Fall 2011 Newsletter In this issue: Community News Volunteer News Agency News Volunteer Meals on Wheels Drivers Mall Trips Dates to Remember

Volunteer News

Welcome New Volunteers to the Humber Volunteer Team

Adult Day Program:	Marta de Oliveira
Meals on Wheels Servers:	Verna Stanislaus, Mercedes Hernandez, Faduma Yusuf, Michelle Wint, Shamala Singh

Student Volunteers Make a Difference

Did you know that high school students can complete their required 40 hours of community service at Humber Community Seniors’ Services? This summer we were fortunate to have two students join our volunteer team; delivering meals on wheels 3 days per week. One student is from Runnymede Collegiate and the other student is from Weston Collegiate. We would like to thank Natalia and Ayale, Humber’s two high school volunteers, who joined the Meals on Wheels Team for the summer. Natalia and Ayale served the clients their meals three times per week. Their assistance with this program made a difference by helping seniors who are unable to prepare meals for themselves.

Volunteer Profile

Written by Eppo Biekhart

Introducing Eppo Biekart
I was introduced to HCSS by Carl Wiese whom I met at Riverlea Greenhouse. I have been a gardener all my life and retired from the City of Toronto 15 years ago where I was employed as a gardener. I planted and landscaped the City’s outdoor park beds throughout the former City of Etobicoke in the summer months. In the winter I was indoors at the Etobicoke Centennial Park Greenhouses where I planted bulbs, perennials and annuals. I loved the interaction with visitors to the greenhouse and enjoyed answering their gardening questions, identifying plants for them and preparing greenhouses for the seasonal exhibitions.
My passion for gardening continues and I rent two tables at Riverlea. I now enjoy my volunteer placement at HCSS because it allows me to continue interacting with other volunteers, seniors and school aged children. I am a Driver for Meals on Wheels twice per week. I enjoy going to the schools and teaching the children planting skills and hope to be able to help the children and the schools with designing and preparing their flower beds and beautifying the school grounds.

Volunteer Drivers Urgently Needed
Meals on Wheels

Volunteer Meals on Wheels drivers are urgently needed to deliver meals. A minimum G license is required, as well as a clean driving record. Own car is a must for Meals on Wheels. We offer gas reimbursement. Please note that screening process for all new volunteers now includes a Police Records Check to ensure the safety of our clients. For more information please call the office at 416-249-7946 or visit our office at 1167 Weston Road (just half a block north of Eglinton Avenue West), or our website at www.humberseniors.org to get your application form to volunteer. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our volunteer drivers and servers who faithfully go out on a daily basis delivering meals on wheels. Despite the cold snowy weather this winter, we have been fortunate to count on the dedicated support of our group of meals on wheels volunteers. Thank you also to our transportation volunteers who take our clients to medical appointments or wherever they need to go. Your dedication and support is also very much appreciated.

COMMUNITY NEWS

United Way Days of Caring

Mount Dennis Community Barbeque and Fall Fair

Humber Community Seniors’ Services, in partnership with Councillor Frances Nunziata and The Learning Enrichment Foundation hosted a community barbeque and fall fair on Friday, September 16, 2011 . Many residents came out to enjoy a drink, hamburger and roasted corn, while at the same time enjoying the musical talents of Etobicoke Elvis (Robert Pooran).

Many people also had fun having their caricature drawn by caricature artist Crazy Ben (Ben Percic). The neighbourhood children also had lots of fun touring around one of the fire trucks courtesy of Toronto Fire.

Certificates were presented, by Councillor Frances Nunziata, to Oksana Kudeina and Nazarin Khodai Booran in appreciation for all of the wonderful volunteer work they do in the community.

Syme 55+ Centre

September 16, 2011 proved to be a busy day at HCSS as not only were we getting ready for the Mount Dennis community barbeque and fall fair, but we also hosted the Syme55+ Centre congregate dining members for a barbeque. The kitchen was packed out as members enjoyed hamburgers and potato salad followed by a game of trivia. This was our third annual event and we enjoy working together with the Syme 55+ Centre members and staff. Comments received included “Many thanks to you and all of your staff for making us feel so at home.”

United Way CN Tower Stair Climb

Saturday, October 22, 2011 is the United Way’s annual CN Tower Stair Climb. Raymond Kane, our Home & Property Support Services Coordinator, will be participating representing HCSS. If you would like to sponsor Raymond, please call him at the office at 416-249-7946. All proceeds will be directed towards Humber Community Seniors’ Services.

Festive Chocolates For Sale

Help support us at HCSS by purchasing a box of LITTLE CUTIES. This year, we are selling boxes of festive-shaped chocolates – little Christmas trees, Snowmen and Santas – milk chocolate filled with caramel. Each box contains 128 minatures. The cost is $20.00 per box. All proceeds towards next year’s client Christmas Baskets. Chocolates will be freshly made late November and available to purchase December 1st at our Festive Open House.
Quantities are limited. For more information, please call Laura at 416-249-7946.
Thank you in advance for your support.

Agency News

Home & Property Support Services

Written by Raymond Kane

Even the extreme heat this summer didn’t stop our lawn care crew from doing what it loves to do. My students that worked with me, who are now back at school, did a bang up job, also a personal thank you to Victor, who filled in admirably when I was off at Health and Safety training. The few days that it did rain, came at opportune times. It mostly rained at night, allowing us to cut lawns during the day, without losing any time. Only one heat alert caused us to miss one day. The cooler weather is upon us now, and the leaves will soon be falling. Weather permitting, we will be cleaning leaves and cutting lawns until November 25th 2011. If anyone is interested in snow removal again this year, if you haven’t done so, please call the office and book your service as soon as possible, as spaces are filling up rapidly. Depending on the size of your property, costs vary from $25, $30, or $35. Other circumstances may occur that would increase the cost. For information, please call Raymond, at 416-249-7946.

Meals on Wheels Week 2011

This year Meals on Wheels Week is being celebrated October 3-7, 2011. It is hard to believe that Humber Community Seniors’ Services Inc. has been delivering meals for 44 years!

And, we still are proud to have 2 volunteers who have been with us since the beginning still volunteering today. Many thanks to our 44 year volunteers Belle Smith and Rita Irving.

We depend on the commitment and dedication of our volunteers to deliver meals to our clients.

This year’s celebratory events include:

For more information about Meals on Wheels and the different types of meals we serve, please call Laura at the office at 416-249-7946.

Transportation

Do you have a doctor’s appointment to get to, do you need to go to the bank, hairdresser, go grocery shopping or to a shopping mall? We can help you. Our transportation services are available to you door-to-door, Monday –Friday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. We also offer Saturday transportation from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (3 client minimum required). Mall shopping trips are on Tuesdays on a rotation basis between Cloverdale Mall, Dufferin Mall, Sherway Gardens and Yorkdale. For more information, please call Renata at 416-249-7946.

Mall Shopping Trips

Our drivers are available the first and third Tuesday of each month to take you shopping at one of the following malls: Cloverdale, Sherway Gardens, Dufferin, and Yorkdale. Pick-up time starts at 10:00 a.m. from your home and return from the mall is at 2:00 p.m. A minimum of two passengers is required. For more information, please call Renata at 416-249-7946.

Dates to Remember

Note: For more information about Escorted Monthly Outings, please call Laura at 416-249-7946.

Fall Crossword Fun