The medical team is led by Dr. Madu and the nonmedical team is led by Mrs. Our mandate is to partner with individuals, groups, and agencies in building socially stable communities by recognizing individual uniqueness and enhancing individual and community capabilities by providing the support and services required to achieve a fulfilled life in their community. Dorik started because of identified
needs of a visible minority, vulnerable seniors in Scarborough by Dr. Ikechukwu Madu. He identified the needs of seniors who live alone and are faced with food insecurities, lack of proper grooming, loneliness, and living with various mobility and accessibility issues. Dr. Madu shared his concerns with some other medical colleagues and related healthcare workers, and Mrs. We agreed that meals and other necessary assistance be provided to these identified seniors. Going forward, we formed a group of healthcare professionals and local community members who share the same vision of seeing seniors lead an independent and healthy lifestyle. A steering committee was set up and the team gave their time, and resources and partnered with the community to feed over 1500 seniors in Scarborough community and its environs, The steering committee of 8 community members began to recruit volunteers who provided services like aftercare, companion care, light housekeeping for seniors in Scarborough. These outreach programs have increased and more seniors to care for in the Scarborough area and Newfoundland have also grown. The Volunteer base is steadily growing, and friends of volunteers also are voluntarily participating and assisting low-income seniors and visibly vulnerable minority seniors. Our combing exercises in and around the Scarborough area, have identified other suburbs such as the Brampton area, hence our current expansion of activities in this community- to build capacity, more awareness, a new circle of family and friends and provision of assistance through counselling and advice. Some of these seniors stay home all alone and would not be able to fend for themselves because of the high rising cost of food and social support. It is our goal to breach these problems and provide a meaningful, yet inexpensive approach to resolving these identified problems. During COVID- 19 pandemic, our team provided seniors with information regarding best practices available on how to manage COVID-19 and protect themselves from contracting the deadly disease. We started a group of seniors helping seniors, get informed, connected and vaccinated against the disease. Our team of volunteers taught the best hand-washing protocols; signs and visuals were created and provided to seniors. Our activities are ongoing with constant evaluation, identification of vulnerable seniors and provision of needs where necessary. We are available through social networking- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, tiktok platforms.
