Helping Hands adds elevator
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/03/2019 (2469 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The less fortunate in the Brandon community will now have an easier time accessing a hot meal.
An elevator has been installed at the Helping Hands soup kitchen and officially opened on Monday. It will help people who may not be able to take the stairs or have trouble with them, Vandana Jamadagni, co-ordinator at Helping Hands Centre of Brandon Inc., told The Sun Monday afternoon.
They’ve seen a positive impact since it became available on Monday, with at least 10 to 12 people using it, she said — a combination of guests and volunteers.
“(We have) three, four of our own volunteers who come here daily that are using the elevator,” Jamadagni said. “They’re all aging, and they’re using the walker and the cane, (so) they’re finding it hard to climb the stairs.
“Plus, mothers with their babies, they come here, and many, many old people who are coming here to use the meal service — the elevator is really helping them.”
The idea to put in the elevator started about four or five years ago, but there wasn’t the finances to pay for it until recently, Helping Hands board member Jake Hamm said.
The elevator cost approximately $80,000. The cost was covered partially by an accessibility grant they received from the federal government, and by their own fundraising.
The steep, narrow stairs they have leading up to the soup kitchen on Seventh Street prevented some people from being able to use their services, she said.
“They’re aging really fast (because of) poor lifestyle, and because of whatever poor conditions or nutrition conditions they’re in,” she said. “So, they were not able to access our meal service, and they were just staying behind. This was really a very crucial part (of us) saying we have to get it done.”
Right now, they’re seeing on average 178 people coming for lunch each day. A number of them are much older, single moms, unemployable or mentally or physically disabled, she said.
Jamadagni said she hopes the number of guests will increase with the addition of the elevator.
“I’m hoping more and more people, now that the elevator is up and running, more and more people will be able to come,” she said.
The kitchen is open Monday to Friday from noon to 1 p.m., and is located at 111 Seventh St.
» mverge@brandonsun.com
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