Rural delivery proves resiliency of Cape Breton seniors

Cape Breton's rural communities are findingways to help seniorsget their everyday essentials.

At the start of the pandemic, Victoria County launched a delivery service forolder residents who feared potential COVID-19 exposure.

"It was a rather slow uptake at the beginning," said Cassandra Yonder, the municipality's senior safety officer.

"A lot of the need is really being met by friends and neighbours and community members. And so, putting this program in place was kind of a way of actually just reinforcing what was already happening."

Yonder asked local fire departmentstorecruit volunteers who coulddrop off things such asgroceries and prescriptions.

The program was launched after Victoria County received$10,000 fromthe Nova Scotia Department of Seniors for COVID spending. A portion of the money was donated to fire stations for things such as fuel and personal protective supplies.

'Resiliency of our seniors'

Although many seniors living in Victoria County have few options for home delivery, Yonder said the response to the program was modest.

In fact, some departments did notreceiveany calls, while theBaddeck volunteers made more than 100 deliveries.

Yonder said thequiet response in some communitiescan be attributed tomany seniors keeping well-stocked supplies of canned or non-perishable items.

"What's often overlooked is actually the resiliency of our seniors," said Yonder. "And one thing I've learned over this pandemic is that seniors in remote, rural Nova Scotia know how to keep a pantry stocked."

Shane MacFarlane,amember of the Baddeckvolunteer fire department, said he's madeseveral supply runs for seniorswhile taking necessary precautions.

MacFarlane said some residents aren't comfortable leaving theirhomes while COVID numbers are on the rise.

"They certainly do feel uneasy, there's no doubt about that," MacFarlane said.

Volunteers standing by

Kyle Rambeau, chief of the Cabot volunteer fire department in Cape North, said seniors shouldcalla station representativeto arrange pickup.

Once an order is ready at a local grocery store, volunteers will bring bags to asenior's doorstep.

"We signed up because we want to help our community," said Rambeau. "Seniors are a very important part of our community and we have to try to keep them safe."

Rambeau said part of the reason the department has had so few calls is becausefew people know the service exists.

Yonder said the program will continue as long as there are volunteers.

"The real value of the program is not necessarily the deliveries that are done, but the fact that our seniors here in Victoria County know that the fire departments ...are willing to be there for them in this way, and in a myriad of ways, is pretty spectacular," Yonder said.