'Porch Pirates For Good' Food Drive Plundering Peterborough For Kawartha Food Share

Kawartha Food Share (KFS) is plundering Peterborough again as they are doing their “Porch Pirates For Good” food drive to restock their empty shelves this Saturday.

Since the inception of the pandemic, our porch food drives have brought in over 120,000 pounds of food and over $12,000 in monetary donations. Each month, KFS serves more than 4,500 children under the age of 18. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Households are asked to leave a bag of non-perishable food items on their front porch for the Porch Pirates to collect starting at 9 a.m.

The number of clients using food banks has reached an all-time high throughout the nation, according to KFS. They continue to state that the rising cost of food and supply chain shortages have affected their clients, donors and purchasing power.

The following is a list of items requested for donation from KFS:

• Peanut Butter

• Canned tuna

• Canned fruit

• Individually wrapped school snacks – very helpful

• Pasta and pasta sauce

• Alpha-getti, Kraft Dinner and Chef Boyardee

• Breakfast cereal

• Gluten-free items – like pasta, cookies, oats etc.

• Canned vegetables

• Canned soup/stew

• Feminine hygiene products

• Diapers

• Toiletries

• Monetary Donations (can be made online or during item collection)

For every $1 donated, $3 worth of food can be purchased, according to KFS. Volunteers can collect cheques or cash during their pickups on October 28th.

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PTBOCanada's #PetLovePTBO Campaign Raises $4,000 For the Peterborough Animal Care Centre

After community support from PTBOCanada’s #PetLovePTBO campaign, $4,000 was raised and donated to the Peterborough Animal Care Centre in a cheque presentation at the facility on Friday morning.

(From left to right) Shawn Morey, PHS executive director; Si Grobler, donor relations manager, Hermione and Kirtus Evoy, PTBOCanada owner. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“It's community helping community,” said Shawn Morey, Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) executive director. “It's all about us working with our local community to continue the spread of wellness from an animal perspective so it's greatly appreciated all the way through.”

The campaign started in November last year, where toques (men's and women’s) and dog toys were sold to raise funds. This was two months before the PHC moved into the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre (PACC).

men’s/women’s toques and dog chew toys were sold as part of the #PetLovePTBO campaign. Photo by Jordan Cooper.

To date, the PACC has received $10 million in donations. Most of them were from the community and $1,560,500 from the provincial government in April. The Centre is still seeking another three million to help fund community programs, services and enhanced animal care.

“We'll have the ability to expand outwards, doing more outreach, more community service support, provide better opportunities from a care-enhancement perspective that we want to do for animals within our care,” explain Morey. 

The PACC’s grand opening occurred in late June and they immediately felt the impact of the community’s needs since relocated to Technology Drive. The shelter has a surplus of dogs available for adoption and is a crisis for PACC as they are seeking homes for them.

“With the number of animals we're getting calls for surrenders and strays coming into our care, our demand for services has grown by over 105 per cent since the second we walked in here,” said Morey. “It's timely, we need this building to provide these services, provide the care and wellness that we were able to do so but we are in a bit of a crisis mode.”

There are 42 dogs available for adoption but the PACC has a capacity for 36. They are currently not accepting surrenders but will still take in strays. Dog adoptions are by appointment only and can call 705-745-4722 x 201 to set one up.

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Scotiabank Cycling Through Its Annual Ride-A-Thon to Raise Money For Diabetes Research

Scotiabank is biking its way to helping type-1 diabetes research get one step closer to a cure with their annual Ride-A-Thon inside their Hunter Street branch on Friday.

Youth ambassador and TASSS student Tilly Stimpson, 15, leads off on the bike as one of 16 cyclists participating in the ride-a-thon. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Sixteen cyclists hopped on an exercise bike in 30-minute intervals throughout the day during the SunLife Ride to Defeat Diabetes event. The branch collected donations to help fund the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

The goal is $2,500 and Scotiabank will match the amount raised at the end of the day. The branch has participated in this event annually for roughly the last 10 years, said John D’Altoe, Scotiabank branch manager.

“There are a lot of employees that are impacted by type-1 diabetes and we wanted to make sure that we're showing our support,” he said.

Branch teller Donna Giles was the third person to ride the bike and the first of the Scotiabank employees. She says this event means a lot since her family has been heavily affected by diabetes.

“My son was diagnosed at the age of 11 and I just became type-1 as well in April so it's close to my heart,” explained Giles.

Scotiabank is the leading organization to raise money for JDRF at $296,640, with the National Bank of Canada as the next-best with $183,050.

“Knowing the people who are impacted is an important part of it and it's one of those silent diseases that a lot of people don't know a lot about so again, if we can do our part, we will,” said D’Altoe.

Donations can be made at the branch or online. $1,100 of the $2,500 goal was raised during this article’s publication.

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Market Hall Is Back To Provide Uplift Spirits With "Cancer Takedown" For Cancer Care

Market Hall is back for the second Annual Cancer Takedown as a 'spirit-raiser' for anyone touched by cancer for Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Market Hall.

The night shines a light on the mental burden of cancer and unites people through song, story and solidarity. All proceeds go to Cancer Care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Performances will be done by Melissa Payne, Kate Suhr, Linda Kash, Megan Murphy, Anthony Bastianon, Rob Phillips and Pol Coussée. It also includes people sharing their cancer stories.

Husband and wife team Rick and Amy Kemp founded the event. Rick has been a patient of PRHC since 2019 when he was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer. In May 2021, his battle doubled as he was diagnosed with a second primary cancer, CNS lymphoma.

“The mental battle of cancer is as tough as the physical battle. Some days, even tougher,” said Rick. “Let's find more ways to help more people get through the mental part.”

Donations can be made at the event or online.

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Photos: St. Peter's and Holy Cross Secondary School Unite For Terry Fox Rally Fundraiser For Cancer Research

Roughly over 1,800 students and faculty from St. Peter’s Secondary School (SPSS) and Holy Cross Secondary School (HCSS) came together to walk for the Terry Fox Rally to raise money for cancer research on Thursday morning.

Neave Alderson leads the charge for St. Peter's Secondary School in a joint effort with Holy Cross Secondary School for the Terry Fox Rally. All photos by David Tuan Bui

Both institutions walked in a circuit, starting from St. Peter’s on Medical Drive before convening at the school’s football field.

“To see the love and the effort here to support such a cause in Terry Fox, I know that cancer has affected each of our lives so to be here today and to have the energy, it's such a beautiful feeling,” said Natalie Bittner, HCSS principal.

HCSS aimed to raise $15,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Their most significant fundraising method was selling dress-down tickets to allow students to dress casually rather than in their uniforms for a week. The school did face painting and nail decorations and sold Terry Fox apparel to help with the fundraiser.

SPSS had a more ambitious goal of $70,000. Students registered with the Terry Fox website to raise money independently. They also had dress-down days and ran community events to raise funds.

“Last year, we finished third overall in Canada for raising the most,” said Shannon Brady, SPSS principal. “Last year, we raised $60,000 so we’re bumping it up to $70,000 this year.”

All proceeds from the snack and concession stands —sold by both schools on-site — went towards the schools’s respective fundraiser totals.

The two schools also held their annual football game against each other, with both the junior and senior teams playing, following the walk in the afternoon. The game is known as the ‘Catholic Bowl’ or ‘Holy Bowl.’ since it is the city’s only two Catholic high schools. It started in 2003 when Holy Cross began its inaugural football program.

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Hometown PTBO: Phillip Joilcoeur Organizing the 'Harmony For Healing' Concert and His Mother's Passing As Its Connection

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks to ‘Harmony For Healing’ organizer Phillip Jolicoeur about the concert coming up on Feb. 22 next year, the connection of his mother’s passing last year and the concert and his long-term plans with the event.

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"Rock the Docks" Event Raises $2,000 For Bridgenorth United Church Food Bank

The Bridgenorth United Church Food Bank received a donation of $2,000 raised from the Rock the Docks event in a cheque presentation at Bridgenorth United Church on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The donated money will help the food bank purchase perishable foods to distribute to their clients based on what has already been donated to them.

“We shop every week. Whatever we don't get from our membership with Kawartha Food Share and what we don't have for donations from neighbouring organizations and our congregation goes to the fresh produce,” said Rev. Cathy Gradante of Bridgenorth United Church. “So it's cheese, eggs, juice and things that are more easily spoiled so we have to purchase them on a regular basis.”

Rock the Docks was put on by the Bridgenorth Beautification Commitee at Great Outdoors Landing on Aug. 12. The event featured food (by Chemong Lodge), live music, door prizes, 50/50 draw, dancing, a silent auction and kids activities. Adam Brown, Chemong Lodge owner was happy to contribute especially after learning the increasing number of families that rely on food banks such as Bridgenorth Food Bank.

“It is somewhat discouraging when you see how many families need it but it’s great that the community is there so I’m really encouraged by that side of things,” he said.

The church on average feeds 75 families monthly in the Selwyn township, a number that has been alarmingly increasing according to Patta Latour, church co-chair.

“We used to be able to help people from Peterborough but we just got over capacity and we couldn’t,” she said. “The number of people that we helped just from Selwyn Township last month was the same number from Selwyn and in Peterborough.”

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Second-Annual 'Show and Shine for Spencer Devine" Raises $4,300 for CMHA

Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Branch (CMHA HKPR) has received a donation of $4,300 from the 2023 Show and Shine for Spencer Devine held on Sept. 10.

Photo courtesy of CMHA HKPR.

The event was created after the passing of Devine in Sept. 2021. It was created to honour his memory and love of cars and support mental health initiatives in the community.

Organized by Devine’s mother and brother, Liz Jeffries-Bradley and Chase Devine, the event brought car and motorcycle enthusiasts from as far as Barrie and Trenton to showcase their vehicles and support the initiative.

This year had a record number of participants and spectators. It featured a display of classic cars, vintage vehicles and custom rides.

The proceeds help develop mental health promotional tools and resources and CMHA's mental health crisis response services. As a result, CMHA can expand its reach and enhance its programs, ensuring that those struggling with mental health challenges receive the support they deserve according to a press release.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in the 2023 Show and Shine for Spencer Devine event and contributed to this remarkable fundraising effort," said Jack Veitch, manager of community engagement and education. "It’s incredible to see all the hard work that was done to make this event happen and is a testament to the generosity and compassion of our community.”

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Sentinel Risk Insurance Group and Darling Insurance Donate $20,000 to Food For Kids From Fundraising Golf Tournament

Peterborough Food for Kids and Kawartha Lakes Food for Kids walk away with $10,000 each in a donation from Sentinel Risk Insurance Group and Darling Insurance announced on Wednesday afternoon.

The golf tournament had taken a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funds were raised from an annual golf tournament hosted by both insurance companies held at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club on Aug. 31. All proceeds from the sold-out event go to the chosen charity, with a new charity chosen in each calendar year.

Proceeds go towards Food For Kids’s local student nutrition programs—working to provide students with access to nourishing food at school which helps with concentration in class, a reduction in school absences and achieving higher academic scores according to a press release.

“This donation was a true group effort on behalf of everyone involved and we are beyond thankful for that,” said Greg Kruk, partner, Sentinel Risk Insurance Group. “Supporting students and providing them the right tools to be successful in school has always been crucial—perhaps now more than ever given today’s cost of food.  Our team is thrilled to be able to help to the Food for Kids organization and highlight the important work they do.”

“Giving back to the communities that we live and do business in is an important part of the work we do,” said Peter Blodgett, Darling Insurance president. “This year’s tournament was the first year we’ve been back post-pandemic, and the support we saw from our communities, partners and teams was incredible—this level of donation is not possible without their support--and we are sincerely thankful for that.” 

“100 per cent of the money raised at the golf tournament will go directly to helping local student nutrition programs to provide nourishing food at school for all students,” said Angela Fuchs, Peterborough Food for Kids community development coordinator. “Last year there were over two million meals served in Peterborough City and County and your donation will help to support students to be able to do their best each day at school.”

“The nutrition programs in City of Kawartha Lakes will be serving almost a 1000 more meals every day due to growing need and this donation will directly help schools afford more food,” said Megan Curran, Kawartha Lakes Food for Kids school nutrition program coordinator. “With the increasing cost of food, donations like this help our schools sustain their programs and continue to help students thrive.”  

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Hometown PTBO: Jen Johnstone of Alzheimer's Society Running the 'Pulling for Dementia' Fire Truck Pull

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks to Jen Johnstone of the Alzheimer's Society and Andrew Pyle of CIBC Wood Gundy about the 'Pulling for Dementia' fire truck pull to benefit the Society's programs and services for those living with dementia.

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