County quilters stitch up handcrafted gifts for seniors

Receiving this year’s delivery of handcrafted placemat gifts for seniors, from left, are: Christine Hays and Hannelise Simoes from the Prince Edward Quilters’ Guild and Community Care co-ordinator Tia Martins-Fox.

The Prince Edward Quilters’ Guild has continued its decade of presenting lovingly quilted placemats to be distributed to seniors for the holidays.

Members of the Guild stop by the Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors office in Picton to drop off their most recent donation.

Community Care Executive Director Debbie MacDonald Moynes notes each placemat is touched by at least three volunteers – the person who creates it, the volunteer who carefully adds a bow and note, and the volunteer who delivers this special gift and hands it to the senior.

Recipients are seniors who receive a delivery of hot or frozen Meals on Wheels across the County as Community Care delivers Meals on Wheels from Consecon to Cherry Valley, from Rossmore to Long Point and places in between. Each recipient of the meal will receive a placemat created by members of the Prince Edward Quilters’ Guild.

“The delivery of placemats each Christmas has been part of a long-standing show of community support for the Meals on Wheels program by the members of the Guild,” notes MacDonald Moynes. “Hundreds of placemats have been created and donated over the years. Many recipients tell Community Care staff that the placemats are used throughout the year to brighten their home.”

The Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association also offers services such as transportation to medical appointments, curbside pick-up meals, foot care, help with forms (including income tax), respite, home maintenance including snow shovelling, rural route reassurance, telephone reassurance programs, grocery delivery and a full range of active living programs.

The agency is partly funded by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry for Seniors & Accessibility, the County of Prince Edward and is supported by donations and community fundraising efforts, such as Community Care’s Thrift Shop at 153 Main Street. The Community Care office is located at 74 King Street in Picton.

For more information about Community Care and its programs, call 613-476-7493 or visit www.communitycareforseniors.org