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The Society of Sharing serves the area between Bathurst Street east to Logan Avenue, and the Waterfront north to St. Clair Avenue.

Home Visitation
Weekly friendly visits by volunteers are designed specifically to reduce isolation for housebound seniors and persons with disabilities. Volunteers provide support through their presence and by listening, empathizing, and sharing. Volunteers may provide stimulation through reading and writing, crafts and games. They may also provide assistance with practical help such as writing letters and banking, shopping, going for walks, and running errands as required.

Time commitment: 2 hours per week minimum

Transportation/Medical and Shopping Escort Program
Medical escort volunteers accompany the frail elderly and disabled to and from medical appointments. The shopping escort volunteers either shop for the clients or accompany them. This ensures that clients have sufficient food from week to week. Clients are expected to request a volunteer five days in advance of their appointments.

Volunteers are reimbursed for their escort trips with TTC tickets.

Time commitment: 3-4 hours per week

Telephone Services
The Society of Sharing links a volunteer with a client who has requested daily, time-specific calls to reassure them and ensure their safety.

Daily Medication Reminder
Individuals who are frail and forgetful may benefit from telephone calls to remind them when to take their medication. A volunteer is assigned to make calls at a designated time to remind the person to take a medication dose.

Other
The office provides periodic calls to check on individuals on the waiting list, and other intervention activities, as required.

When a volunteer is on vacation, office staff will call their friend, if requested.

Time commitment: 5 - 10 minutes daily

Socialization Groups
The Socialization Group's objective is to provide an opportunity for seniors and persons with disabilities to meet and interact, and get connected to the community at large. This is an excellent model of service provided to reduce isolation for housebound seniors and disabled persons. Some participants establish lasting friendships and support through this program. Volunteers host and coordinate the gatherings for seniors and persons with disabilities in Toronto Community Housing buildings. Participant activities include crafts to stimulate motor skills, and board games and puzzles to increase team work.

Dedicated volunteers play a major role in facilitating this weekly activity. Time commitment: 3-4 hours per week minimum

Annual Christmas Gift Bag Program
The goal of this program is to deliver Christmas gift bags annually to all clients, including those on our waiting list. In order to achieve this goal, the Society must raise funds and solicit donations from private organizations. Volunteers pack bags consisting of non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products. Approximately 200 gift bags are distributed annually.

Referral
The Society maintains a link with the health and social service networks and updates information on an ongoing basis. The agency provides information to clients/caregivers, community workers and referrals to appropriate services if a client requires services that are not provided by the Society of Sharing.

Field Education for Students
The Society of Sharing provides placement training and experience for students in related fields.