Pay it forward now!

As you may already know, over 50 percent of Point Roberts residents are over 60 years of age and about half of those are over 70 and 80 years of age.* If you are fortunate, you too will live into your 80s and 90s healthy with no need of assistance until suddenly you just pass away. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen for all of us and sooner or later most of us will need some support from our family, friends, neighbors or community. Take a look around at your neighbors – how many are elderly and dealing with a chronic illness? Are you feeling the effects of aging or anticipating surgery?

Circle of Care is being called upon to aid more and more of our residents each month with needs as varied as picking up a prescription, rides to appointments, providing meals, caring for pets, providing a safety net or company for people living alone, etc.

Most tasks take less than 30 minutes. Some tasks are impersonal, some are very social, most are straightforward and easily accomplished and oftentimes are one-offs. Our volunteers report a great deal of satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment in being able to make someone’s life a bit easier, safer, healthier or more enjoyable.

Research shows that people who volunteer routinely are, themselves, happier, healthier individuals, so the benefit goes both ways.

In order to serve more people, Circle of Care needs more volunteers to call upon when help is needed. Could you spare 30 minutes? An hour? Would you be willing to make an extra serving of a meal you are already preparing and drop it off for someone who is housebound? Or pick up something at the grocery store on your next shopping trip? Would you be available to walk their dog or clear the kitty litter? There are so many small yet significant ways that we can be of assistance. Would you like to join us? If so, please email us at prcircleofcare@gmail.com.

Circle of Care maintains an extensive lending stock of walkers, exercise bikes, shower and bath chairs, toilet chairs, canes, etc. If you or a family member will be in need of any durable medical equipment, please contact us at 360/945-5222.

If you would like to support Circle of Care financially, you may donate at any time. You may also set up an automatic deposit to Circle of Care’s account at Banner Bank. It’s easy: ask your bank teller. Could you afford $5 or $10 a month? We’re an official federal 501c3 non-profit charity. Your donations are tax-deductible.

Circle of Care will hold its annual general meeting on February 17 at 1 p.m. at the Point Roberts Library. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Sean of SuperTrack who will speak to us about their plans for the Point Roberts Clinic. Please come to learn all about Circle of Care and our goals for 2019-20 and to meet and hear Dr. Shawn speak.

*These statistics were gleaned by extrapolating the numbers for Point Roberts in the 2010 USA Census