September 20, 2022 – CBC PEI: COVID-19 restrictions may have been lifted in most settings across the Island, but community organizations who depend on volunteers say the pandemic is still having an impact on how people spend their time.
Hayley VanIderstine, the activities co-ordinator at The Mount Continuing Care Community in Charlottetown, said the number of volunteers on their roster has gone down since the start of the pandemic.
“I think a lot of people are hesitant right now to volunteer just because, A, they don’t want to get sick themselves; going into any public space is a risk right now. And B, they don’t want to be the person to bring anything into the home and put our residents at risk.”
Harry Kielly said he and other residents look forward to activities like the chair workouts, which are run by volunteers.
“I need the activity,” he said. “I have Parkinson’s. I need to keep moving and it’s certainly helpful.”
Read the full CBC PEI story here