Posted on October 28, 2020 by
A message about SHARE Holiday Programs from CEO, Claire MacLean
October 28, 2020
I want to update you on SHARE’s plans for the holiday season and let the community know how we will be supporting families this year.
Given the COVID-19 safety considerations, SHARE will be focusing on supporting families through our holiday food hampers and our Christmas Toy Program. We will not be offering direct donor-family connections through the Caring Neighbour Program. This was a difficult decision, but we believe it is the right one to ensure the safest and most effective use of resources this holiday season.
This year our Christmas Programming will include:
Holiday Food Hampers: SHARE will provide traditional holiday food hampers that include a large variety of food as well as a gift card for the family to purchase a speciality item of their choice, such as a turkey or ham. The hampers and the value of the gift cards are based on the number of family members in a household. Last year, SHARE provided almost 800 households with these hampers, and we expect the need to grow this year.
Toy Shop: Families with children aged 0-17 years can come and select toys, as well as books, board games and puzzles for their children at SHARE’s Holiday Toy Shop. Last year, over 1,500 children and youth had something under the tree to open during the holiday season through this important program, and we want to support them even more this year.
We are hopeful that you will choose to continue to be involved with SHARE this Christmas, whether you are a recipient or a donor, as we still have lots of ways that you can support those in need in our community.
Here’s how you can help bring the holidays to Tri-Cities families, kids and seniors this year:
There will be more details posted shortly on SHARE’s website but in the meantime, our staff are here to answer any questions you may have about this change and to support you if you wish to plan a community or office event to support the programs above. Please contact Valerie Hutton, SHARE’s Director of Fund Development, at valerie.hutton@sharesociety.ca or 604-529-5119 for more details.
It has been an extremely challenging year for so many, and now more than ever we appreciate your support of our community. Please accept my sincere thanks and my wishes for a very safe holiday season.
Sincerely,
Claire MacLean
UPDATE: September 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, SHARE is here for you! Our offices are currently open and services are available in person, and remotely (over the phone or computer). Some of our services do require advance appointments or are operating on adjusted hours, so please call SHARE, or see our website to help plan your visit. SHARE is continuing to follow the latest provincial health recommendations to ensure our clients, staff and volunteers remain safe. Please be prepared to answer some health screening questions, maintain your physical distance from others, and possibly wear a mask if you are entering one of our SHARE sites.
For more details on accessing specific services, please click on the links below.
We want you to know that during this challenging time, SHARE is just a phone call or email away. Whether you are a senior who needs groceries, someone who is struggling with anxiety, a parent of a child with special needs, a newcomer to our community, or anyone who is feeling vulnerable, please reach out. SHARE is here to help.
For anyone interested in how you can help support the community during this time, your donations are greatly appreciated and needed. Individuals interested in volunteering their services can contact SHARE via BC211. Below are links you can access for various support.
UPDATE: April 27th, 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, SHARE is here for you! The majority of our staff are now working remotely, delivering programs such as counselling, legal advocacy supports, the Rent Bank, services for children and youth with special needs, and more virtually.
In addition, some of our services such as our Food Bank, Services for Seniors and Affordable Housing sites are continuing to be delivered directly to members of the public. In all cases, SHARE is following the latest provincial health recommendations to ensure our clients, staff and volunteers remain safe.
For more details on accessing specific services, please click on the links below.
During this challenging time, SHARE is here for you. Whether you are a senior who needs groceries, someone who is struggling with anxiety, a parent of a child with special needs, a newcomer to our community, or anyone who is feeling vulnerable, please contact us. SHARE is here to help.
For anyone interested in how you can help support the community during this time, your donations are greatly appreciated and needed. Individuals interested in volunteering their services can contact SHARE via BC211. Below are links you can access for various support.
UPDATE: April 6th, 2020
COVID-19: Service Updates for Better at Home
SHARE Family & Community Services is part of the Government of BC and United Way Safe Seniors, Strong Communities Initiative.
As more and more people are appropriately self-isolating, many seniors who are able to live independently with the help of family and friends, are finding those supports unavailable. SHARE remains open to help seniors during this time.
Seniors needing assistance may register by calling 2-1-1 or visiting the website: www.bc211.ca
The 211 phone service is available 7 days a week our (8:30AM – 6PM). There may be high call volumes so please try again if you do not get through the first time.
Alternatively you can contact SHARE directly at 604-937-6991. Due to high call volumes it may take us a couple of days to return your call.
Seniors can request volunteer help with grocery shopping, check-in calls, meal preparation and delivery and prescription pick-up.
All seniors aged 65+ in B.C. and living at home are eligible to receive services.
Emergency Covid-19 response services are free of charge to seniors/by donation. Seniors are still responsible for the costs of groceries, prescriptions, prepared meal, etc. as applicable.
The following services are offered, as needed:
All seniors aged 65+ in B.C. and living at home are eligible to receive services. Seniors DO NOT need to be already registered with Better at Home to receive services
The frequency of services will depend on the service needed, availability of volunteers, and needs of seniors and communities
SHARE staff and Volunteers are providing these services.
All calls are responded to within a maximum of 72 hours once received at SHARE Family and Community Services.
Seniors can register on the 211 website at any time or by calling 211 between 8:30 AM and 6 PM. Alternatively Seniors can call SHARE at 604-937-6991. The SHARE phone is monitored on business days.
Better at Home will do what is necessary to maintain the safety and security of both participants and volunteers.
At intake, an initial Covid-19 screening will take place for all participants which will include a self-assessment– examples of questions asked will be:
The volunteer onboarding process will include a full intake, compliance agreement, self-assessment criminal records review (including asking the questions above), and support from SHARE’s Better at Home staff team.
The safety of seniors (and other participants) and volunteers is critically important to SHARE and we will do what is necessary to maintain the safety and security of both seniors / other participants and volunteers.
If a senior or volunteer in the program begins to show flu-like symptoms or has come into contact with someone who they believe may have Covid-19, they are required to notify the SHARE.
Services provided will immediately cease and any people they have come into contact with through the program will be notified. SHARE will work with the senior to look at alternatives to meet their service need.
UPDATE: March 19th, 2020
During the Covid-19 crisis we are concerned about maintaining the SHARE Food Bank Service as well as protecting the health of service users, volunteers and staff. Please check our website www.sharesociety.ca for the most recent information about the SHARE Food Bank as well as other SHARE services.
Please do not come to the Food Bank if you or a someone you are in regular contact with is or has been ill or has recently travelled outside of Canada.
Hours of Operation:
SHARE Food Bank is open:
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday to Friday
To maintain social distancing and everyone’s health the door will be locked. Please knock and a staff person/volunteer will come to the door to assist you.
Food Bank Distribution:
Pre-packed hamper bags will be distributed on Wednesdays as follows:
Volunteering
We are not taking new volunteers at this time. In order to maintain social distancing we need to limit the number of people we can have on our sites at one time. Thank you for your offers to help. We appreciate your kind offer and will reach out to the community if our situation changes.
Donations:
Donations are always appreciated. If you would like to make a financial donation you can most easily do this through our website www.sharesociety.ca
If you would like to donate food please donate non perishable foods. We would most appreciate canned fruit, canned fish and meat, canned meals. Thank you for thinking of SHARE Food Bank.
UPDATE: March 18th, 2020
SHARE Society remains committed to ensuring the safety and wellness of those we serve, as well as our staff and volunteers. Based on the most recent information from health authorities, please be advised of the following, effective March 18th:
SHARE’s offices will be closed to all members of the public. The exceptions are:
SHARE remains here to help. Our phone lines, social media channels, and email are all being monitored and our staff are continuing to support as many people as we safely can. Please call us at 604-540-9161 or 604-936-3900 for more information or see our website
Food Bank Plan for Distribution – Wednesday March 18, 2020
In recognition of the Covid 19 crisis, and to ensure the ongoing safety of our clients, staff and volunteers SHARE has made the following changes to our Food Bank operations for Wednesday March 18th:
Everyone who needs help will be served. There is no advantage in attending early or “lining up”. We are trying to limit the number of people on site at any given time, and to make the process as fast and efficient as possible.
As a reminder, the Food Bank is here to support those living in the TriCities, Anmore and Belcarra with limited financial means. Should you be new to the Food Bank and need our support, please come to one of our locations at the times specified above and you can access a food hamper. No pre-registration is required.
Food Bank services will be available tomorrow (Wednesday March 18th) at the following locations:
UPDATE: March 13th, 2020
SHARE Society takes the safety of those we serve and our staff very seriously. We are following the recommendations of public health officials with respect to Covid-19, including:
We know that many people rely on our services. We will endeavour to continue delivering our services as usual, given our staffing and volunteer levels permit, and we can remain in strict compliance with the recommendations of our health authorities.
At this time, we can advise:
Given how quickly things are changing with this situation, we recommend that you call SHARE before trying to access a specific service. Our Coquitlam office can be reached at 604-540-9161 and our Port Moody office can be reached at 604-936-3900. We will also try to keep our website and social media updated.
We ask all of our clients, volunteers and staff to assist in ceasing the spread of the virus by refraining from coming to a SHARE site if they are feeling unwell, if they have been in contact with someone who has the virus, or if they have travelled outside of the country in the past 2 weeks.
Thank you and stay safe.
