Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough Granted $1.3 Million To Charities in 2021

The Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough (CFGP) granted $1.3 million to more than eighty charities in Peterborough and the surrounding area, the foundation announced on Tuesday.

File Photo.

2021 was the second year in a row that CFGP granted over $1 million.

“Our community has stepped up in a big way and I cannot thank them enough for contributing to charitable organizations that really need our help as we all continue to manage through this pandemic,” said Jennifer DeBues, executive director at CFGP. “The charities have been unable to fundraise in the ways they used to before COVID-19, so grants from foundations like ours are more important than ever.”

Charities that received funds crossed a variety of sectors like food insecurity, arts and culture, gender equity and COVID-19 community response initiatives.

“This kind of generosity really highlights the impact that the Community Foundation can have at the local level as we bring together donors from the community who care about a number of different causes and issues, ensuring their funds are distributed to those who need it most,” said Jenn Harrington, chair of CFGP board of directors.

DeBues says that a highlight of 2021 was when one donor donated $250,000 for food security grants.

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Kawartha Food Share Recieves $3,750 From Starbucks Canada and Non-Perishables From Chemong Location

Starbucks Chemong location donated almost ten boxes of non-perishables to Kawartha Food Share (KFS) and nominated KFS for the Neighborhood Grant Program which donated $3,750, the coffee shop shared on their social media on Monday.

The team at Starbucks collected food donations from customers and staff throughout November and December.

The Starbucks Foundation offers locations Neighborhood Grants throughout the year. Neighborhood Grants are investments that help build sustained local impact and inspire increased partner volunteerism with nonprofit organizations that work in our communities.

Store employees decide where the grant should go each year. Employees at both Peterborough locations voted that Kawartha Food Share should receive the $3750 donation.

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Socks For Chad Donates 605 Pairs Of Socks To One Roof Community Centre

Socks for Chad, a Peterborough organization, made their annual donation to One Roof Community Centre in December, giving them a total of 605 pairs of socks.

Photo courtesy of One Roof Community Centre.

Socks for Chad was started by Tammy Ruffo in honour of her son, Chad, who passed away in 2015.

Ruffo collects socks all year round to donate in December, in time for cold weather an Christmas.

Friends, family and community members donate socks as well as money to purchase socks.

In 2021 Socks for Chad collected a record breaking 605 pairs to donate to One Roof Community Centre who will distribute them to those in need.

Ruffo hopes that 2022 will garner even more socks than last year and be able to keep even more people warm.

In a post to the Socks for Chad Facebook group Ruffo wrote ‘Thank you so much for helping this grieving mom reach and surpass my goals to beat last year’s. I could not have done this without each and every one of you! Between all the sock donations a e-transfers we did it!’

For more information on how to donate visit Socks for Chad on Facebook or email tammyruffo@hotmail.com.

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Peterborough Humane Society Receives Over $20,000 On Betty White's Birthday

The Peterborough Humane Society received $20,376 in donations on Monday in celebration of Betty White’s birthday.

Getty Images.

White, an American actress, comedian and animal rights advocate, passed away on Dec. 31 at the age of 99.

To honour her legacy fans started an international campaign called the #BettyWhiteChallenge. The campaign encouraged people to donate money to their local animal shelters to celebrate the icons 100th birthday on Monday.

By Tuesday morning PHS had announced that they had received $20,376 with more donations still incoming.

“It has absolutely knocked our socks off at PHS. To know that we are one of thousands of animal shelters across the country, and world, that are feeling the positive impact from this social media movement,” said Emily Craigen, communications and development coordinator at PHS. “I mean, Betty White was already this beloved cultural icon and to have this movement come to life that benefits animals in need around the globe, it's inspiring.”

In addition to the PHS receiving generous donations from community members, Lakefield Animal Welfare Society announced on social media that they received over $9,000 on donations on Monday.

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Peterborough Humane Society Encourages Donations In Honour Of The Late Betty White's Birthday

The Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) is asking it’s supporters to participate in the #BettyWhiteChallenge, by making a donation to honour Betty White, an animal activist, on Monday.

Getty Images.

White, an American actress and comedian, passed away on Dec. 31, 2021 at 99 years old.

To honour her legacy and love of animals fans around the world are using Jan. 17, White’s birthday, as a day to donate to local animal shelters.

In a social media post, PHS noted that if each of their 17,255 followers donated $5 they would raise $86,000.

Comments on the post are celebrating pets that have been adopted from PHS, and noting that donations are being made.

Donations can be made online here.

Donations can also be made over the phone by calling 705-745-4722 ext. 200 or mailed by cheque to: Peterborough Humane Society, 385 Lansdowne St. E, Peterborough, ON K9L 2A3.

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Darling Insurance Donates $16,500 To Five Local Charities In Partnership With Other Local Brokerages

Darling Insurance and Sentinel Risk Insurance, along with the support of Hamilton Township Mutual Insurance and Gore Mutual Insurance made a donation of $16,500 to five local charities over the holidays.

Photo courtesy of Darling Insurance.

The four local businesses split the donation between One Roof Community Centre, YWCA Peterborough-Haliburton Nourish Program, The Salvation Army, Women’s Resources in Lindsay, and Feed The Need in Havelock.

“We’ve always tried to help to meet the need for food insecurities - especially around Christmas,” said Glenn “Typically we would do one or two bigger donations but this year we thought we’d try to spread it out farther across the community.”

Millar notes that some organizations may be having a hard time fundraising due to gathering restrictions, so he hopes that this donation will be a welcome one.

“We really try to support local business and charities,” he said. “This year we made a big list of charities we’ve helped, because we wanted our employees to see that and be proud of working here - when I saw it even I was blown away. We just really want to thank our staff, we’re able to do it because of the work they do.”

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Local Creamery Fills the Truck With Over 5,000 Pounds of Goods For Local Food Bank

After roughly 5,000 pounds of food and $9363.50 later, Central Smith Creamery’s “Fill the Truck” campaign was a success in making their donation to Kawartha Food Share (KFS) on Friday.

(from left to right) Jenn Scates, Central Smith Creamery co-owner; Ashlee Aitken, Kawartha Food Share general manager; Ian Scates, Central Smith Creamery co-owner and Derek Fraser, Central Smith Creamer truck driver piled among the totes and bins of the food collections from over 40 different businesses. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Selwyn creamery asked over 20 businesses to be drop-off locations for the collected goods from Nov. 26 to Dec. 17. Once the campaign caught on, it quickly grew to over 40 participating businesses and organizations.

“The Women’s Business Network (of Peterborough) was a big help in getting it up to 40 as well as our network of people in the height of the pandemic,” explained Jenn Scates, Central Smith Creamery co-owner. “We reached out to local businesses and highlighted them in our reel and we just reached out to those people again and asked if they wanted to be on board and many of those people jumped into this.”

@ptbo_canada

@central_smith is helping others have a wonderful Christmas Time with their food drive for Kawartha Food Share! ##wonderfulchristmastime ##fooddrive

♬ Wonderful Christmastime - Edited Version / Remastered 2011 - Paul McCartney

Scates along with husband and co-owner Ian highlighted notable donors such as Kawartha Metals Corporation donating $5,000, Kawartha Orthodontics matching the cash donations made at the Creamery dollar for dollar and Chemong Public School organized their own food drive to contribute. The couple was grateful to all participants in the campaign.

When Central Smith dropped off the goods to KFS, Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager believes that the total goods could weigh more than 5,000 pounds. An official weight will be determined over the weekend.

"I had full expectations that they would fill the truck but seeing it here in person and fill it to the brim is just absolutely insane," she said.

The food will be distributed to 37 food agencies affiliated with KFS. Donated toys will be given to the Salvation Army.

“It's exciting to be a part of Peterborough and we've always said it's one of the most generous communities that anyone could live in," said Ian. "We feel so grateful and fortunate to be a part of it."

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Santa's Sleigh Program Distributes Over 850 Gifts To Kids and Families For the Holidays

After 11 days of getting the community to grant kids’ Christmas wishes, the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Foundation’s (KHCF) Santa’s Sleigh program has given over 850 gifts announced on Monday.

During last year’s campaign, the program ran under different conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and could not do their traditional sleigh drive. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

The foundation collected gift cards, money and toys for children, youth and families. The campaign collected wishlist cards from kids, placed them on a tree in Walmart (Chemong location) and had the community shop for the items to be donated.

“I am overwhelmed with the generosity, and thankful for the support the community has shown for the Santa’s Sleigh program this year” said Carrie Truman, KHCAS executive director. “So many individuals, workplaces and community groups came together to make sure every name on our tree was picked, and everyone will have a special gift to open this holiday season.”

The campaign ran from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6 and has run for the past 32 years.

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Peterborough Petes and Emterra Environmental Collecting Equipment For Try Hockey Equipment Drive

The Peterborough Petes and Emterra Environmental are helping make hockey for everyone with the Try Hockey equipment drive which collects donated hockey gear to make it more accessible announced on Tuesday.

Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The donated equipment is being used for future free hockey initiatives that seek to reduce financial and social barriers to joining the game of hockey. 

The drive will happen on Dec. 17 and 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. where donations are accepted from families at the southeast side of the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot.

All COVID-19 protocols will be in place upon equipment collection including mask wearing and physical distancing. 

“The Petes are excited to work alongside Emterra Environmental on this initiative and future Try Hockey programming in order to make the sport we love more accessible to the Peterborough community,” said Shelbi Kilcollins, Petes Director of Marketing and Growth. 

Requested equipment includes skates, elbow pads, shin pads, shoulder pads, helmets, pants, sticks, bags and goalie equipment. There is not a need for undergarments, jerseys, socks, jocks/jills, or neck guards.

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Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of REALTORS Members Donate to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton has been chosen as Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of Realtor’s (PKAR REALTOR) selected charity of 2021 resulting in a donation of $23,318.74.

Photo courtesy of YWCA.

Each year PKAR REALTOR members select a registered charity to support, through the RealtorsCare Foundation of Ontario, with a focus on initiatives that directly benefit shelter-based needs in our community.

“It is integral for us to get behind this meaningful organization and contribute towards helping provide support for women who experience violence and abuse,” said Jon Maxwell, president of PKAR. “As a result of the generosity of our REALTOR members over the years, PKAR is proud to have donated over $100,000.00 to local charities like the YWCA.”

“YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is honoured to receive this generous donation from PKAR in order to provide much-needed safe shelter and support for local women and children experiencing gender-based violence,” said Kim Dolan, Executive Director of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. “The need at YWCA Crossroads Shelter has increased as a result of the pandemic and we are immensely thankful to PKAR’s membership for their dedicated and compassionate response.”

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton provides safe shelter, resources and support to help women safely escape violent situations, build upon their existing strength, and move forward in their lives.

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