According to CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), it is normal to feel anxious and afraid while we deal with the effects of this pandemic. It is normal to feel alone.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic causes fear, anxiety about your own health, the health and wellness of your loved ones, about the economy and the future. The disease can cause one to feel very alone. These fears and stress can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. We know this situation is stressful for everyone; people living with abuse, extreme stress, mental illness and addictions may be finding it especially difficult to cope. They may feel apart, but they need not feel alone.
Feeling alone can leave one feeling paralyzed.
During a pandemic we have heard from so many of you sharing how either your programs or ministries have closed down. Please don’t do that! There are so many hurting people that need you to stand in the gap! They need you to help them not feel alone.
During the past four weeks, we have recorded four podcasts on caring for the vulnerable sector during a pandemic. Each podcast featured four expert guests representing different people groups. CLICK HERE
Caring for Youth: Victoria Bissell, Child Protection Coordinator for Rift Valley Academy and a Crisis Kids Help Line Counsellor.
Caring for Children: Sara Austin, Executive Director, Children First Canada (recently produced the Raising Canada 2020 Study on the Ten Threats Children Are Facing).
Caring for the Elderly: The Honorable Daisy Wai, MPP for the Richmond Hill Riding, Asst. Minister of Seniors and Accessibility.
Caring for those with Disabilities: Archie Allison, Director, Access and Awareness for Variety Village/Variety Ontario, Coach for Paralympics.
These four webinars provide tangible ways to care for individuals during a pandemic - here's our countdown of our top ten tips found in these podcasts:
10) Create a memory book for the seniors in your life.
9) Host an online book club.
8) Recruit a family to go caroling to (not at Christmas, but for Thanksgiving).
7) Send handwritten cards in the mail.
6) Do a zoom movie night with youth (deliver theatre popcorn to their door).
5) Offer to do grocery shopping for seniors.
4) Rake leaves for the elderly.
3) Drop off a Thanksgiving gift basket to the Seniors in your community.
2) Host an Arts Festival online.
1) Host a creative writing contest for children and young people. This is our favourite which we have chosen to initiate. We are seeking a children's book on a topic that relates to safety and protection. Authors must be 18 years of age or younger (must be in elementary or high school).
When submitting use SUBJECT LINE: Safety Writing Contest
Include your story, suggested illustrations, name and age of author, name of sponsoring adult, contact information (name, phone number and email address) of sponsoring adult.
Winners will be announced in our January 2021 newsletter.
Entries for the Competition are by reading age:
· Picture Book
· Chapter Book
· Middle Grade
· Young Adult
Maximum length of an entry is 1,500 words.
Three top prizes will be awarded:
1) Scholarship of $500 to the #1 Winning Recipient
2) Scholarship of $250 to the #2 Winning Recipient
3) $100 Amazon Gift card to the #3 Runner Up
-Melodie Bissell, President and CEO at Plan to Protect®