A Story
Hillcrest Lodge in Orillia provides tenants with a safe, affordable place to live. Now in its 16th year, the independent-living facility has a waiting list of seniors seeking rent-geared-to-income apartments.
One of our earlier tenants, Cindy Dixon is no longer with us but during her stay she helped tend the gardens. She said: "I have faced my share of challenges in 59 years."
Most recently, it was health problems that coincided with a search for affordable accommodations — no easy feat in Orillia’s pricey rental market.
“I wasn’t going to be able to go to an apartment,” she said. “I would not have survived because of the cost factor.”
Dixon found her solution at Hillcrest Lodge, a charitable operation that provides geared-to-income rental units for vulnerable seniors.
“It’s affordable, it’s a safe place (and) my meals are provided,” she said. “And there are people around me — I’m not secluded.”
Dixon, who has taken to voluntarily tending the outdoor gardens, said she had found a home at the Cedar Street building.
“I really feel strongly that we need more places like this to help seniors and those who are in a financial bind where they can’t thrive,” she said.
Celebrating the great weather we had in early October 2024, and thanks to the generous donation of a fire pit from the Sharing Place, we had a "campfire". A huge thanks to Al Bayne, our food services coordinator, for organizing the evening. There were hot dogs, marshmallows, cider, hot chocolate - all the good things you want at a campfire. In addition to quite a number of tenants, several board members and spouses attended as well.