visit www.commcareptbo.org/BeALifeline.
Since the fire, Community Care’s client services team has been working to come up with solutions to aid residents.
Hamilton Bus Lines is donating the gas and driver to provide free bus transportation on Tuesdays and Fridays to Bancroft for residents to purchase their groceries. Beginning on Friday (December 11), pick-up spots will be outside the Community Care office in Apsley (126 Burleigh St.) and North Kawartha Community Centre (340 McFadden Rd.).
“This bus transport is available for all residents at no charge,” says Sarah McCall, Community Care’s community development coordinator in Apsley. “Community Care will coordinate all the scheduling for these drives.”
Community Care’s Caremobile will also be providing transportation every Wednesday at the same pick-up locations for residents who require accessible transportation options.
“We will be able to transport people to either Bancroft or Lakefield with the Caremobile, depending on the need,” McCall adds.
Volunteer drivers will also be available to accommodate any special requests.
“We will do our best to accommodate any special needs or requests with our volunteer drivers,” McCall says. “For people who live outside Apsley and need help to get to one of the scheduled bus pick-up locations, our volunteer drivers will assist by getting people to town.”
McCall says, if residents need someone to help them shop, volunteers are also available to act as “shopping buddies”.
Frozen Meals on Wheels options will be made available for anyone with an immediate need.
“We have frozen meals in our freezer and we can make them available to anyone who needs immediate support,” McCall says.
Community Care will act as the hub to coordinate and schedule these free transportation services and access to meals.
Residents with immediate food needs should call the North Kawartha Food Bank at 705-656-1748.
