HAGERSVILLE—After more than three years of pandemic restrictions, there is once again an evening that hits the bullseye every time in Hagersville. Darts has reopened for people with developmental challenges: Thursday evenings, 7.p.m. at Hagersville’s Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 164.
“The loonie is a traditional fee, and it will go back towards the group,” said coordinator Tara Lindemann, who added that the weekly game was an unofficial group at present.
Lindemann also coaches Haldimand’s Special Olympics baseball team, The Haldimand Hurricanes, and said there had been many requests to get darts started up again since pandemic restrictions were lifted.
Like baseball, darts had been yet another activity stripped away, but Lindemann said it’s “been ‘on point’ since restarting up in December, and more people are joining in the merriment.”
Lindemann first became aware of the weekly group after her father suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in early 2018.
“My sister was involved in so many activities, it was hard to keep them straight until I started driving her to each of them,” she said. “Dad would say to go in and watch, and I’m so glad he encouraged that, and that he did that himself, because it was a wonderful hour of cheering others on, and wowza the joy emanating from that room was the stuff that warms your insides.”
Her sister Natalie agreed.
“I miss Dad, but it’s so nice to go again and spend time kicking my boyfriend’s butt,” she said, breaking out into giggles. “I’m just joking – I love him!”
“But you still enjoy kicking his butt in darts,” retorted Lindemann, to which Natalie burst into laughter.
“Well duh!”
Competition is fierce but friendly, and new darts member Abby Jones said she was enjoying the hour.
“It’s fun and I like my new friends because they talk and laugh a lot,” she said. Her mother Lisa Jones nodded.
“I agree with her; it’s a fun hobby and is a nice social activity for Abby, now that she’s out of high school, it’s important for her to have her own social circle and have something to look forward to each week,” she said.
The Legion volunteered the precious space for the group, and welcomed everyone back with hot dogs and fries on the house.
“I’m grateful to the Legion for giving us this space – it means a very great deal,” said Lindemann. “And our previous volunteer coordinator, Cherie Kemp, purchased new darts and her mother and aunt put them all together, and Bikers Haven donated some as well.”
Lindemann said that since the pandemic, “there really isn’t much out there” for people with developmental challenges to do around Haldimand.
“These community members, like everyone, have experienced a loss in time being so isolated from one another,” she said. “They have been isolated from friends, and a lot of free programs have fallen away, and these are spaces and activities where they depend on a family member or staff to coordinate getting them there.
“But people deserve to have a space where they can simply commune with their friends, and even make new ones, and this is one precious hour a week to do that.”
The cost to participate is just one dollar a week, and receipts will be provided upon request.
Darts runs weekly at 7 p.m. inside Hagersville Legion Branch 164 at 5 Alma St. N. in Hagersville.
For more information, email taralindemann7@gmail.com or call 416-938-9952.
