Our frontline worker’s health is vital to yours

CHATS is a not-for-profit organization serving York Region and South Simcoe. We advocate for and deliver high quality, person-centred home and community services, providing dignity and choice for aging at home. We are committed to helping older adults to live their best lives at home and in their communities through services and supports such as transportation, adult day programs, assisted living, meals on wheels telephone reassurance, personal support workers and much more.

Presently we have over 200 frontline staff and volunteers working tirelessly to ensure that all of our 8,500 plus clients continued to receive the services and care they needed while facing lockdowns and isolation from family and support systems. Often a CHATS worker is the only real face time they receive.  We are extremely proud and grateful of all our frontline workers who over the past two years, with each new variant and lockdown of the pandemic dug deep for that extra strength and resilience needed to continue providing the level of care needed to keep our most vulnerable population safe.

When COVID first struck in the spring of 2020, there was a tremendous amount of community support; bells were ringing, signs hanging in windows, horns honking, donations flooding in for support.  Two years on people’s resources, desire, outlook, and financial ability to give back is starting to wan. We are all feeling COVID fatigue. It’s hard to stay positive when we are all struggling to manage our “new normal”; our day to day lives, virtual meetings, homeschooling, postponed events, a world of uncertainty.

Yet our front-line workers have never received a break, have always been in the face of COVID, and continue to see the devastation it creates. This last wave hit hard, the weight of anxiety and burnout are at unprecedented levels. Worry for their health and the health of their families, staff shortages due to illness, and increased client needs, with seemingly no end in sight, are cumulating to create this environment that needs our support.  Now is the time we need to collectively take a deep breath and pull on all the strength and positivity we can to keep our frontline worker's spirits and morale lifted.

All donations to the Frontline Workers Relief Fund will be funneled directly to CHATS’ frontline, client-facing staff. This fund is to enhance support efforts in:

1. Providing delivery of meals and essential items to our clients and caregivers at home
2. Relief from burnout. Initiatives to boost morale like providing meals and gift cards and mental health supports.
3. Financial Assistance. Aid to staff facing financial hardships due to COVID-related illnesses.

 Thank you for being the smile our frontline healthcare workers need.