Community member Merle Balsillie teamed up with Community Living Interlake and their social enterprise Something Beautiful to provide a fully catered, delicious lunch for all staff at Stonewall & District Health Centre and Rosewood Lodge Personal Care Home as a thank you for their hard work, kindness and dedication to patients and residents during the pandemic. Lunch was served in two waves so that all staff in each facility, including day, evening, and night, were included in the thank you meal.

Jimm Simon, executive director of Community Living Interlake says the donation was inspired by Merle Balsillie who chose them to be the supplier of lunches for Stonewall health care front line workers at the hospital and personal care home.

“We believe strongly in providing opportunities for the people we support to contribute to the community they call home. What better way to support our community than to take part in showing our appreciation to health care workers. Ms. Balsillie’s contribution is supporting the work of front-line workers and we are proud to stand with her and show our support for the people who have been working so hard to keep us all safe,” says Simon.

Patrice Lee, clinical team manager at Stonewall & District Health Centre says everyone is extremely thankful for this kind gesture.

“It means so much to have community support during the pandemic. The staff enjoyed a delicious meal while taking a restful break. Thank you so much for this recognition,” says Lee.

Margarete Moulden, clinical team manager at Rosewood Lodge Personal Care Home says the staff are so grateful for the support and generosity shown to them during this past 17 months of the pandemic.

“When the staff were informed of the meal their response was ‘Wow! We appreciate the gift so much.’ The staff love what they do and the care they provide. It is wonderful to be recognized for this,” says Moulden.

Pamela McCallum, executive director of the Interlake Eastern Health Foundation (IEHF) says working with Something Beautiful on the project brought so much joy during a difficult time.

“The pandemic has been a difficult time for our staff; for months they have given all of themselves to our region’s residents and patients and having a donation like this from Ms. Balsillie and Something Beautiful gives them hope and reminds them that they are appreciated.”

For more information on IEHF and how it benefits the region’s patients and residents or to make a donation, please visit www.iehf.ca or contact Pamela McCallum directly at pmccallum@ierha.ca. For more photo’s please visit our Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Interlake-Eastern-Health-Foundation-309869502838694.

Photo’s courtesy of Tyler Searle, Stonewall Teulon Tribune.