by Sylene Argent
On Wednesday, December 19, Abode Respite, a non-profit out-of-home respite service for adults living with a disability, hosted its most recent Karaoke night, with a Christmas-theme in the spirit of the holiday season.
As the meaning of the season is to give, those who attended the event were asked to submit a non-perishable item or a $5 donation to support the Essex Area Food Bank.
“We want to show the community, people off all abilities have a purpose and something to give. We create opportunities for that,” Heather McCann-Smith said, who is the Executive Director for Abode Respite Services.
The Service is now operating out of a shared space with Brooker Baptist Church in Cottam. A Board of Directors governs the Service, which was first operated out of McCann’s Woodslee home starting in April of 2017. She founded the businesses in memory of her little sister, Hannah, who had cerebral palsy and passed away at the age of ten.
Currently, Abode Respite Services is supporting eight or nine families, with only six spots available per day. It also hosts community-orientated events, like the Karaoke events that are hosted typically once every two months.
For more information about Abode Respite Services, log onto www.aboderespite.ca.