“All you need is love,” said Shayla Vermolen, which is fitting for the 196 dozen heart-shaped cookies her mother Jody Finn-Vermolen has recently made to “give back” to Red Roof Retreat.
Kerry Finn, Jody’s sister and Shayla’s aunt, is a client of Red Roof Retreat, which has provided recreational programming for Kerry for six years.
In addition to programs for special needs children and young adults, Red Roof also provides day camps and respite care at two locations, The Ranch on Concession 6, an 11-acre hobby farm with an accessible walking trail and playground, and Kevan’s House on Concession 2, which provides adult respite weekends and emergency residential care.
Kerry “loves going to The Ranch and going on outings and crafts and singing songs. Everything that Red Roof offers brings fulfillment to her life,” said Jody.
Jody describes Kerry as “the light of our life. She is happy all the time. She is a social butterfly. She thrives from being around people and being able to do things and have friends.”
According to Shayla, Kerry “has been super fortunate to spend time with the lovely people at Red Roof Retreat who provide her with so many fun activities and experiences. Our family is very lucky to have been able to connect with them.”
On Tuesday morning, Valentine’s Day, Kerry met everyone at the door of the retreat’s Hunter Road location, inside Cornerstone Community Church, with laughter, hugs and a big cheque to donate to the place that brings her so much happiness.
Wearing red and pink, clients and staff of Red Roof Retreat were planning on celebrating Valentine’s day with a party. “We have a whole bunch of activities set up today,” said special needs worker Kennedy Anderson. “We are going to decorate some cookies, and a whole bunch of colouring. And if the weather’s nice we will get outside.”
All you need is love,
Red Roof Retreat’s slogan, indeed.