Elliot Lake businessman Luc Morrissette said it broke his heart when he saw a woman standing by herself outside a window at a local long-term care facility. Making an inquiry, he learned it was the only way the elderly woman could communicate with her husband who was a resident of the facility. They have been married for 62 years. Because of the COVID-19 situation, it was the only way they could see each other.
Prior to that, said Morrissette, "I wanted to do something for the residents at all three manors in Elliot Lake for Easter. So I went on Facebook and asked for people to help me. There were 225 people who would receive a tulip plant. However, the Algoma Health Unit (APH) put a hold on this as they did not wish to have plants delivered at the manors."
When that plan would not fly, Mr. Morrissette learned of a man who, with the help of Walmart, had made a bulk purchase of 100 tablets. He realized that if he could do that in Elliot Lake, manor residents could each have one so they could communicate with the outside world.
"With the help of community partners that had already donated to the tulip idea and others who came on board, I managed to raise enough money for the purchase. The iPads where ordered and they are now in. I will be distributing them on Friday," he said.
The distribution took place this morning at three facilities – St. Joseph's Manor on Spine Road, Huron Lodge on Manitoba Road, and Hillside Park Retirement Residence on Mississauga Avenue.