Checking In and Reaching Out: Kinsight community rallies to provide outreach service through pandemic
From groceries and gift cards to bird houses and herb gardens, hundreds of people have benefitted from Kinsight’s outreach service in its first two months of operation.
The outreach service, initiated in response to COVID-19, provides food and household supplies, financial assistance and activity kits to families and individuals served through Kinsight.
Recognizing that some people cannot leave their homes to purchase groceries or may not have enough money to do so, Kinsight kicked off its outreach service in late March. The initiative also features a wide variety of activity kits to help engage and stimulate people at home. Specifically, the program offers:
- Groceries purchased and delivered
- Gift cards to purchase groceries and supplies
- Activity kits
- Online connections and learning through CoMakeDo.ca (in partnership with BACI, posAbilities and InWithForward)
“The service was designed to help reduce the economic impact and social isolation caused by the pandemic,” explains Maggie Vilvang, who leads Kinsight’s outreach effort.
“We have had a tremendous response,” she continues. “Every week, I receive texts from grateful people, including pictures of them building models, planting herb gardens, and other creative projects.”
The outreach service has been a bright spot for Kinsight’s staff of essential service workers, some of whom shop and deliver food and supplies, while others assemble activity kits and catalogue orders.
Kinsight extends a special thank you to the many families, employees, businesses and neighbours who have contributed to its outreach efforts. The community has rallied to support the initiative by donating or subsidizing meals, appliances, personal protective gear, activity supplies and more.
Learn more about the outreach program here and its impact during the first two months of operations here. If you are supported through Kinisght and would like more information about outreach support, please speak to your Kinisght contact person or email info@kinsight.org.