A local retirement home has stepped in to save a seniors' health program facing financial peril.
The Seniors Active In Living (SAIL) program at Confederation centre was at risk of closing, after funding from Fraser Health dried up, but folks at the Mulberry, a South Burnaby retirement home, decided to step in, after reading the Burnaby NOW's front-page story on the issue.
"We saw the article from the paper, so we thought we should do something," said Jacqueline Omstead, general manager at the Mulberry. "The benefit for us is giving back to the community - that's one of our values."
The Mulberry is sponsoring the SAIL program with a $12,000 donation - that's $2,000 more than what volunteers were hoping for to keep the program going.
The program runs every Tuesday, from 9: 30 to 11: 45 a.m., at Confederation centre. Seniors can get their blood pressure, height and weight checked, enjoy massages and partake in "energy healing." There is also a health information presentation, followed by chair exercises. The program is run by volunteers, and in 2009 Fraser Health gave notice that funding would run out in the 2012/13 fiscal year. Volunteers made a public plea for donations in March, and the Mulberry stepped in.
"We were absolutely delighted," said Doreen Player, co-chair of the SAIL program. "They are very good. The Mulberry does a lot for the community."
Player is still hoping to find secure, long-term funding, so volunteers are not looking for donations every year, but she did say the Mulberry may be interested in a second year of sponsorship if the first goes well.
"It's good for them because it's a win-win situation," Player said. "They have independent housing for seniors, (and) they are wanting to be more well known in Burnaby."
The $12,000 will cover the program's operating costs for a year. Player said the program services more than 200 seniors, with an average of 50 people per week.
