West Elgin Community Health Centre
153 Main Street N0L 2P0 West Lorne, ON, Canada

Baby food free to anyone who will use it. Please connect with Kristyn @ extension 2314. Available for pick-up tomorrow.

To the community, We want to extend a huge thank-you to each of you. In September community partners came together with the intent to support our local food banks and bring the community together during a time of uncertainty and fear. A community wide food drive was planned; many of you stepped up to volunteer and even more left a donation on their step to be collected. As a result we were able to fill the shelves at the Daffodil Food Bank in Dutton, the Caring Cupboard in R...Continue reading

Its time again for Story Time for Little Chefs with Cindy! Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5ddzZrbKPk

Happy Friday Everyone! Thank-you for all your donations for the community wide toy drive Share-a-Toy! Your donations are greatly appreciated as the need is higher this year that ever! ... All donations are being sorted tomorrow and divided among the Dutton Daffodil Society and the Rodney Caring Cupboard. We have an amazing community that has stepped up again! The team of community partners and youth involved with the Community Wide Food Drive and the Share-a-Toy Christmas Drive are overwhelmed with the support of the community. THANK-YOU!

If you were waiting for Story Time for Little Chefs with Cindy ... Here it is!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1wUFqIv8no

We have heard from some of the youth that we work with that STRESS is at an all time high! There is lots of uncertainty and increased pressure and the YTT wants... to help! We are partnering with local businesses to provide FREE wellness opportunities for youth in the West Elgin and Dutton Dunwich area. We are starting with Wellness Wednesday and Wildflower Yoga! The YTT will be sponsoring a FREE YOUTH ONLY virtual yoga session on the 3rd Wednesday of the month! Starting this Wednesday December 16th! Yes THIS WEDNESDAY! See below for more information on how to register!

Shout out to Julie's Soups for their amazing meals for our Meals on Wheels on program this week. Thank-you!!!

It's a return to Thankful Thursday today. Big thanks go to the Wallacetown Agricultural Society for the loan of propane heaters to help keep staff and clients a warmer during COVID testing clinics. Your support is greatly appreciated! Thank-you!

We're sorry for missing our regularly scheduled Story Time for Little Chefs with Cindy! Here is the newest video and recipe for your little ones at home! Also, check out the attached flyer for the NEW and IMPROVED Story Time for Little Chefs with Cindy! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxeX_Zy03Q0

Have you heard about the Share-a-toy Christmas Drive? Two youth in the community are leading the charge with the support of community partners to collect toys for families this Christmas! If your a business in the community we encourage you to challenge another business in the community! ... https://www.thechronicle-online.com//604ab190-a229-492a-92 We have a goal of over 200 toys! Let’s do this West Elgin and Dutton-Dunwich! #Shareatoy

Our regular Sweets and Treats program is back this year but it looks a little different! Spaces are still available!

As you know, the Ontario Government is restructuring how health care is delivered in the province. Fundamental to the plan is the creation of Ontario Health Teams (OHTs). These teams will provide a new way of organizing and delivering care that is more connected to patients in their local communities. The West Elgin Community Health Centre is part of a group of health care providers in Elgin County that have come together to plan for the creation of an Elgin Ontario Health T...eam (Elgin OHT). We have been working to create a detailed proposal for improving access to health care in Elgin County, and we need YOUR help. Check out various opportunities to join upcoming focus groups that you could participated in as planning continues: https://www.elginoht.ca/virtual-focus-group/

Hey youth! We are hosting a new program called Game Changers run by the St. Thomas Public Library! Get volunteer hours while playing games and learning soft ski...lls. Snacks will be provided! St. Thomas Public Library Registration: https://stthomas.bibliocommons.com//5f8d994d3296202f00a659 #SaintTYouth! #create #teencentre #YQSStrong #youth #youthCentre #stthomasproud #elgincounty #free #supportivespace #dropincentre #youthvoices #youthvoicematters #active #inspire

Please call 519-768-1715 to book a flu shot appointment.

As you begin to prepare for Hallowe'en this year, please take these extra safety precautions to ensure you are keeping yourself, your family, and your community... safe. Individuals feeling ill, with health concerns, and those aged 65+ should avoid in-person Hallowe'en activities, including handing out candy and visiting family members. Thank you for #ProtectingTheCommunityYouLove from COVID-19.

Finally for this Thankful Thursday! We thank all the local restaurants that have supported our Soups Out Program providing over 120 meals to those in the community on a monthly basis! This week Sam's Diner in West Lorne provide an new and exciting meal for our Soups Out recipients. ... Below you will see some of the thank-you cards that have been received as a result of the Soups Out initiative.

We would like to extend another Thankful Thursday to everyone who sent us a smile during Community Health and Well Being Week! 80 smile cookies went out to seniors in our community!!!!

Thankful Thursday! We continue to be thankful for everyone who supported, volunteered and donated to the community wide food drive! https://www.thechronicle-online.com//3ab046ef-ed25-4cce-b5

Sorry for the delay! Its time for Story Time for Little Chefs with Cindy! Enjoy this new video and we will see you again in November!! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6O69krZpwM

Did you hear about the May 16th Miracle in Chatham-Kent? While get ready... we are bringing something similiar to West Elgin, Dutton-Dunwich and surrounding communities on September 26th 2020. Our hope is to bring the community together as one, focus on something positive during this time of uncertainity and collect food to support those in our community. ... All you have to do is leave a non-perishable item (or more than one) on your porch, step or in your driveway on September 26th by 12 noon and volunteers will pick up donations. Thats it! Thats all! Lets do this West Elgin and Dutton-Dunwich! This is a community initiative being planned by a group of community leaders. In addition, we are working with Southwestern Public Health to make sure that do this is a safe and effective manner for the community as a whole. If you wish to volunteer please follow this link: https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSdtE-bLYsdaI9VF-/viewform

For all our parents out there... Many of us are anxious about how to prepare for children returning to school and the potential impact that might have on the transmission of COVID-19. This is true not just for the younger children but also those attending our post-secondary institutions. Dr. Sean Blaine, a family physician from Stratford Ontario, has provided a YouTube video that may help us cope with this back to school anxiety. https://youtu.be/e7hdVJ9BQYE ... Thank you for doing all you are doing to contain the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Keep healthy, keep your distance and stay safe

Dynacare Lab at WECHC will be closed Wednesday, October 14th and Friday, October 16th. Thank you, Dynacare ManagementDynacare Lab at WECHC will be closed Wednesday, October 14th and Friday, October 16th. Thank you, Dynacare Management

Today is the last day of the Storywalk! Take a stroll through Rodney Park in Rodney today and enjoy a fun story about Pete the Cat! The story walk will be available from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. ... Please be mindful of social distancing and COVID 19 precautions.

What is a Victory Garden? A Victory Garden is a community wide opportunity to share and exchange extra produce from our home gardens! Want to participate? ... Follow these steps: 1. Collect and clean all of your extra produce 2. Set it out in a clean bowl/box at the end of your driveway 3. Add a sign (can be picked up at the Centre, Dutton Foodland, Dutton Pharmacy and Margs Variety OR you can make your own) Keep an eye out for other Victory Garden stands too! If you have any questions, please contact Diane at 519-768-1715 ext. 2224 [email protected].

Its Thankful Thursday! First a huge shout out to our Community Support Services Team and Assisted Living Team for bringing 55 COVID kits to Caledonia 1 & 2 on Tuesday! Second, a big WECHC thank-you to Annette Anderson for making and donating 150 fabric masks!! ... Last but certainly not least, a HUGE thank-you to Canada Sews for assisting the WECHC with a donation of 250 masks for clients who arrive at the centre without one. Your hard work and dedication to the community is appreciated more than you know and does not go unnoticed.

Two kiddos enjoying our Storywalk in Dutton on Monday! Check it out today @ Miller Park in West Lorne (8:30 am - 8:30 pm) and on Friday @ Rodney Park in Rodney (8:30 am - 8:30 pm).

Our Storywalk is up at Miller Park today in West Lorne from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm! If you miss it today you can catch it Friday at Rodney Park Start at the Jesse Street entrance near the skate board park and follow the story around the splash pad. Please respect COVID regulations including social distancing while walking through.

Our Storywalk is up a Sons of Scotland Park in Dutton! Enter at the main gates and start where the path crosses and head towards the splash pad! Follow along with story as you enjoy your stroll. In Dutton today ONLY from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. If you miss it today you can find the story at Miller Park in West Lorne on Wednesday and at Rodney Park in Rodney on Friday. ... Please be mindful of social distancing and COVID prevention protocols listed in the park and at the beginning of the Storywalk.

Updates, whats next and helpful resources from the Lets Connect Team for our August 2020 Calendar.

Did you get a chance to check out the Elgin 2020 teddy Bear Picnic? This is the last week to enjoy all the activities from your favorite Teddy Bear Picnic faces! Ralph has been travelling around promoting the picnic! Have you seen him? His last two stops and his final stop are all at the same place ... but in different communities and he is enjoying some of his favorite books here... do you know where Ralph is? www.elginteddybearpicnic.com

Pride Week 2020

It was windy at todays PRIDE flag raising below you will find the proclamation from the West Elgin Mayor Duncan McPhail. July 20th to the 26th is now officially PRIDE week in West Elgin

Take precautions to prevent heat related illness during periods of extreme heat. Here are few tips to stay cool if you dont have air conditioning. Learn more at https://www.swpublichealth.ca/extreme-heat.

Looking for more information related to wearing a mask when physical distancing is a challenge? Check out this resource from the Government of Ontario!

New information from Southwestern Public Health as we continue to travel this new road of COVID-19.

Its time for the next clue for our friend Ralph! This time you will find him in a new town he has yet to visit. You will find him at a place that has different purposes including a place you may find the mayor of ______ hosting a meeting, a group of people dressed up in front of a audience and more! Ralph is travelling around promoting the 2020 Elgin Teddy Bear Picnic which has gone VIRTUAL this year.... Find Ralph, snap a photo, send it to [email protected] or tag Ralph on Instagram (@ralphwechc) for a chance to win a prize! Please remember to practice social distancing and keep safe! Enjoy this years Teddy Bear Picnic at www.elginteddybearpicnic.com

Have you checked out the 2020 Elgin Teddy Bear Picnic LIVE at www.elginteddybearpicnic.com :) Ralph is touring around to promote this virtually opportunity to experiencing activities at your favorite zones with familiar faces all from home! I spy with my little eye that Ralph is at a building that is white and blue. In addition this place has lots of people who can help you! He is by a bench that represents our 25 years.

We are back with Thankful Thursday today! Today we are recognizing the restaurants in the community who have supported our Soups Out initiative to support the community over the last couple months. A special Thankful Thursday shout out to Out to Lunch Cafe, Shannons Country Diner and Daily Grind Cafe &Gift Emporium for supporting our special Fathers Day gift for our Soups Out participants. We could not have done this without you :) ... We have received many grateful and appreciative comments from this initiative and wanted to share the message below. Together we will get through this challenging time.

Looking for something FREE for your children? Checkout our Surprising Summer Sweets Bags!

We need your help! The WECHC is asking everyone coming into the centre to wear a mask to provide an extra level of protection for clients and staff. We are very grateful to all those in the community who have donated masks for us to provide to clients. ... We are currently in need of more masks! Connect with us by sending us a message or drop masks off at our screening table just inside our front doors. Thank you in advance for your support!

Its another HOT day outside. With this hot weather remember ... ~ Find ways to stay cool ~ Avoid strenuous activities ... ~ Drink LOTS of water ~ Make sure to check on your neighbours ~ Remeber to never leave children or pets in a car If you are a warm weather person dont forget your sunscreen, hat and sunglasses while your outside.