Simcoe Legion Branch 79 donates to special events

Norview Lodge recently received an $800 donation from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 79 Simcoe poppy fund, which will be used for special events at the long-term care facility in Simcoe. From left are Norview Lodge recreation therapists Kate Gallant, Pamela Tasane, with Branch 70’s Leesa Maxwell (1st vice-president and poppy committee member) and Scott Jenereaux (poppy chair), and recreational therapists Krystal Warman and Lynsey Sendrowski.

Chris Abbott

Editor

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 79, Simcoe, recently donated $800 from its poppy fund to Norview Lodge in Simcoe.

“It’s amazing,” said Nicole Tweedie, Supervisor for Programs and Volunteer Services, Norview Lodge. “This is our second year receiving it, and we are very appreciative of it. We are very grateful.”

Norview Lodge is Norfolk County's municipally-owned and operated not-for-profit long-term care home.

“The $800 is used towards special programming,” said Tweedie. “Special events.”

It allows Norview Lodge to book entertainers that otherwise would not be in their budget.

Types of entertainment include a reptile show, the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, and a mobile petting zoo, which is scheduled for their fall Norview Fair.

“Through their gracious donation, that allows us to bring more programming to this home because, realistically, a lot of our residents here are wheelchair bound. So if we can bring this type of entertainment here, then they don’t have to leave the home. We want to bring as much here as possible to reach as many residents as we can.”

Norview Lodge currently has 179 long-term care residents, many of them born and raised in Norfolk County.

“This is a local initiative, giving back to the residents – this is their home, this is their community, for many, many years.”

“We’ll be back next year,” smiled Scott Jenereaux, Branch 79 poppy chairman, noting the poppy fund needs to be allocated to veterans’ benefit. “There are veterans, and veterans’ wives here, currently.

“Everyone loves these shows that they do here. It’s a great benefit to the residents, not just the veterans and veterans’ wives, everybody enjoys it, so that’s a nice thing.”