Sometimes, my job it just tooooo much fun. I mean, who else gets to do zumba as part of their day at work?
The Occupational Therapy students that started in early July are almost done their placement at Siloam Mission. I supervise them…as someone who has limited time, but still wants to be involved at Siloam in some way, it seemed that volunteering to supervise students who work full time for an organization was a good way to go. And I get to hear really cool stuff about what they are doing and ask some (hopefully goo) questions that have them be able to learn and improve. It looks like I’m helping the University and Siloam…but the truth is that I learn and grow and get inspired in ways that are truly lifegiving for me.
So Alana and Ashley have continued the good work that Nadine and Criag started last winter. They held an Open House in the gym last week…the theme being “H+/H-“ …”with or without homes”. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of and experience…dozens of us all together trying to follow the zumba instructor…all of us in sweats and t shirts and runners…couldn’t tell who had a home and who didn’t…didn’t matter if you had a home or not when it came to having fun and working up a sweat.
I liked what Mike, one of the staff members said about the experience:
…the room was buzzing with high spirits as staff and patrons together tried to follow a very energetic dance leader through a series of complex body twists, booty-shaking and overall wiggling. Laughter spread like wildfire. Staff were affectionately ridiculed by patrons. Patrons chummily bumped into each other.
It was great…and patrons and staff toured the gym area that has been developed. There were door prizes, and snacks…well, it was just FUN!
Ashley and Alana have also been working to establish a “MEDS” program (Medication Education Delivery System)…it’s tricky to get meds delivered to your home when you don’t have one, hard to keep meds safe when you don’t have a medicine cabinet, and can be hard to know how to take your meds safely should your literacy level happen to be low. Ashley and Alana have been working with Siloam Mission and Tache Pharmacy to develop a system to get medications safely to patrons in a way that works for each person. Pretty cool system…and as far as we know, the first of it’s kind in Canada. They have done some other cool stuff about developing resources around effective medication strategies, figuring out how to help patrons get to medical appointments, linking with the university to potentially have pharmacy students come provide support to the process and so forth. And, in between, they have cut up veggies and served meals, sorted clothes in the clothing depot, had interesting conversations around program development, volunteered at the shelter, helped staff with work station and environment assessment, had meaningful connections ith patrons where they have learned much and had a chance to encourage and be encouraged, and the list goes on.
The fun of the zumba…the reggae music, the beat, and the exercise was fun…but what I will remember for months to come is the giggle of the homed and unhomed blending together as we fumbled with the footwork, and joy of joining in with others of many backgrounds and laughing at the fun of getting health and whole together.
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