Mission Community Services (MCS) is a place that celebrates diversity, creativity, innovation and free thinking all in an effort to serve others the best way we can.
The recent release from Statistics Canada shows the older population in Canada now equals or surpasses the population of children under 15 for the first time. This fact now finally confirms what has long been anticipated with the implication of increasing needs for an aging population.
Since 1972, MCS has addressed the needs of an older population with programs like Meals on Wheels, and later adding the Friendly Visitor Program, Seniors Connection, Lunch with a Bunch, Medical Transportation, and Seniors Shopping Trips.
Meals on Wheels provides hot and cold meals to elderly community members who require this support. Meals are delivered by volunteers three days per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).
The Friendly Visitor Program matches a senior with a volunteer visitor who connects with the senior by phone or in person on a regular basis. The program helps seniors remain socially connected and provides an opportunity for seniors to access other services when needed.
The Seniors Connection is an information and referral centre for seniors that coordinates other services as needed like medical transportation and a year-round income tax clinic. Volunteer drivers will take seniors to medical appointments, wait with them and return them home safely. Seniors Connection also facilitates an income tax clinic for low income seniors during tax season, also through the generous contributions of volunteers.
Lunch with a Bunch takes seniors to one of the local seniors facilities and provides a social time for seniors to connect with others and have a great meal at the same time. Finally, Seniors Go Shopping puts three or four seniors together along with a volunteer driver.
All of the Seniors Services provided by MCS focus on independence and well being by helping seniors remain in their residence as long as they can while also providing as many social activities as possible to maintain their quality of life.
All of these services would not be possible without the generosity of the volunteers who contribute their time. And given the increasing number of seniors, MCS is also in need of volunteers. There is immediate need for volunteers in the Seniors Connection, Meals on Wheels delivery drivers, Friendly Visitor volunteers, Medical Transportation and volunteers to take seniors shopping.
If you or someone you know is interested in this amazing opportunity to share your life with a senior, then please call Felice or Sandra at 604-826-3634.
Mission Community Services is proud to be serving the seniors here, and we look forward to another 40 years of helping seniors maintain their independence and quality of life.
