Stonegate CHC has been providing primary health care, health promotion and a wide variety of community programs to the Stonegate - Parklawn Community since it was created by community members in 1992.
We Are Here for You!
Although we have had to make some changes in how we deliver our services, we want the Stonegate Community to know that we are all still actively working at Stonegate CHC. We want to know if you have any concerns or needs that we might be able to help with. Please call!
Physical distancing is a must to stop the spread of Covid-19, but social connection is still vitally important – we just need to find ways to connect over the phone or through video chats. Our Facebook page is updated regularly with resources and some of our groups and physical activity programming brought to you virtually.
On this COVID-19 Updatepage on our website, we have listed a description of the modifications we have made while continuing to deliver our services.
Stonegate CHC Hours & Appointments
Stonegate CHC continues to operate at the reduced hours of 8:30 – 4:00 pm each day. If you call to schedule an appointment, an appointment time will be booked for your provider to telephone you. If the provider decides they need to have you in for an examination or blood work, they will book an onsite appointment for you at the Centre. When you come to Stonegate for an appointment, you will be asked if you have a cough or fever or recent travel. You will be asked to sanitize your hands and put on a mask. Mental Health Counsellors, Physiotherapy, Chiropody and Dietitian staff are continuing to deliver essential services with many visits happening virtually. Many of our staff are finding ways to live stream health promotion programming.
COVID Emergency Relief Fund
Access to healthy food should not contribute to problems posed by COVID-19. Stonegate CHC is 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. A small box costs $16 and a Large box is $22.
FoodShare is a leader in Toronto's Food Security and Urban Agriculture sector. They provide innovative programming initiatives and have deep impact across the city. They will be safely delivering boxes to Stonegate CHC clients that are in need of assistance.
Donations towards this fund will be routed directly to the purchase and delivery of these Emergency Good Food Boxes.
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.
To make a donation to our relief fund, please follow the link.
Family Programs
These are very challenging times for children and families. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the life of every child and family, children might not understand the reasons for school closures, not being able to go to the park and why they cannot hug or spend time with a friend or grandparent.
They may also sense the anxiety that parents are feeling, and be concerned about their health and that of others. We understand the challenges that many families are facing balancing working from home, financial stressors and importance of self care during this time.
The Stonegate CHC continues to be committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of all children and families through this crisis. To stay connected with you we have created a family programs facebook page and are livestreaming EarlyON programs, posting resources and activities for children of all ages. Join us on Wednesday and Friday mornings of each week at 10:00 am to participate in a song circle and/or activity focused on children 0 to 6 years of age and their caregiver.
We will also be livestreaming Baby Club, if you have a child 0 to 12 months and would like to participate email larissa.samborsky@stonegatechc.org for a zoom invitation.
Each day we are exploring ways to stay in touch and reach out to families and children of all ages. If you have ideas of activities we can facilitate to support you and your family email us at info@stonegatechc.org we would love to hear from you.
Food Assistance
Stonegate CHC has been trying to meet the changing food needs of community residents since the start of the pandemic. At present, we are able to support our clients who are food insecure by offering food vouchers for those who can shop and Good Food Boxes that will be delivered to people’s homes (for those who are self-isolating) during this phase. We are grateful to the Government of Canada and Community Food Centres Canada for providing essential funding to help us offer emergency food relief in our community. We would also like to acknowledge the financial support of TD Canada Trust and FoodShare Toronto.
To support our emergency food initiative at this time, please visit Stonegate CHC's COVID Emergency Relief Fund.
Food delivery for seniors
Responding to the Province of Ontario’s recommendation for everyone over age 70 to self-isolate, the City of Toronto is working with Red Cross and other partners to provide food hamper delivery to seniors and others in need who are unable to leave their homes to access food. Beginning April 7, Red Cross will be accepting calls at 1-833-204-9952 for those who require this service. With support from United Way Greater Toronto, this service is made available for qualifying seniors and others that are in self-isolation and do not have alternative access to food through family, friends, or other food delivery services, and are not receiving assistance from another community food program.
Food for Families
Hand Up Toronto is providing $25 worth of food per child in the home. Families complete the Google form below, and consent to being contacted by Hand Up Toronto to arrange for a food delivery.
Do you have questions about asthma and COVID-19?
You can follow the link below to find answers from Asthma Canada to common questions regarding asthma and COVID-19.
Or you can call the Stonegate CHC and book a phone consultation with our Respiratory Educator.
Sing From Home
As a way to reach out, connect and continue making music, Lakeshore Arts is sponsoring four Virtual Sing-alongs over the next couple of months. This will be free of charge to all interested, as a community offering.
The sing-alongs will be every two weeks on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 - 8:30, starting next Tuesday April 14th. They will use the ZOOM platform, with a password protected meeting link.
You can drop in to any session and join in, or join for all four sessions.
If you are interested in joining, please email bellam32@marybella.com
Dancing with Parkinson's
In response to COVID-19, Dancing With Parkinson's (DWP) continues to be guided by its mission of bringing seniors out of isolation and fostering connection through dance. To this end, DWP has recently started to offer free live dance classes through Zoom seven days a week. DWP believes that these fun and safe classes could be highly beneficial to ALL seniors – particularly during this period of social isolation. To dance at home, please follow thislink.
Stonegate CHC
We are continuing to explore ways to livestream programs, we ask that you refer to our facebook page for livestreaming updates.
COVID Information
PLEASE NOTE: The Medical Officer of Health has advised:
- All persons over 70 years of age and individuals who are immunocompromised are advised to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. This means that you should only leave your home or see other people for essential reasons. Where possible, you should seek services over the phone or internet or ask for help from friends, family or neighbours with essential errands.
- Everyone in Ontario should be practicing social distancing to reduce their exposure to other people. This means that you can carry out daily activities, such as going to work (if you cannot work from home) and doing necessary shopping and appointments.
- That everyone in Ontario does their best to avoid close contact with people outside of their immediate families. Close contact includes being within 2 meters of another person.
Mask Information from the Public Health Agency of Canada:
Wearing a non-medical mask or face covering is an additional measure you can take to protect others around you, even if you have no symptoms. It can be useful for short periods of time, when physical distancing is not possible in public settings such as when grocery shopping or using public transit.
Wearing a non-medical mask or face covering covers your mouth and nose to help prevent your respiratory droplets from contaminating others or landing on surfaces. Just like our recommendation not to cough into your hands (instead, cover your cough with tissues or your sleeve), a mask can reduce the chance that others are coming into contact with your respiratory droplets.
If wearing a non-medical mask or face covering makes you feel safer and stops you from touching your nose and mouth, that is also good. But remember not to touch or rub your eyes.
If you think you might need to be assessed for the COVID-19 virus – use this: A Self Assessment Tool available at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus or call Telehealth Ontario at: 1-866-797-0000 (24/7)
a way to reach out, connect and continue making music, 
