A Good Neighbour
We value our Shuswap neighbours and over the years the centre has become a hub of community activities, gatherings and fundraising. When the pandemic first hit, we were able to respond to the area’s need for online meetings by offering the use of a virtual community hub for video-conferencing, the first of its kind in the south Shuswap. Non-profit societies and other community organizations make use of our meeting spaces regularly.
Children visit us regularly from Sorrento Elementary, bringing joy and fantastic energy as they tromp around our 24 acres on snowshoes or skis. We cherish the trees they have planted, and watched them learn about the fragile wetlands including the wapato. The butterflies they lovingly fostered from the chrysalis stage, were recently released to dance among our flowers, so the bees are happy too! A highlight for families is ringing in the Christmas season with a magical outdoor Christmas concert.
Whether raising funds for war-torn Ukraine with sunflowers and creativity, children make a difference in the world, and we are proud to partner with organizations that enrich the lives of the kids. The Sorrento 4H club meets at Sorrento Centre throughout the year and last winter the littlest tots came to play.
In these days of climate crisis our retreat centre works with the Shuswap Emergency Support Services team to offer comfort and support to families and pets evacuated or displaced due to forest fires, floods or other natural or manmade disasters. Sorrento Centre takes action to support those who find themselves living in precarious housing situations or homelessness, whether temporary or more permanent, by providing food and other comforts on a daily basis. In fact, in the last few years, our staff has cooked and delivered more than 90,000 healthy fresh meals to those in need.
Every month the South Shuswap Community Response Network meets at Sorrento Centre, the host agency, to facilitate a coordinated community response to abuse, neglect, and self-neglect in vulnerable adults.
Sorrento Centre is proud to be part of the wonderful Shuswap community over the last 60 years and welcomes all to visit us in person or online to learn more about who we are and what we do during this our 60th anniversary. www.sorrentocentre.ca
