A week full of celebrations for HAND

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Published on Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Photos by Kira Paterson. On May 11 and 13, HAND celebrated their 30th anniversary and recognized Let No One Be Alone week.

By Kira Paterson

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

A local organization has been offering a helping hand to seniors for 30 years now. Home Assistance Neepawa and District (HAND) celebrated 30 years since their first annual meeting on Wednesday, May 11 – the first meeting was in April of 1986. When it first started, the organization was the second seniors assistance program in Manitoba. Now, there are about 104 programs like HAND in the province.

The celebration was a roast beef dinner with the congregatemeal clients. All past and present board members and HAND workers were invited to attend, as well as Neepawa Mayor Adrian de Groot and Trish Hunter, representing the Prairie Mountain Health RHA. Before the meal was served, local choral group, The Hims, sang a few numbers, encouraging all in attendance to sing along to the old favourites. 

Right: The Hims sang some old familiar tunes at the anniversary dinner. Left: Original HAND board member, Eleanor Cochrane, had the honour of cutting the anniversary cake.

HAND took the anniversary meal as an opportunity to thank all the workers, board members and volunteers who have helped over the years, as well as the organizations and community members who have supported them. There have been approximately 50 board members over the years that have helped run the organization.

That Friday, HAND also recognized Let No One Be Alone (LNOBA) awareness week. At the congregate meal that day, they had some information about the LNOBA initiative, which aims to make sure seniors and people living on their own are not left alone.  

HAND also invited Elsie Bell, who plays piano for the residents at Country Meadows regularly, to entertain the guests before the meal.

Elsie Bell played some music from memory to entertain the guests at the LNOBA celebration.