Clarence-Rockland seniors receive $ 24 000 from federal government.
St. Andrew’s Christian Church in Rockland received $24,020 from the federal government.
Francis Drouin, MP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, made the announcement at St. Andrew’s Christian Church on Wednesday, January 24, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. St. Andrew’s Christian Church received this amount from the government’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
“Now, thanks to the NHSP grant, seniors living in Clarence-Rockland and the surrounding communities will enjoy the benefits of a safe, welcoming, and friendly place where they can meet for fellowship, fun and encouragement,” said Jane Cooper, chair of St-Andrew’s Christian Church Organization Committee. The NHSP is meant to enhance seniors’ social well-being and enable them to maintain social ties and to share their knowledge and skills with others.
The grant will be used for several projects. This will include improvements to Pangborn Hall, which serves as the meeting place for Rockland seniors, to make it a more welcoming and safe meeting place. The money will also be used for the purchase of a new refrigerator for the kitchen, the repair of exterior brick work, the purchase of a sign to promote the Seniors group’s activities and the widening of the exterior ramp to improve Pangborn Hall’s accessibility.
The Seniors group of St-Andrew’s Christian Church organizes numerous activities for the community, including social gatherings every Tuesday and community dinners. “We try to draw people to the church and the community where they can maybe make a new friend,” said Ray Lebeau, member of the St-Andrew’s Christian Church Organization Committee. “There is no reason anyone should feel isolated because our group is here. It is better to burn out than to rust out.”
This is not the first time the Seniors group receives money from the NHSP. They have previously received about $ 18 000, which they used for roof repairs at Pangborn Hall and for the purchase of a computer.
“The Government of Canada is dedicated to expanding opportunities for Canadian seniors to get involved in community activities that meet their needs,” concluded Drouin.