Pat Porter Active Living Centre faces COVID challenges

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This article was published 30/01/2021 (1632 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s not easy for just about any business and organization during COVID-19 restrictions, but the Pat Porter Active Living Centre is dealing with financial challenges while trying to address the needs of their membership, most of whom are the most vulnerable sector of the population to the virus.

A letter from Serving Seniors Inc. president Douglas Enns, taken as information at the City of Steinbach Jan. 5 council meeting, outlined issues such as the financial loss of missing out on facility rentals and being unable to host their annual banquet and the toll the virus and restrictions are taking on their membership.

“We noticed a significant decline in the health and wellbeing of many of our regular members while we were closed during the spring shut down and many said if this place closes again they won’t make it,” Enns wrote.

He gave as an example a meeting with a member who need assistance with paperwork, (before the code red restrictions came into place) and when they offered her a coffee, she had to leave.

“She phoned back after and told us she had to leave because she had to cry and didn’t want to do it here,” he wrote. “We know we need to be here for her and the many others who are experiencing the most difficult holiday season they have experienced in their years.”

That letter was drafted on Dec. 21, but Executive Director Audrey Harder said nothing has changed since then.

“The people that we are connected to and use our services have been home alone for an extended period of time,” she said. “There’s a lot of fear. They are the most vulnerable at this point so they just want to make it through, and it just doesn’t seem to be ending.”

The letter given to city council was also sent to other potential corporate sponsors, and Harder said the financial challenges are looming large.

The organization depends on facility rentals for more than half their income, an estimated $90,000.

“We were geared up in March to have likely our best year ever, because we had a lot of people who had bookings for large events,” she said. “Obviously none of those have happened.”

A further 20 percent of their budget comes from fundraising, and their largest fundraiser, the annual dinner normally held at the end of January will not happen this year.

“We had a very successful event last year,” she said.

Other options are being considered such as a possible golf tournament to be held this summer.

Individuals can also support the Pat Porter Active Living Centre by giving one-time or monthly donations. Simply go to www.patporteralc.com to find out how to give.

Despite the daunting task of securing financial support, Harder said she wants to make sure people stay safe and healthy.

“I think it’s all about staying connected,” she said. “It’s about picking up the phone and making a call. If you’re waiting for someone to call, pick up the phone and call someone. Call us.”

Harder said they’ve always had fantastic support in the past.

“We have a great community here,” she said. “I just want everybody to stay safe, that’s key.”