PWRDF partners with HelpAge Canada to support vulnerable seniors in Canada

If you are part of a parish or charitable group that supports seniors coping with COVID-19, you could be eligible for a grant of up to $2,000.

The current COVID-19 crisis has put the care of seniors in Canada front and centre. But that’s nothing new for HelpAge Canada. Since 1975, the charitable organization has been working with seniors throughout the world and in Canada to ensure all seniors can live a safe, healthy and fulfilling life. It is a founding member of HelpAge International, now active in more than 90 countries.

PWRDF is proud to be partnering with HelpAge Canada as part of its $200,000 COVID-19 response. On Friday, March 13, HelpAge Canada launched a Covid-19 Emergency Appeal and has already raised more than $160,000, including $40,000 from PWRDF.

“We share some common values,” says Executive Director Gregor Sneddon, who happens to be an ordained Anglican priest. “HelpAge Canada is rooted in its international development work as well, and I find a parallel vision of seeking out the most vulnerable in the world and serving them.”

Sneddon points out that seniors in Canada are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 because of the risk of infection, the heightened danger of its effects on older people, and the further isolation that social distancing necessitates. “Isolation is the main challenge,” Sneddon says. “Not necessarily income, but generally isolation and loneliness are key factors.”

Sneddon became Executive Director of HelpAge Canada in December 2019 after serving as a chaplain in the Diocese of Ottawa Community Ministries Centre 454 and as Rector of several parishes in Ottawa for 14 years. “The Anglican Church has such a strong social justice agenda, it’s a very missional church and community.”

So when he was looking for more agencies to meet the needs of seniors in Canada during the pandemic, he emailed the Anglican Church of Canada and the Primate’s office. “Both the Primate and Eileen Scully [Director of Faith, Worship and Ministry] expressed excitement about the opportunity and directed us to PWRDF. We’re excited to work arm in arm with other Anglicans in Canada serving this population.”

HelpAge Canada will distribute its funds as grants to more than 30 agencies supporting seniors across Canada, and it continues to expand its reach. Partner agencies can receive grants to support seniors with access to food, medications, hygiene products and personal care, and for support for volunteers and staff to deliver these services safely.

HelpAge Canada also provides for essential personal protection equipment like gloves and masks and sanitization products.

One organization reported using some funds for emergency day-care enabling single parent Personal Support Workers to attend to the needs of their most vulnerable seniors. HelpAge Canada is partnering with more than 50 agencies, including:

• Twin Cities 55+ Seniors Club, Labador West, N.L.
• Jimmy Pratt Memorial Centre, St John’s, N.L.
• Glace Bay Food Bank, N.S.
• Fredericton Meals on Wheels, N.B.
• La Pas de la Rue, Montreal, Que.
• Carrefour Montrose, Montreal, Que.
• Le Centre Almage Communautaire Pour Personnes Agées, Montreal, Que.
• East Ottawa Community Centre, Ont.
• West Ottawa Community Resource Centre, Ont.
• St. Matthew’s House, Hamilton, Ont.
• West Neighbourhood House, Toronto, Ont.
• Central Neighbourhoods, Winnipeg, Man.
• Norwest Co-op, Winnipeg, Man.
• Marlene Street Community Resource Centre, Man.
• Gwen Centre Creative Living Centre, Man.
• Saskatoon Services for Seniors, Sask.
• Lighthouse, Saskatoon, Sask.
• Kerby House, Calgary, Alta.
• SAGE, Edmonton, Alta.
• Little Mountain Neighbourhood House Society, Vancouver, B.C.
• Burnaby Neighbourhood House, B.C.
• West End Seniors’ Network, Vancouver, B.C.
• Seniors Services Society, Vancouver, B.C.
• The Schubert Centre, Vernon, B.C.
• White Valley Community Resource Centre, Lumby, B.C.
• Seniors Serving Seniors, Victoria, B.C.
• Yellowknife Seniors’ Society, N.W.T.

It has also engaged big names such as Sandra Oh, Mary Walsh and Bob Rae to raise awareness of the needs of seniors during COVID-19. Watch their videos on YouTube and other social media channels.