Director of the Pat Porter Active Learning Center Audrey Harder’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic is to put the health of the public first. She says after meeting as a board they decided to halt all non-essential services as of today, until further notice. This includes all day and evening programs, Coffee Corner, as well as meals served at the centre.

Meals on Wheels and some of the centre’s outreach programs will continue and the Pat Porter staff will be available to talk by phone to people already in social isolation.

Although the doors of the centre are locked, staff will be on hand Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.

Jo-Anne Dalton, Executive Director at the Steinbach Family Resource Centre says even though they are not an essential service their board has still decided not to run any programming for the next month or so. They will remain open for drop-in and for accessing the centre’s resources.

Dalton says they want to do their part to “flatten the curve” and ask people not to attend group gatherings, however, they do welcome parents dropping by the centre to visit the Clothing Cafe or if they have any questions. Dalton says staff mostly refer people to other community resources and assist with questions about their kids and how to talk to them about the pandemic.

So, how does a parent talk to their child about COVID-19? Dalton says the best thing would be to monitor your conversations with other adults while your children are around. Also, to make sure you are eating healthy, practicing proper hygiene, and washing your hands. Dalton says kids feel safer when they feel like they have some control and that parents should be available to answer questions and offer assurances.