In this unusual year, there have been parades to celebrate birthdays, graduations, and seniors, and since the pandemic is not over yet, there has now been a parade to celebrate Christmas.
A dozen special needs participants with the This Is MƎ day program — similar to Moose Jaw Families for Change’s café program, but on a smaller scale — had been excited to host their families for a Christmas tea at the office of the Moose Jaw Association for Community Living (MJACL) on Ross Street West.
There was enough room to host people, with one family to have cookies and tea with their loved one every 15 minutes and enough time in between for a thorough cleaning.
But when the provincial government announced new restrictions recently, the in-person gathering went out the window. So, staff decided to hold a Christmas parade on Dec. 4. They and the participants piled into vans — one driven by Santa Claus, no less — and drove to homes of families and supporters.
The 12 residents —from ages 20 to 69 — jumped out of the vehicles and sang a Christmas carol, with one participant handing a plate of cookies and gift bag to the recipients. They then jumped back into the vans and headed to their next destination; the group visited five locations this Friday and planned to visit five more on Dec. 11.
The first stop was at the home of Jerry Hicks, the former CEO of Diversified Services.
“It’s really important (to have the tea still),” said Mr. Hicks. “They always enjoyed the Christmas tea at Diversified Services, when families were brought in … so they won’t miss it this year (with this event).”
Client Denise Kutcher was selected to deliver the cookies and gift bags to the families. She indicated that she was nervous but also excited to do it.
“I know my family will be watching this on tonight’s (Global TV) news … so I’m hoping this is their Christmas gift to them from me,” she said.
Kutcher added emotionally that it would be difficult not to see her family at Christmas, while it’s been depressing to have seen them only a few times in the past six months. However, she has enjoyed the day program and had plenty of fun.
It was “really, really important” for the clients to still celebrate since many of them haven’t seen their families in months, said group administrator Sharon Cole. Furthermore, many won’t even know they’ve missed Christmas until after it’s passed.
“It (the parade) can’t be anything but exciting for them,” she added, “even if all we do is drive around and sing Christmas carols.”
Program history
In June, Cole — a private service care home operator — and other health-care workers came together to form This Is MƎ since they wanted to support each other and their clients. The staff applied to the Ministry of Health for funding and were successful.
Cole hosted the participants at her home throughout the summer, but they began gathering inside once fall arrived. This became impractical due to restrictions.
Staff then looked for an alternative location and eventually found the MJACL office.
“It’s an absolutely great spot,” Cole said, since the participants can cook, exercise, sew, take art classes, host Zoom meetings with pen pals, and learn to dance. They have also participated in therapeutic riding on mini horses and bowling.
The clients need a routine since they are “creatures of habit” and don’t understand the pandemic or its restrictions, which has stressed them out, said Cole. Without the group, she doesn’t think many would have survived emotionally or psychologically.
“For me, (the program’s founding is) the most positive thing to come out of COVID-19 … ,” Cole added. “I am very grateful this program came to be. I think they have done really well.”
