Emergency (Page 11)

Bored and isolated, who hasn’t struggled with those feelings in the last nine months? And then a package arrives in your community. It’s filled with stress relief strategies, positive messages, and a fun-filled afternoon of creation and expression. The Canadian Red Cross really knows how to pack a box!

When Claudine St-Jean saw the posting for people who could assist in Quebec long-term care facilities, she knew immediately she had to put her name forward.
“I had recently lost two family members to COVID-19 in Quebec,” Claudine explained.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, mental health has been at the forefront as the disruption to regular life and routines has many people feeling trapped and isolated in their own home. In southwestern Nova Scotia, the Shelburne County Mental Health & Wellness Association is helping by offering a Warm Line for people in distress.

Lisa Ogbole is a survivor of domestic violence, an immigrant, and a woman, but she says one of the most important supports she can provide to Black women who are escaping domestic violence is that she too is Black. In February 2019, Ogbole opened Imani’s Place in Alliston, Ontario.

Driving through communities in La Lima, the damage is harrowing to witness. A family photograph, a child’s backpack and a stuffed bear are some of the belongings that families had to abandon as they rushed to evacuate.
The flooding that followed the two hurricanes devastated entire communities who were already dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the pre-existing humanitarian crisis.

If you make the wise decision to spend the day inside, here are some suggestions for activities that will keep the whole family busy:

MAC is a non-profit organization based out of Burnaby, British Columbia, that aims to empower people to explore their artistic potential while on their journey to mental health wellness. Like many organizations across the country, My Artist’s Corner has not been immune to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In November, the Canadian Red Cross sent an emergency health clinic and aid workers to Honduras to provide much-needed health services after Hurricanes Eta and Iota devastated the Central America region.