By Martha Aitkin, Bruce Peninsula Press
For as long as there have been people, there have been people living in community. People who help each other and share resources. Long before Tobermory was Tobermory, Indigenous communities came together here to share what they gathered and grew. There have always been people taking care of other people, such as those who are too young or too old to completely care for themselves, as well as those who are sick or injured or otherwise unable to manage on their own. The early settler population in Tobermory continued the age old traditions of helping and supporting those in need by sharing food and coming together to build houses, barns and other shelters. They fished and gardened and hunted together. They got together to make quilts and prepare feasts. Those who were unable to hunt or fish for themselves were cared for with generosity.
The Tobermory Community Outreach program represents one of the modern methods of continuing the kind and supportive traditions of helping people when they need it. With a promise of complete confidentiality the Tobermory Community Outreach group is there for people who are at risk of “falling through the cracks”.
This particular form of a helping organization came into being as a group represented by the leaders of the faith communities in Tobermory in 2008. Supporting the wellbeing of the community is, of course, a primary mission of faith communities. The four church parishes of Tobermory (St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Mission, St Edmunds Anglican Church, Tobermory United Church and Light & Life Community Church) continue to guide the group in its mission, with the volunteer assistance of other community members. This connecting of the four churches, in their mission of providing emergency assistance to those in need, carries over into community events including collaboration for Remembrance Day services, the Chi-Cheemaun Festival and the Santa Claus Parade.
The Drive Program, one of the services of Tobermory Community Outreach, began rather informally in 2017 when one of the church leaders (Reverend Brad Inglis) started to drive people without cars to medical appointments. In discussion with the Director of Health Services (now Brightshores) he learned that the need was greater than he realized and that many local people were not attending appointments, treatments and follow-up due to a lack of transportation. He brought his concern to the Tobermory Community Outreach group for assistance with co-ordination and funding.
Linda Godhue co-ordinates this service by connecting volunteer drivers with community members who need rides to medical and dental appointments. Linda can be reached at 519 596 2333. Volunteer drivers can be paid for mileage and must provide a current Vulnerable Sector check which is available at no cost for volunteer positions through the Ontario Provincial Police. Linda is not always available, as she sometimes travels out of town. The Tobermory United Church provides backup co-ordination services as needed. That number is 519 596 2394.
Another community service that is linked with, and supported by Tobermory Community Outreach, is the Tobermory Food Bank. Volunteers are available on Tuesday afternoons from 1-3pm for those in need of food as well as personal items such as toothpaste and toilet paper. In recognition of the fact that pets get hungry too, pet food has been added to the shelves at the Food Bank. The Food Bank is housed in The Meeting Place, located at 20 Centennial Drive (across from the school).
The Meeting Place provides a unique blend of social support in response to people who are in stressful situations, isolated, or in need of assistance with system navigation. The kind and skilled Community Coordinator, Jennifer Williams, will find sources of support to meet your needs if she can. Jennifer can also connect you with Tobermory Community Outreach for emergency assistance that she has been unable to resolve. Jennifer can be reached at 519 596 2313.
At a recent meeting the Outreach group began to talk about the ever growing need for emergency assistance with such a basic need as food. Food Banks have become more and more prevalent to meet the growing needs. Food charity, while necessary at this time, is NOT a solution. Food prices continue to rise and income supports are not rising to meet this need. The Outreach group will meet again soon to open discussion of actual solutions to this rising need.
They will also be meeting soon to plan the annual “To the Tub with Love” community feast which is offered at no cost to provide a meal and an opportunity to socialize with your community. This year the dinner of ham and scalloped potatoes with salads and desserts will be held on April 3rd at the Tobermory Community Centre.
The leaders of the faith communities (Pastor Mike Quesnel, Reverend Janaki Bandara and Reverend Sheryl Spencer) are the “ears to the ground” with regards to community needs. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this service please reach out to them or to any member of the group. Although there should be no shame associated with being in need, it is recognized that most people prefer privacy. Complete confidentiality and services provided in a way that preserves the dignity of those in need is guaranteed.
The Tobermory Community Outreach service area extends from Tobermory to Miller Lake. The group acknowledges, with sincere gratitude, that none of this would be possible without the generous support of community members.