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Alzheimer Society holding ‘Taps and Tables’ fundraiser

September 23, 2021   ·   0 Comments

By Paula Brown, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County is looking to bring more support to families living with dementia diseases amidst limited services, with the upcoming fundraiser Taps and Tables.

Taking place next Wednesday (Sept. 29), at Orangeville’s Taphouse Craft Beer + Kitchen, Taps and Tables is an evening out fundraiser with food, drinks, and musical entertainment provided by Ryan Hancock from the Campfire Poets. The proceeds raised through the event will go towards the Bring Back Box initiative, launched by the local chapter.

“We are hoping to raise $10,000 in order to help create 260 activity kits, which we have been doing over the pandemic, that are helping our families in the community who have been without programs or any sort of services in the home,” said Lindsay Butcher, executive director of the Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County.

The Bring Back Box initiative is an activity and engagement kit program provided to families and people living with dementia. The kits consist of meaningful and purposeful activities for anyone living with dementia, and are customisable. Kits put together previously by the local chapter have included gardening, baking, puzzles and games, and even baby dolls to help with reminiscing.

Butcher said each kits costs approximately $40 because they are catered to specific individuals.

“These activity kits have been highly utilized and they’ve been a really good tool for families to have for their loved ones because they’ve been able to do activities with them in the home,” said Butcher.

A big part of the activity kits Butcher notes is the bridge of being able to provide support while services like day programs and respite care were closed or had limited accessibility.

The Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County was first established in 1999 and provides a number of support services such as individual or group support, behavioural support, and education.

The Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County has over 400 clients they serve within the community.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association there are over 747,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia in Canada and at least 44 million people living with it worldwide.

While Taps and Tables is scheduled for Sept. 29, with 14 tables and a limit of six people per table, the fundraising event has already sold out.

Despite the sell out on tickets, Butcher says community members and local businesses can still support the program with sponsorship or donations of money, items, or gift cards for the kits.

“We are really appreciative of the support we received for the event so far, and thank you to all of the sponsors and those who have purchased tickets,” said Butcher.

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