Year in Review 2020: Point Roberts Circle of Care

By the time 2020 rolled around, Circle of Care was running trips in the new wheelchair accessible bus to Bellingham several times each month, carrying residents to doctor and dentist appointments and for medical tests.

The board of trustees were contemplating adding another day per week and then Covid-19 restrictions hit and the bus service has been sidelined except for a few runs that required wheelchair access. Instead of bus service, we have arranged transportation (appropriately socially distanced, of course) for many residents throughout the year for everyone who asked for assistance getting to Bellingham.

The Circle of Care website was updated and revised (with the generous support and expertise of Lisa Heidel and Jacqui Kinsey) and it is available to keep its audience abreast of events, needs, special announcements, and information about services. Find us at prcircleofcare.com

In anticipation of the detrimental effect of Covid-19 on the Point Roberts community, Canadian residents and neighbors Gary and Valeria Morrison initiated a fund-raising campaign in conjunction with Circle of Care. “Our Finest Hour Fund” has raised nearly $3,000 and grants up to $200 are available to residents whose needs are related to loss of income due to Covid-19. There are still funds in the account for aid. Just email a description of your circumstances to prcircleofcare@gmail.com and your request will be handled with complete privacy.

Also, in response to Covid-19 concerns, Circle of Care collaborated with the International Marketplace to deliver grocery orders to residents’ doors in support of people staying home. Many deliveries have been made since March with some households having become “regulars.”

The Colton Foundation once again granted funds to Circle of Care to have them become certified to provide guardian ad litem services for residents when needed, as well as leading online workshops on completing advance directives papers for end-of-life care. Watch for announcements for those webinars and, once Covid-19 restrictions are no longer an issue, Circle of Care will hold group workshops to help residents complete these important papers.

Circle of Care maintains a storage locker in town which is full of all sorts of durable medical equipment for free use by residents. Walkers, canes, wheelchairs and knee scooters, commodes, shower/bath chairs, even an electric lift chair are just some of the durable equipment on offer for loan. Additionally, disposable medical supplies, nutritional products and miscellaneous products are available. Please check with us before you purchase anything.

Throughout the year, dozens of meals have been prepared and delivered by volunteers, prescriptions and other medical supplies have been collected in Bellingham and delivered, and questions and concerns have been addressed.

Even though the Circle of Care-sponsored Apple Harvest Festival was not held this fall due to Covid-19, we took over the community center kitchen on two occasions to create delicious blackberry pies and apple pies. Our reputation as bakers, turning out 75-80 scrumptious pies in an afternoon, is becoming legendary! “The best pie I’ve ever eaten” was murmured by more than just a few customers!

Circle of Care continues to interface with the fire district, the health clinic, food bank, Adult Protective Services, the sheriff’s department and local, county and state agencies to provide volunteer services and professional referrals for residents of Point Roberts.

Over a thousand hours of services have been provided by our volunteers, trustees and executive director. We couldn’t have done any of this without the support of this wonderful, extraordinary community and for all of your donations, encouragement, feedback, meals cooked, pies purchased, miles driven, and care provided, we are grateful. Together we have helped to make Point Roberts a healthier, safer, more cohesive community.  Thank you.