New year workshops with Hope Bridges

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Hope Bridges is hoping everyone has a Happy Holiday, and although they are closed Dec. 16 to Jan. 2, coordinator Wanda Reinholdt hopes people will remember their programs, when they are filling in activities for 2017 in their day-timer apps.
Hope Bridges has some interesting workshops in the New Year and they provide safe and inclusive environments for people to explore their creative talents.
“Hope Bridges is very much about connecting people. It is not so much people coming to us, as us going out to the people,” said Reinholdt.
“We have a number of workshops out in various locations in the community, where adults are already gathering. We go and join them, and community members who have registered for workshops come and join in. It is going to, and providing for, the community. No matter what location we are in, the public is welcome to participate.”
There are limited spaces in the workshops, so it is very important to register. It allows organizers to prepare for the unique needs of each member participating.
In January, they are once again featuring the Painted Quilt Trail, where they paint large quilted patterns on wood. The finished pieces will be placed on businesses around Strathmore. There are three boards awaiting willing hands. Local businesses that would like a painted quilt board can contact Hope Bridges to make arrangements for an installation.
A newer workshop is called Paint and Refresh, which is held at Meadowlark Senior Care Home on the first Wednesday of the month.
“In the Meadowlark Care Home, the members often can’t get out,” said Reinholdt. “So in the comfort of where they live, they can participate in this activity and connect with those coming in to share in the activity.”
A new program, Drum Fit, also starts at the end of January. It will be held in the youth room at Hope Community Covenant Church. It combines movement exercise to music and drumming on exercise balls.
“You can benefit physically from Drum Fit whether you have to sit in a chair, or you can move around,” said Reinholdt. “It is very important that any of our workshops are adaptable to the experience and backgrounds of the participants. If they are in a wheelchair, or if they have trouble standing, they can still benefit. There are a lot of physical benefits to drumming; it is a stress release and it is definitely therapeutic. The vibrations are very healing and a ton of fun.”
Go Green Upcycling is partnering with Hope Bridges on a yarn bomb project. Get that vision of pelting each other with yarn out of your mind’s eye. It is actually where artists wrap, knit and crochet around an object. The first Thursday of the month will launch a project to cover vintage bikes, which will be auctioned off at the April wine and art auction, which supports Hope Bridges programming.
Handmade pottery will also be done during January and February. Facilitators will travel out to the communities of Carseland and Standard. Any firing needed is done compliments of Glaze Upon My Work pottery in Chestermere. Hussar will welcome a Zentangle activity in March as well. It will be a great opportunity to visit and reconnect with neighbours, after the winter solstice.
Spring will bring sweet songs at the Sing (and Play) Your High Note. The AHS program is held in the physiotherapy wing of the Strathmore hospital. The seniors program runs every first and third Wednesday and every second and fourth Tuesday. Those who register through Hope Bridges will join in.
Grants, private donations and registration fees fund Hope Bridges programs. The programs fees are kept are very reasonable and those struggling with budgets can talk to organizers to work out ways to participate in programs.
Hope Bridges holds their main fundraiser in April, with the April wine and art auction. Local artisans have a chance to display their work and all sales go to support further programming.
Reinhardt said the program has seen people grow in talent and confidence.
“One of the individuals who comes to Go Green Upcycling was very reticent about art or expression when she came to us. She has been with us for a couple of years,” said Reinholdt. “In our 2016 auction, which is usually held in April, she created a painting and led the creation of a piece of art called ‘Grow’ that sold for a lot of money at that auction.”