TORONTO — Bev Devins, co-ordinator of special programs at Baycrest, is particularly passionate about one that is now entering its fourth year.
Set to begin again on Oct. 18, the program is run by BayviewCorridorOrg., a group of Bayview Avenue synagogues that have banded together to take part in social action projects.
About 20 members of Beit Rayim Synagogue, Beth Tikvah Synagogue, Kehillat Shaarei Torah, Temple Emanu-El, Temple Har Zion and Shaar Shalom Synagogue meet one Sunday morning a month for a theme-based discussion on topics such as Jewish texts or films, a visit with residents, and a period of reflection after the visit.
Devins said that the program is modelled after the U.S.-based Spark Heart Action program, whose mission is to inspire an ongoing commitment to community service as part of each person’s life and as an important expression of Jewish identity.
Ken Stewart, a BayviewCorridor member who belongs to Beth Tikvah, said the group decided to volunteer at Baycrest after Devins attended a meeting and told them that the centre urgently needed volunteer visitors.
“We did some research, and came up with the Spark program, which was pioneered by the Reform movement in the United States. It was originally intended as a program for adolescents to visit seniors,” he said, “so we modified it to apply to a group of adults visiting seniors in a long-term care facility.”
Devins said that people are always surprised when they hear that Baycrest is looking for volunteers. “They just aren’t aware of how many residents need visitors. Most residents have suffered many losses, and they’re looking for a connection,” she said. “They thrive when they have regular visits.”
The program meets the needs of both the visitors and the residents, she added. “The volunteers benefit from meeting with the seniors, and they benefit from meeting with other volunteers. It is an enriched volunteer experience.”
The volunteers are “totally” committed to the project, and are anxious to begin year four, Devins said. “The residents and the volunteers – many visit throughout the month – have developed a special bond.
“I learned how important these visits are to the residents when one said to me, ‘I need food and I need visitors.’”
A bonus, she said, is to have a volunteer that speaks another language. “Baycrest is rich with languages. If we can get a volunteer who speaks a resident’s language, it adds [another dimension] to the visit.”
She said that the program – they request a nine-month commitment – is not restricted to BayviewCorridor members. “We always need volunteer visitors, and we welcome them to take part.”
For information, call Devins at 416-785-2500, ext. 3005.
