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‘Neighbourhood Watch’ program set up in Weyburn to look after each other

A Weyburn business owner wants to help people around Weyburn to look after each other during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
sunset on Signal Hill

A Weyburn business owner wants to help people around Weyburn to look after each other during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Rose McInnes, who operates Blue Earth Environmental, has set up the Weyburn Neighbourhood Watch, and is hoping to find block captains on every residential block who can help keep an eye on the vulnerable and seniors on their blocks.

“Basically it’s like the old Neighbourhood Watches we used to have, but this watch will be a resource on the block to help anyone who is needing assistance,” said McInnes, who noted as of Wednesday afternoon, she had about 25 block captains set up so far.

Her hope is to blanket the city with a flyer in every mailbox to let every resident know of this resource, and to ask for volunteers who are willing to have their names and phone numbers available to the people on their block in case they need help.

They will not be going into any homes, she said, but are making themselves available to help, such as if a senior has groceries coming the next day but is in need of a roll of toilet paper.

Another example could be if a person is having struggles dealing with being required to stay in their home for extended periods of time or has mental health issues and needs someone to talk to.

“It’s getting information out to people about how to get groceries delivered or a phone number of someone they could call,” said McInnes. “A block captain would let everybody know their phone number so they can check in once a day, or once a week.”

She notes that we have never had this kind of situation before, and no one knows how long it will last, so she felt it was important to have something in place where people can call someone if they need help.

If anyone would like to be a block captain in their neighbourhood, they can go on the Weyburn Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page and message her, or call her on her cell phone at 306-891-8370.

Once someone is in place as a block captain, they will leave a note in everyone’s mailbox on their block to let them know of their name and number in case they need anything.

“We’re in such an unprecedented event right now,” she said. “Maybe people don’t have any family around and they live by themselves, or don’t have a computer or is on Facebook.”

As a board member for the Canadian Mental Health Association, she has a list of resources to help if any mental health issues arise and someone needs to talk to a professional or a counsellor to help them out.

“I hope people will use the Neighbourhood Watch as a resource. I’m just trying to help my community,” said McInnes.