THUNDER BAY - A community organization helping families in a city neighbourhood has had to make some changes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but what hasn’t changed is its dedication to the community and the willingness of others to lend a hand.
“We are trying our best to make sure we are able to connect with families and youth,” said Linda Bruins, executive director of Evergreen A United Neighbourhood.
“I have worked and volunteered with Evergreen for the last 15 years since the beginning and this is the biggest adaptation we’ve had. We’ve had flooding and different natural disasters, but this one is huge.”
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Evergreen is unable to open its physical space on Heron Street to the public, but it continues to offer important services to people in the neighbourhood.
Evergreen is offering to-go meals twice a week to those in need, as well as handing out board games, puzzles, and activity kits for kids. But one of the most important services it continues to offer is the connection with families in the area.
“You need to still have those human connections, but just doing it safely with social distancing and masks,” Bruins said. “I am looking forward to spring and when hopefully everyone gets vaccinated and we can get some opportunities for kids to do.”
According to Bruins, Evergreen serves between 50 and 75 people per day. But all this work would not be possible if it weren’t for the generous help of those in the neighbourhood and beyond.
“People will come and bring food to their neighbours, to the senior centre. I am so humbled how gracious people are and making sure we always have enough,” Bruins said.
“We have never run out of food. We have emergency hampers to make sure everyone has what they need. There’s just a lot of gratitude going back and forth.”
Late last year there were concerns that due to funding shortfalls, Evergreen would have to close its doors for good. However, the community stepped up and supported the organization during a fundraiser held in late 2019, which has allowed it to remain open.
“The community shone through for us,” Bruins said. “People were super and amazingly generous and came together. It went super well and we got the money in the bank. We’ve received some emergency funding through the United Way and Thunder Bay Community Foundation, so we are staying open. I am not going anywhere.”
Recently, the Underground Gym, another grassroots community organization helping youth in the city, has sought an emergency exemption from the Thunder Bay District Health Unit in order to reopen to allow youth to access services.
Bruins said she is not seeking a similar emergency exemption because the space inside the Evergreen centre is too small.
“I’m cautious by nature and I just want to make sure I don’t make an error when it comes to people’s safety,” she said.
But the community appears happy with the services being offered by Evergreen and Bruins said she is thanked every day for everything the service offers.
I get such great feedback from the neighbours,” she said. “People tell us that we are needed.”
Looking ahead, Bruins said the pandemic is also providing some lessons that may be overlooked, including how it has brought out the kindness in people.
“It’s a chance for us to learn from what has happened,” she said. “The kindness has come out, how can we safely do things and not to rush. To slow down a little bit and take our queues from that. And I’ll let our neighbours tell us what to do next.”
