Since the institution of Community Outreach Grants in 2015 The Rotary Club of Kingston has given out $129,000 to small charitable foundations. This week, another $22,445 was given to 12 organizations.
Youth Projects are the focus of most Grants in 2022
BGC South East: Amanda Guarino $2,000 (B&G Club).
Amanda’s first project is the healthy food program at their facilities. She was assisted by Nex …, a beneficiary from the program since Junior Kindergarten. In her 12th year, she is now an assistant with the program.
Go With the Flow: Beth Pye $2,000.
A cluster of ladies help sew washable feminine hygiene pads distributed throughout the region through agencies helping to meet the needs of young ladies. Right now, they are working flat out to send a shipment this Sunday to Poland to assist Ukraine refugees.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters: Graham Oswald $2,000.
This agency pairs an adult with a needy youth, 75% of whom come from single-parent families. With schools locked down, the needs of youth are even greater. They engage in attending a special event, in sporting activities and equipment, and just being a friend online or in-person.
Lionhearts Inc: Travis Blackmore $2,000.
We have partnered over several years with Lionhearts in their food sharing program. This money will help them increase their capacity and reliability towards providing nutritious foods to needy families. In fact, today we restart our partnership, assisting in the delivery of 125 food boxes. We always need volunteers to assist us: phoning, packing, delivering every other week.
South Frontenac Community Services: Heather Rogers $2,000.
This charity also delivers food supplements to their rural community. Our donation will buy insulated bags for those delivering the food to protect whatever needs to be kept cool: needed because of distances travelled and the time taken to “check in” with each delivery.
Youth Diversion: Kristy Love $1,300.
This money will help with their “Rebound Program”, a 10-week session to help 8 to 12 year-olds with their personal development and mental health issues. The program is full already (15) and there is now a waiting list.
Loving Spoonful: Ayla Fenton $2,500.
Ayla is their Agricultural Coordinator, responsible for the development of small gardens for food supplies. By small, she means not only backyard gardens but also balcony gardens. This money will provide the materials for balcony gardens (planters, soil, seeds, etc) for up to 150 families and specifically includes some indigenous families as well.
Kingston Youth Shelter: Anne Brown $2,100.
This project has used a facility provided by the Sisters of Hotel Dieu since 1999. Housing and other supports are used to bring indoors 16 to 24 year-olds who live on the street. They are moving into new facilities this fall and our donation will help to provide dividers between each bed, providing more privacy and protection for the youth.
RKY Camp: D'Arcy Munn $795.
One need identified by camp leaders is the need for a “camping equipment library” which is a ready supply of camping gear that some kids can’t afford: from sleeping bags to socks. This supply tries to avoid those “awkward moments” when the kids arrive at camp. It’s a library because these goods are recycled.
Big Spoon, Little Spoon: Luci Bast $250.
This is a Queen’s student project: pairing with needy youth who need a mentor and model.
Almost Home: Sam McLeod $1,800.
We are all familiar with this project over many years: a family setting for families supporting a loved one in hospital for a short stay.
Two Campership Grants
Camp Outlook: Abby Shore $1,700.
This is another long-standing program for at-risk youth: a 2-week camping experience in Algonquin’s wilderness. Camping teaches these teens so much about themselves, and living with and relying on others. This particular project is focused on the children of veterans who are dealing with PTSD: a special project indeed.
BGC South East: Amanda Guarino $2,000
The second program that earned our support is BGC South East's summer day-camps program aimed primarily to the North Kingston area where 20 families will benefit, as our grant will assist with lunches, snacks, crafts and sports equipment.