Residents of West Nipissing staying home to try and flatten the COVID-19 curve hasn’t taken away community spirit.
According to Mayor Joanne Savage, the community has come together even more during this crisis.
“Our boundaries include many communities,” she explained. “We’re a strong, caring community. I know various social clubs have been calling their members to touch base with them to find out how they are, how they are doing and if they need any support of any time.”
“As mayor, I have received some calls of individuals who needed assistance, where they didn’t have a friend or a loved one to go out and get groceries or pick up medication,” Savage continued. “There have volunteers in the community that has stepped up and wish to spearhead an outreach service delivery program for the vulnerable citizens of our community.”
Savage hopes the municipality will also be able to lend its support to this volunteer group in an effort to keep people home, especially seniors.
“Within our population, we have a lot of seniors,” Savage said. “With all the information shared, seniors 70 and over should isolate. They are vulnerable and at higher risk of catching COVID-19. I am hoping in the near future that the municipality, along with volunteers will adopt an outreach program that will be able to provide the service to those who need it.”
“If we can alleviate the need for seniors going out, we’re keeping the assessment risk lower,” she added. “Whether we help one individual, 10 individuals, or 100, it should be our priority.”
