Durham CAS supports local families with care packages

By Courtney Bachar/The Oshawa Express/LJI Reporter

Durham Children’s Aid Society (CAS) has been creating care packages for the families that may need some extra support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our main concern was the families we work with,” says Andrea Maenza, communications coordinator for Durham CAS.

Durham CAS supports about 1,000 across the region. Maenza says many of the families they work with are at risk for a variety of reasons, such as poverty or disconnect from a strong family support network.

Maenza says they had to get creative with how they could help the families, and with limited resources.

“If it is challenging for us to buy pasta or toilet paper from stores, it’s even more difficult for these families. Our immediate concern was food,” she says, adding it took several weeks to acquire a good supply of food and hygiene products, as well as PPE and other safety equipment for staff and family workers.

The care packages are filled with food, such as canned and dried goods, personal hygiene items, and other toys, books or movies based on the age of the child or children in the home.

So far, Durham CAS has donated 156 care packages to families.

“We’ve had some really great responses from it,” says Maenza, adding they’ve received some thankful letters from families.

“People are really appreciative that we are at least trying to fill the need. We know it’s challenging for everybody. Being at home can impact you in so many different ways. We know the emotional stress and boredom and lack of physical activity can impact you in so many different ways,” says Maenza, adding it can lead to depression or anger, which is why she notes they are especially concerned with those families who are having a difficult time coping because that’s when children may be at risk.

Maenza says with schools being closed, and most people spending the majority of their time at home and kids not being out in the community, it’s a concern that fewer people are seeing the kids.

“The worry is, what is happening in the home that we’re missing,” says Maenza. “Even though it’s very difficult right now, we still want people to be vigilant and to think about your neighbours.”

She notes while the majority of the staff and family workers are working from home and doing their meetings virtually, workers will still visit the home in emergency cases, while following proper COVID-19 safety protocols.

“We’re checking in with families and calling regularly to see if there’s anything they need and if we can, we will try to help,” says Maenza, adding a lot of families rely on other community services as well, which may be temporarily closed due to the pandemic.

“A lot of the families we work with use these other services and we know that’s missing.”

Maenza is encouraging families to reach out and ask for help if they need it.

“We really just want to make sure people know we’re here and we’re doing the best we can,” she says. “The key is to be kind, be safe, and be patient.”