New Grocery Bus Initiative Through Community Support Services
By Julie Ireton
Trudging through snow and ice with heavy grocery bags is a tough slog for anyone, and for seniors it can be treacherous.
“I no longer have a car. I’m an older senior and I find it difficult in the wintertime getting to the grocery store because of the condition of the sidewalks,” said Kathie Pettit, a long-time member at Abbotsford at the Glebe Centre. “If I have heavy items on slippery sidewalks, my chance of going down is accelerated.”
So when Pettit heard Abbotsford is setting up a free grocery bus service for seniors — she signed up right away.
The grocery bus, which will pick people up at their homes and take them to Billings Bridge Shopping Centre, is intended to help out seniors like Pettit who no longer drive and have trouble taking or arranging public transportation.
“This will allow me to go once a month to get the heavier items,” said Pettit.
“In the summer I can use a wheelie buggy and it’s easier, not a problem.”
The bus and its driver are being provided free of charge by the Colonel By Retirement Residence in Old Ottawa South.
“We have a little shuttle bus that’s very safe for seniors. We have a safety lift on the bus and everyone can be comfortable. There’s also room for walkers and wheelchairs,”
said Norman Reid, General Manager at the Colonel By residence.
That organization partners with Abbotsford on other initiatives and some of its residents attend the centre’s day away program for people with dementia.
“We try to embed ourselves in the community and help out as much as we can. We want to give back,” said Reid.
The bus driver is experienced working with and interacting with seniors, he said.
Starting on November 19, the bus will run once every two weeks. Once a month seniors in the Glebe and Glebe Annex neighbourhoods can sign up for the ride. The second run of the month will be reserved for folks in the Hunt Club and Ottawa South areas.
“These community shopping trips are designed to target low income and isolated seniors who are struggling with mobility issues and affordability as we see grocery costs go up,” said David O’Neill, Manager Community Programs at Abbotsford.
The bus will take people right from their front door to Billings Bridge. There, they can purchase their groceries, with a senior discount, and then those bags will be delivered by store employees right to their homes, said O’Neill.
“We can take 10 on the bus, so we want to fill it with people, not grocery bags,” he said.
Kathie Pettit looks forward to her first ride and the “social interaction” she’ll have with other riders on grocery days.
“Abbotsford is always on the lookout for improving the experience for seniors to age in place at home. They look after our social aspects, mental health and even getting our groceries. It’s a wonderful organization. I can’t say enough about it,” said Pettit.
Anyone interested in signing up or getting more information about the grocery bus can call Abbotsford at the Glebe Centre weekdays at: (613) 230-5730.
The Glebe Centre Community Programs and Services at Abbotsford are part of a registered charity; The Glebe Centre Inc., which includes a 254 bed long term care home. Find out more about our services and programming by dropping by 950 Bank Street (the old stone house) Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, telephoning 613-230-5730 or by checking out all The Glebe Centre facilities and seniors services on our website www.glebecentre.ca
