Last December, Marpole Place shut down for repairs after burst pipes caused a major flood and its old firehall home is being entirely gutted. Yet despite the four to six month closure, staff are finding ways to keep serving seniors.
Some of the services have moved for now to St. Augustine’s church at 8680 Hudson St. at 71st Avenue. Here the staff have a small office where they resumed some of the seniors programs on Jan 27.
“The church has been wonderfully accommodating,” said Marpole Place executive director Cindy McMillan. “We are spreading the word of the new location through flyers in the community, and more seniors are now coming in.”
Thursday night dinners for all are held at the church from 6-8 p.m. ($6 per person) and the $3 Friday Breakfast Club is at 9-10:30 a.m. Bread Pick-Up, courtesy of Cobbs Bread on Fourth Avenue, is on Mondays at noon (which is a separate event from St. Augustine’s food bank on Thursday mornings).
There is a Computer Drop-in each Wednesday at 1-3 p.m. As well, staff hope to start these in Mandarin and Cantonese soon, and offer help with cell phones and tablets. The UBC Law Clinic will be on Feb. 27 from 7-9 p.m. (free, but one must book an appointment by calling 604-822-5791), and a tax clinic is planned for late March.
The Forever Learning and Connected for 55+ program has five features: Stretch + Strength on Fridays at 11 a.m. to noon, Knitting and Craft Club on Mondays 1-3 p.m., Ping Pong on Wednesdays and Fridays 1-4 p.m. (except March 5), Bridge and Board Games on Tuesdays and Fridays 1-4 p.m., and Internet Cafe on Fridays 10 to noon.
Staff are planning a seniors’ visit to the Vancouver Planetarium in March, and are looking for yet another location to host more activities.
For more information, call St. Augustine’s office at 604-266-5301. Send email to marpoleplace@shawca or go to facebook.com/MarpolePlace.
