聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Canadian Red Cross is in the process of launching a Friendly Phone Link Program in the Sturgis and Preeceville area.
鈥淭he program has been two years in the making,鈥� said Barb Biccum of Preeceville.
鈥淭he aim of the program is to link isolated individuals through a phone tree system in which participants will contact each other and, if needed, volunteers will contact the participant,鈥� she said. The purpose of the check-ups is to ensure that the participant is safe in his or her own home.鈥�
The Friendly Phone Link Program is still in its set-up stage, she said. 鈥淲e have participants ready to sign up but we are still getting volunteers co-ordinated.
The main focus for right now is to get information out to the public on the program.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The program was implemented through Biccum, who saw a real need for such a program after a personal incident had her questioning what she could do to help isolated individuals be safe in their own homes.
Biccum did some investigating and approached the Roman Catholic Women鈥檚 League. With the encouragement of League members, she went on to approach the Canadian Red Cross to see if a program was already established. The Red Cross had no such program established either provincially or nationally, she discovered. The closest program was a visiting program.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The goal of the Friendly Phone Link Program is to reduce incidents and accidents among the participants who sign up for the program, she explained. Providing regular check-ins will help ensure safety and the well-小蓝视频 of participants.
Policies and procedures have been established should emergency assistance be required for a participant.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The pilot program will be serving residents in the Preeceville and District Ministerial area which includes, Sturgis, Preeceville, Stenen, Usherville, Endeavour, Rockford, Rama, Buchanan and Hazel Dell.
There is no cost to participants to be in involved in the program. Participants or volunteers interested in becoming involved are encouraged to call Barb Biccum.
