We Are Here For You!

The Stonegate CHC staff team is here for you!  While we can’t encourage the Stonegate Community to gather together, we do encourage you to stay connected.  Reach out to each other and reach out to us here at Stonegate CHC.  We never closed.  We did have to adjust how we deliver our services.  If there is something you need help with, please call.

Our Health Promotion Team has been extremely creative in developing a number of virtual options to sing together, exercise together, meditate together and cook together.  We will continue to expand this programming as well as planning for the day when the province allows a greater number of people to gather than 5.  This may happen sooner in parts of the province compared to Toronto.

Our health care providers are continuing to address all of the essential primary care needs of our clients.  Clients are booked first with a phone call from their provider.  Many issues can be addressed over the phone.  If their provider decides that the client needs to be seen, for example requiring a physical examination, blood work or vaccination, they are given an appointment to visit on-site.  We have never interrupted essential primary care.  This includes prenatal care and examination and vaccination of infants and children.  We don’t want any infants or children to miss their vaccinations.

Our mental health counsellors are continuing to deliver counselling and client support over the phone or using video visits.  They can refer clients to a wide range of mental health resources, webinars, online supports that have emerged in response to the pandemic.  Virtual Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for people with anxiety or depression are being offered.

We know that food insecurity was a significant issue in our community before the sweeping changes that have come with this pandemic.  With the widespread unemployment many more families need assistance with emergency food.  With support available from the Federal Government we have received funds to address the needs of our clients. 

We were able to find a way to reopen our Community Garden when that became an essential service.  Our gardeners had to agree to the safety practices required to gain access to their garden plots.

While we are planning for resuming some more routine treatment and services, perhaps some outdoor programming, we do not have a timeframe or specific plans to announce at this time.    We can promise we will resume in a way that is done safely for you and for our staff.

Program Updates 

We recognize that these are challenging times; Stonegate CHC  continues to be committed to supporting  the mental health and well-being of our community. Since suspending onsite programs due to COVID 19 we have begun to make our programs available  live streaming them on our facebook page and/or using other platforms such as zoom or google meets. Some of our programs are livestreamed for the general community and others are inviting back participants from the groups we were providing in order to continue with a group that was suspended.

We are working in partnership with Stonegate Ecumenical Ministry to implement a community campaign asking people of all ages to forward stories, and drawings of why they care about their community, how they are staying connecting  with their community and the importance of community. The stories will be mailed out to isolated seniors, the drawings will be posted in the Stonegate downstairs lobby on the windows and at Christ Church St James.   If you would like to participate forward stories and drawings to our health.promotion@stonegatechc.org email or you can drop them off at the centre.

The Health Promotion team is doing weekly social check in with community members; especially isolated seniors and other vulnerable clients.  

We are livestreaming and posting recordings of  exercise videos that address health conditions that include:
•    osteoporosis and osteopenia
•    chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
•    cardiac conditions
•    diabetes 
•    falls prevention

The chair based exercise videos  are low impact and are beneficial for all ages.  Exercise classes, Handicrafts, Mindfulness and Health and Well being workshops are being implemented remotely by team members. 

You can access information about our programs on facebook, our online calendar , emailing us at health.promotion@stonegatechc.org or  contacting us by phone at 416-231-7070 extension 307.  If you do not have internet or a computer, no worries you can join in by phone to participate.

The centre has 3 facebook pages where we post upcoming program information and resources. Our main CHC facebook page, Family Program facebook page, and Child & Youth facebook page. 

To date we have been very successful with approximately 1000 views of our Early Years virtual programs alone and have attracted viewers from abroad. Families are reaching out to us to share the positive impact this has had on them and their child being able to participate in the program and see a familiar face on the screen.

Hear what clients are saying:
"It was so great to watch your show today! Yesterday we watched one of your prior classes, the quarantine is quite long and I am always looking for fun ideas for the children. So we will follow your shows from now on. I can imagine that preparation for your online shows takes some time too.   Thank you once again for your super work, us –  tired parents really appreciate it. Take care and “see you” next week." - K. Pospíšilová, Mother of two (Czech Republic) 

"We had a great time, they love this Live. Thank you so much for doing this... I know it’s not easy going to work with all of what’s happening... we’re truly thankful for so much love with our community." - K. Tupta, Mother of 2
 
The Britto Family dressed up and ready for our Zoo Day program live stream.

Are emergency departments safe?

If you or a family member is very sick should you go to your local emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic? 

The answer is YES! 

All hospitals are taking the needed steps to protect the safety of people that show up at their doors in an emergency during COVID-19.  

It may be dangerous to stay at home when you should be seen at a hospital.  If you are worried about yourself or a family member, don’t delay! - make sure you’re seen as soon as possible.
     
                                                      The clinical team of Stonegate CHC

Stonegate Farmers' Market 

After 15 seasons, the Stonegate Farmers' Market will no longer be coordinated by Stonegate Community Health Centre. Prior to Covid-19, Stonegate CHC staff had met with the Berry Road Food Co-op to partner together to bring a new weekly tradition to the community. 

This new community gathering would be held  weekly during the summer in front of Stonegate CHC’s building near the much anticipated Berry Road Food Co-op.  The Berry Road Food Co-op will coordinate food and vendors, in addition to the grocery, cafe, and food items that will be present regularly in store during its weekly hours. 

Stonegate CHC  will focus on hosting weekly community events that have always been a staple of the farmers market itself. The communities favourites will continue on, including the beloved kids table, WONDER WOMAN, events, and musicians brought to you by the Stonegate CHC. 

Due to COVID 19 we are not able to commit to these weekly gatherings at this time and will follow the directive of the Province, City of Toronto and Public Health Officials for guidance as to when we will be able to  facilitate community events with proper safety measures in place.

Over the years, Stonegate CHC has witnessed the coming together of the community, knowledge sharing around food, connections with farmers, and more via the Stonegate Farmers’ Market. We are very proud of everything that was accomplished and believe that by continuing to bring residents together to connect, we will keep the spirit of the market, that was so cherished by community residents, alive.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Stonegate Farmers’ Market over the years of its run, this includes:  the dedicated vendors for venturing into our neighbourhood to set up their stalls each week in order to bring the Stonegate community local, fresh produce and products;  Christ Church St. James Anglican Church for patiently hosting the farmers’ market for so many years on it’s site; loyal and new customers who helped sustain the market; volunteers, students and staff who came out rain or shine to help us with the market including our very own Wonder Woman; community groups who ran the Market BBQ; the terrific array of musicians who animated the space each week with wonderful sounds and of course local media, Etobicoke Guardian and SNAP Etobicoke, for promoting the market.
 
We are excited about our new initiative in the community and hope that you will join us each week when the City of Toronto permits us to safely gather. 
 
Please note, that “Market Bucks” that were issued in previous years will still be redeemable at the Berry Road Food Co-op in store only.  Please connect with Julia Graham at 416-231-7070 ext. 229 or julia.graham@stonegatechc.org for more information about this.

Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund

Access to healthy food should not contribute to problems posed by COVID-19.  Since the start of the pandemic, Stonegate CHC has been partnering with FoodShare to coordinate, purchase and deliver boxes of healthy and nutritious produce to those who have self-identified as being in need of emergency food assistance in our community. We have also received funding from Community Food Centres Canada's Good Food Access Fund to purchase and distribute grocery vouchers to our clients in need. 

As present, because of these contributions and your help, we have distributed:

•    over 350 FoodShare fresh food boxes
•    just under 200 bags of non-perishable items
•    $9,500 worth of grocery store vouchers    

Our fund for assisting our clients who are in need requires requires ongoing support. Donations towards our COVID Emergency Relief Fund  will be routed directly to the purchase and delivery of these Emergency Good Food Boxes and vouchers. Please also take the time to read Food Secure Canada's petition for a healthier and more just food system and let your voice be heard.

Aside from the cost of food, the cost of medication is something we know will be quite difficult for many community members. People who have multiple chronic conditions are at greater risk of a poor outcome with Covid-19. The better controlled their chronic conditions, the better the chance of a positive outcome if they become infected. Many of our clients have no insurance that can assist them in covering the cost of the medications. If they are forced to choose between the cost of food or the cost of medications, their conditions could deteriorate without the medication they need. We want to ensure our clients aren’t needing to go to the emergency department if their conditions are worsening due to the lack of medication. If our clients inform us that they will stop their medications in order to afford food for their family, we want to be able to help.

Thank you to those of you who have donated already to our relief fund. To make a donation, please follow the link. 

Nutrition Programming 

Food Skills for Life Online: Group Cooking and Healthy Eating Program Online with registered dietitian Stephanie Cullen-Conroy. This is a 6-week program that involves online cooking demonstrations with recipes provided, nutrition and health tips, as well as support and motivation from others.  Must have the following to participate: reliable internet connection and email address; computer or lap top with a working microphone and camera; private and quiet work space (e.g. kitchen).

Space is limited. Next session dates TBD: Inquire by calling 416-231-7070 ext. 307 or email at health.promotion@stonegatechc.org  (attention: Stephanie)

FoodFit Online: FoodFit is a healthy lifestyle program for people living on low incomes who experience barriers around healthy eating and physical activity but who are motivated to make lasting changes to their health. We are especially aware of the increasingly complex food environment during the corona virus pandemic. Barriers to healthy eating are bigger and more challenging as our lives have been disrupted in a magnitude of ways.

In response, we have created a Food Fit Facebook page for alumni and participants. This private group allows for members to receive support from our facilitator through online connection, sharing recipes, food pictures, shopping and grocery tips, exercise videos, budgeting, and motivation tips. We are live streaming a cooking demo every Thursday in replace of the in-classroom program.

If you are a Food Fit Alumni and want to join the Facebook group or want to join FoodFit program online please inquire by calling 416-231-7070 ext. 307 or email at health.promotion@stonegatechc.org (attention: Stephanie)