Norfolk County putting down money to support several programs across the region.
Tuesday night, they awarded 7 organizations funding for projects they have on the horizon after more than 30 applications were dwindled down by staff.
The organizations who are receiving funding are: Haldimand-Norfolk REACH, South Coast Community Caring for Cancer, G.I.R.L.S Power Camp, Long Point Biosphere Reserve Foundation, The Simcoe Heritage Friendship Festive, PRIDE Haldimand Norfolk, and Front Door Ministry.
Below is a breakdown of how each organization is proposing to spend their money.
Haldimand-Norfolk Reach (Child Nutrition Network) – $3000
For the 2023-24 school year, the Child Nutrition Network continues to experience significant year-over-year growth as demand for universal healthy food for students in Norfolk County. We are currently serving a daily average of 5,100 students in Norfolk per day of program operation. The cost of providing a single meal to a student has increased by 60% since the pre-pandemic period of 2018-19 as the cost of food ratchets up year after year, combined with an increased uptake of students during this same time period by 46%. In 2018-19,
less than 45% of students in our area accessed the student nutrition program, and today that number is just shy of 60%, indicating that need is outpacing growth to student enrollment. Despite two record breaking years of fundraising in Norfolk, we are still struggling to provide enough.
As demand presses up against available funding, one of our primary objectives this year is to maximize our fundraising capacity to ensure that our calculated shortfall (of about $20,000) is achieved. Secondly, many of our schools are looking to add additional days of operation per week (e.g. 3 days up to 4 days), and/or increasing the number of programs offered per day (e.g. adding a snack program on top of a breakfast program) in order to meet the needs of students with respect to food security.
South Coast Community Caring for Cancer -$2500
The purpose of the grant funds will be used to purchase parking passes for the Hamilton Health Sciences parking lots within Hamilton. Many of the local community who are facing their own challenge with cancer utilize the Hamilton Health Sciences facilities mainly Juravinski Hospital for radiation treatment and to see their oncologist. These funds would allow us to purchase 250 parking passes and we would be able to add 3 passes to each bag requested
G.I.R.L.S Power Camp- $5000
It is a fun-filled weekend in a camp setting with interactive learning experiences including activities, workshops and discussions that focus on issues such as body image, self-esteem, healthy eating, active living, healthy relationships, and personal safety. Campers also participate in self-defense, yoga, and high ropes courses to increase their confidence, face their fears, challenge their limits and take risks in a safe setting. The objective of the program is that campers walk away feeling empowered, have a secure sense of self, new tools
and skills to navigate the upcoming life changes, and have positive community connections
Long Point Biosphere Reserve Foundation – $3200
The Long Point Biosphere Region is requesting $3200. in support for a portion of the cost to establish an annual weekend festival in Norfolk County called “Conservation Crawl” marketed to residents of Norfolk County and urban visitors from London, Hamilton, and Toronto. This application is part of a larger proposal to the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario funding and will cover the cost of transportation for visitors to experience a range of outdoor conservation activities, enjoy eco-tourism products and services, and learn about an important Indigenous cultural project, with emphasis placed on increasing access for unserved populations. The overall objectives of the festival are to: No 1: Position the Long Point Biosphere Region/Norfolk County as a unique tourist destination by promoting its commitment to environmental and cultural sustainability.
No. 2: Expand the Biosphere’s tourism offerings with the Mississauga’s of the New Credit First Nation.
No. 3: Increase off season tourism in Norfolk County through unique experiences at the festival.
No. 4: Promote eco-tourism in the Biosphere/Norfolk County through unique and interactive outdoor experiences
The Simcoe Heritage Friendship Festival- $3000
We are looking to expand the Festival in three key areas: (1) our KidsZone, (2) Our Community Showcase Stage, (3) Through cultural diversity in our Main Stage programming and (4) through Greening Initiatives
We recognized early on that this Festival needs to be for families and for people of all walks of life. As costs rise in our current economic climate, it is imperative that we provide an event that can be enjoyed by one and all for a minimal financial investment. The Friendship Festival has always been about FUN and making memories with your neighbours and neighbouring communities. We want the parklands of downtown Simcoe to come alive each Civic Holiday weekend and to sparkle and delight our visitors.
We want there to be something magical at every turn: to see a well-known story book character come to life wandering through the crowds, to watch as an illusionist breaks another Guinness World Record, to hear a wide range of music from all sorts of different cultures in every corner of all three parks. We want them to be able to lie on the grass in the dark and watch a family-friendly movie under the stars while munching on freshly-popped popcorn. We want our visitors to see art being made by real-life artisans and then to be able to try their hand at making art too, for when one experiences art of any kind, one truly knows the meaning of life.
To that end, we hope to be able to create some lasting, interactive art pieces/installations which showcase Norfolk County’s diverse cultural heritage and its agricultural role as Ontario’s Garden and have these placed throughout the parklands each year. We will hire some youth artisans to create these pieces and have the public interact with them over the weekend.
We are also wanting to hire even more children’s and family performers and to feature a wide range of musical styles from cultures found within our community on the Main Stage and the Community Showcase Stage.
And finally, we want to continue on with our greening initiatives that we started 4 years ago: to bring in more recyclable products, to offer a refillable water station, to create reusable Festival water bottles, to encourage all of our vendors to “Go Green” and to continue with our recycling program.
PRIDE Haldimand Norfolk- $5000
Our PRIDE DAY celebration is a chance for those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ – as well as their allies – to celebrate and support vendors and artists also from the community. We will enjoy musical entertainment from local talent, as well as listen to encouraging public speakers devoted to inclusivity and the equality of all Canadians as promised by the Constitution. PRIDE DAY will also feature a “Queer Artists and Allies Market” where supportive local businesses and artisans of all identities can showcase their work.
This year we will feature: a number of local musicians performing in the gazebo; a children’s area with crafts and activities for families to enjoy, operated by the Ontario Early Years Centre; an area promoting literacy and activities available through the Norfolk Public Library; special recognition of Ryder Mandryk for her successful “Rainbow Crosswalks in Norfolk” efforts and more.
Costs of running a Pride Day event include: hiring local 2SLGBTQIA+ talent, security and audio services, advertising and promotions, volunteers’ t-shirts and food, tents and porta-potties, and other expenses detailed in the Project Budget.
In terms of human resources, we require the following roles to be taken on by our volunteer board members: Logistics Coordinator, Vendor Coordinator, Programming Coordinator, Sponsorship Coordinator, Marketing and Branding Coordinator. Each board member takes charge of their role, from planning to execution, allowing the event to run smoothly.
With a six-year history, the Pride HN Board is able to share resources created over time, including planning documents and advice for a successful, joyful Pride Day celebration.
With the objective of providing a safe and inclusive space to celebrate Pride, we feel we have the required expertise on how to host this important community event. We are seeking funding from Norfolk County to ensure our first year holding the event here in Norfolk is successful, well advertised and properly supported.
Front Door Ministry – St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church – $2300
The Front Door Ministry was developed to help the less fortunate of Simcoe and Norfolk County who come to the church looking for food, water, and any resources available to them. The objective of the project is to help needy neighbors looking for help from our church. Since St. Paul’s is part of the downtown area of Simcoe, we see the needs of homeless, addicted, and impoverished individuals in our community.
Since we are a giving organization, people turn to us in times of need, as evidenced by the number of individuals who ring our doorbell looking for help. We meet our objectives by distributing 20 to 30 food bags of non-perishable food items and 10, $25 Food Basics grocery store gift cards each week. We also hand out donations of personal hygiene products, tents, sleeping bags, blankets, coats, socks, mitts, hats, and scarves, as available.
We host a coffee hour every Thursday from 8:30 to 9:30 am at the church where we serve coffee, tea, and other beverages, as well as fresh food items like fruit, yogurt, cheese, and other treats. During the coffee hour, we distribute the $25 grocery food cards. We track the distribution of food cards and lunch bags. We attempt to give one food card to each individual per month. We offer welcome, friendship, support, and community to those on need. To meet our objectives, we need donations of money or grocery food cards, funds to purchase
fresh foods, and funds and donations of non-perishable food items, as well as donations of tents, blankets, clothing items and personal hygiene products.
Written by Matt LeBlanc