For Castor Family and Community Support Services’ (FCSS) Mandy Fuller, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that it has been far from business as usual.
A very people-focused organization, pre-pandemic Fuller could usually be found organizing group activities for the youth or seniors in the community.
With the onset of the pandemic, unfortunately, most of those activities have gone by the wayside.
That doesn’t mean she is not hard at work in the community, however.
Through FCSS partnerships with the Rural Mental Health Project, Fuller recently took a group of people to Stettler for an afternoon of bowling.
Social distancing and masking were enforced, but, according to Fuller, it was still a great day overall.
“It was a great success,” said Fuller.
“A lot of people that haven’t come out to other things came out. Every time that happens, I just love it, because we’re reaching more people.”
Through FCSS, Fuller also coordinates the drivers for Castor’s community Meals-on-Wheels program and recently provided all the drivers Christmas cards.
At the arena, in the beginning of December, Fuller attended a skating session and handed out gift bags to the children in attendance, and did the same in the manors a few days later to give the residents “some encouragement for the holidays.”
“Even though we’re not out in the public as much, we’re still doing stuff,” said Fuller.
With the Castor Food Bank manager, Sue Goodkey, recovering from an injury, Fuller has been assisting in that role as well, helping with a group of volunteers to get the hampers out the door just before Christmas.
Looking into 2022, Fuller, and FCSS, have some exciting changes on the way.
Castor and District FCSS is in the process of moving into the former Golden Circle building behind the Castor Museum.
The plan is for Fuller to get the building cleaned and organized early in the new year, and then host a grand opening when time and restrictions allow.
According to Fuller, she is writing a grant to get a projector and screen installed in the facility and she is currently waiting for telephone and internet to be installed.
Once everything is in place, she hopes to be able to offer the venue to people to be able to live-stream celebrations or funerals.
Other activities she hopes to introduce — again, when restrictions allow — such as pool or darts, she may have to charge a small amount for which would go back to the Town of Castor to help offset operational costs for the building.