Page 7 - July 27, 2017

Thursday, July 27, 2017 The Independent
Building bridges through play and friendship in Inwood
The Inwood Kids Program has become a popular spot for about 40 kids to spend their Wednesday a ernoon.
Submi ed Photo
Page 7
Heather Wright
The Independent
When Sarah Milner was growing up in Inwood, there was lots to do.
Kids played baseball in the summer and would hang out in some of the local stores which still lined the main street.
But the executive director of the Central Lambton Family Health Team says a lot has changed in a couple of decades. Stores have closed and this year, there isn’t a baseball program for the children.
Fire ghters send a kid to camp
The Independent Staff
That’s part of the reason why Milner working with the Early Years Centre, the Oil Heritage District Community Centre in Petrolia and now the Alvin- ston Optimists to run the Wednesday afternoon Inwood Kids Program.
Alvinston re ghters are sending a kid to camp. The local association
the cheque from Charlie Cutler, the president of the association and Jack Hills, the vice president, says about 68 burn survivors attend the camp for a week all expenses paid.
Milner says she came up with the idea three years ago after working with a nurse in the area. She realized at the time “some of the folks out there didn’t have transportation and the people out there without transportation needed health care.”
informally with them and get to know their families.
ner says people became more comfort- able and talked about health issues.
heard about Camp Bucko from former Alvinston resident and Toronto Fire- ghter Pat Hayter. It pro- vides a place for children who have severe burns to spend a week with people just like them.
Dozens of re ghters from across the province, including Hayter, volun- teer their time to help out.
Working with the Early Years Centre, Milner set up a Wednesday afternoon play group. There would be lots of things for the kids to do like games organized by teens from The Centre or arts and crafts.
Soon, the park was full with up to 40 children each Wednesday afternoon.
Recently, the Alvinston Optimists heard about the program and offered to provide $1,000 so the program could run every Wednesday this summer.
There is also a nutrious meal provid- ed for the kids and their parents or care givers which was made by the women from the Inwood United Church. Caregivers would also have to be on hand for the playtime giving health care professionals a chance to chat
As they got to know the families, they started to meet the needs of the community.
Milner is excited with the growth of the program saying not only does it provide a way to connect people with services, it gives children who might not know what to do with their sum- mer a place to go.
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“It is very informal, people mingle and talk... we’re making relationships with people there and we’re nding out their needs and connecting them with services.”
One woman who was unsure about vaccinations talked to one of the nurses at the Inwood Kids Program. Her fears were eased and all the children were vaccinated.
Hayter, who is pic- tured above receiving
The Alvinston dona- tion will provide enough money for one child to attend.
Last year, for example, Milner worked with the Inn of the Good Shepherd and employees at the health team to provide school supplies and backpacks to 38 community kids.
“It kind of took off,” she says of the program. And it had great results. Mil-
“It has become a tradition almost,” she says. “They look forward to it.”
The rain nally eased to allow the construc on along the track at LCCVI. O cials had hoped the project which will see all lanes given a new rubber surface, could be complete by mid-July. But the rain stopped Ancaster Courts - and its employees like Wayne Gooch - from doing the work un l this week. The company expected the rubberized track would be complete next week and the lines would follow shortly a er that - as long as the weather holds.
Heather Wright Photo
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