One year ago today on March 17, 2020, the Bernard Betel Centre made the tough, but necessary decision to close our doors to the public and cancel all of our in-person programs and services due to COVID-19. When we closed our doors we thought we would be closed for a few short weeks and would re-open by April 7, 2020, continuing to offer our Betel programs and services to seniors in the community. One year later, that certainly isn’t the case. Despite closing for on-site programming, we continued to offer our Meals on Wheels programs as an essential service. Soon after we closed, the Bernard Betel Centre team quickly pivoted and restructured the delivery of our programs and services, re-deployed staff, and ensured that the health, safety and well-being of our members, volunteers, staff and community was priority.
One year later, the world looks different, but we thank you for being with us throughout the past year, and letting us entertain, educate, support and connect you with each other through these tough times. Thank you for joining us for our online and phone programs, taking part in our Meals on Wheels, donating your time as a volunteer, and supporting and donating financially as a donor.
As we navigate the future as an organization, we hope you will join us. Please continue to join us in programming online and on the phone, continue to purchase our Meals on Wheels, continue to donate your time volunteering, and continue to support us financially so we can continue to support seniors in the community for many more years to come.
Thanks to the Betel Centre and especially to Carolyn Peters for continuing our Memoir Program on-line weekly. It has been a sanity saver to be able to connect with Carolyn and other Members of her program via Skype. Thanks also to the Chiropody staff, for working through this time.
Thanks to all the Betel Staff for their services during Covid as well as regularly. Wishing you all good health and Happy Kosher Passover.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Richmond