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Program helps volunteers assist seniors

The Better at Home program in Ashcroft successfully matches seniors who need help with volunteers who can provide it.

Better at Home hosted a dinner on Oct. 26 to express appreciation for its volunteers, housekeepers, clients and advisory board members. Everyone enjoyed the dinner at the Legion, prepared and served by the Ladies Auxiliary.

Better at Home’s amazing volunteers give their time and show a tremendous amount of caring towards their clients; the program’s outstanding Housekeepers go above and beyond any expectation of them for their clients and of course the BAH advisory board members volunteer their time to assist with decisions and help out in improving and providing recommendations for the program.

Better at Home came to Ashcroft-Cache Creek on Dec. 1, 2013 through the Ashcroft & District Lions Club who sponsored it. Sandy Williams was hired as Program Co-ordinator and got the program up and running. She retired from the program in April 2015.

Although BAH runs in many communities, they all have different needs and figuring out what works and doesn’t work is very challenging. The federal government gives the money to the United Way of the Lower Mainland to operate this program, and they give the funding to a non-profit organization.

Garry Limpright, chair of the Oncore Seniors Society of Kamloops, general manager for programs and services Keith Bonnah and board member Mona Murray were also in attendance at the dinner. The group has provided assistance to Program Co-ordinator Nancy Kendall who took over from Williams. In particular, Oncore board member Jay Burgomaster gave a great deal of his time and expertise.

Better at Home tracks the services it provides as “service moments”. For example, one hour of housekeeping is a service moment. A drive to the doctor’s is also a service moment. From April 1 to Sept. 30, BAH has provided for 31 shopping service moments, 51 yard work service moments, 92 visitation service moments, 137 transportation service moments, and 283 housekeeping service moments.

A very special mention to ladies of the Royal Purple who recently very generously donated $1,000.

Better at Home will be moving the office location to 310A Railway Ave later this year. Thank you to Cindy Adamski who facilitated this with KelRockden. They are providing a very nice office at a great rate for our non-profit organization.

BAH clients, volunteers and housekeepers who would like to attend WRAPS’ performance of “My Fair Lady” on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2pm in the former Ashcroft Elementary School are asked to contact the office so rides can be arranged for those who cannot drive.

Contact BAH Tuesday through Thursday at 250-453-9911 to become a client or a volunteer.

Nancy Kendall