Organization: Community Food Share 
Project: Generator for Winchester Location
Website/Social Media: communityfoodshare.ca  |  @CommunityFoodShareDS
Amount Requested: $10,000

Description:

Community Food Share is a charity that helps fight hunger by distributing food from two food banks in Winchester and Morrisburg, as well as food cupboards in Finch and Crysler. We are seeking $10,000 towards the installation of a generator at our Winchester location, a project with a total cost of approximately $15,000. This will guarantee:

• Services are always accessible to those who need them;
• Healthy food items remain available; and
• Generous cash donations do not go to waste.

Our Winchester location is open for 2-hour periods, three times per week. During those hours, many of our neighbours from North Dundas visit to ensure their families have healthy meals. Clients can select from fresh foods including vegetables, dairy products, and meat. While many of these items are donated, most are purchased for approximately $80,000 per year, using cash donations from the community.

During a recent risk evaluation, it was identified that an unexpected power outage in Winchester would be devastating to that Community Food Share location. First, we would be unable to safely serve clients in need, especially those with transportation restrictions. Also, the healthy foods kept fresh in six refrigeration and freezer units — up to $9000 worth of food — would be completely lost.

A generator in the building will eliminate this risk. We would be able to serve the individuals and families who depend on Community Food Share for nutritious meals, and prevent us from asking donors for additional funds to replenish lost foods.

Organization: Dundas County Hospice
Project: Grief & Bereavement Program
Website/Social Media: dundascountyhospice  |  @dundascountyhospice
Amount Requested: $10,000

Description:

We are requesting $10,000 for a pilot project for a period of one year to up-level our grief and bereavement program to better meet the needs of our communities. This will include professional grief counselling services, increase targeted support groups and one-on-one support by trained volunteers.

Our current grief and bereavement program is facilitated by an RN and 5 trained volunteers. It consists of providing resources, follow up calls, one-on-one support, a monthly drop-in group, 6 week closed group, annual Memorial Service and Surviving the Holidays workshop, guided Labyrinth walks, and bereavement themed book club.

Our clients greatly benefit from our services but they are limited by the expertise we have. We are able to do little to help those with more complex needs such as death by suicide, loss of parent of minor child, loss of child, multiple losses or (often unrecognized) losses such as loss of pet, loss of job, loss of the life once known because of illness or other reasons.

Limited services are available but are outside of our area (Cornwall, Kemptville, Ottawa). Some of these come with wait lists, fees and many of them are not accessible to those that need them for various reasons.

We need to expand the program to provide for complex clients; grow groups for specific losses i.e. spousal, sudden death, suicide; provide community education and additional training for our volunteers.

Organization: Boys & Girls Club
Project: Youth Tech Program at Dundas Clubhouse
Website/Social Media: bgccornwallsdg.com
Amount Requested: $5,000

Description:

In order to fulfill our mission of providing a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life, first, we need to attract youth to our Clubhouse. Our proposed Youth Tech Program will engage youth in our community in an innovative and fun environment. With the help of 100 Men Who Care, we will purchase a Smart TV and 5 new Laptop Computers for our Clubhouse in Winchester. Our current equipment was handed down to us many years ago and can no longer keep up.

The television will be used to show YouTube clips, play music, and host movie nights. A TV will be a valuable addition to our space as it will bring the feeling of a fun, safe place for youth to hang out. The computers will allow youth to complete homework, and a chance to explore technology, learn how to use it safely and responsibly. These platforms will also support youth who have difficulty reading and allows our Youth Workers to provide visual examples such as resume/cover letter writing.

This program will help increase their awareness of online safety and assist each youth in becoming safer and more responsible when using technology online, thereby preventing online cyber bullying and increasing youth’s knowledge on the online world and its benefits.

Organization: North Dundas District High School
Project: Outdoor Classroom
Website/Social Media: northdundas.ucdsb.on.ca  |  @NorthDundasDHS
Amount Requested: $3,000

Description:

The students at North Dundas DHS (and Intermediate School) are creating a space for an outdoor classroom on the school grounds. It will also be a space that students can utilize during recess and breaks. Presently, the outside area at the back of the school is not being utilized enough and we would like to change that. Considering we are not in town, students either leave the property in cars or stay in the halls/cafeteria during their lunch breaks. This future completed space would be a great place for students to enjoy fresh air and sunshine on their lunch breaks. It would also serve as an outdoor classroom for teachers 7-12 who wish to take the learning outside. Research has shown that outdoor classrooms have a positive effect on student learning and mental well-being.

We were very ecstatic to have received funding from the 100 Women Who Care ($5700) and we are applying to the Men’s program in order to secure all funding required to finish our project.

A cement pad will be created near the side/back of the school and will be surrounded by trees, benches and landscaping. We require a total of $3000 to help pay for the remaining amount on the cement pad as well as benches, and landscaping.

Organization: North Dundas Minor Hockey Association / Hockey Eastern Ontario / Hockey Canada 
Project: Custom Mobile Rink Divider
Website/Social Media: ndhockey.ca
Amount Requested: $9100

Description:

Historically, minor hockey has been played on a full-sized ice surface. Starting in the 2019/2020 season, all minor hockey associations across Canada are undergoing a transformation from full ice hockey to half ice hockey at the Novice level. This transformation is based on the principal that children should play on a playing surface appropriate to their size and skill. Imagine 7 year-olds playing basketball on an NBA regulation height net or playing baseball on a Major League sized ball field!

Although the half ice format has clearly demonstrated the benefits to the players’ development, it also comes with an increased financial burden and complexity to the minor hockey associations. With 2 games being played simultaneously, the need for a safe and stable barrier between the 2 halves of the ice is paramount. Currently NDMHA is only equipped with a bumper style barrier. This barrier is only about 2 feet high and is very unstable. Pucks frequently cross the barrier, players trip over it when battling for the puck and the puck often becomes jammed in it resulting in interruption of play.

Fortunately, there is a custom mobile rink divider system that can be purchased, but the high quality system comes with a steep price tag of $9100. With the help of the men in the community, NDMHA is hoping to secure the funds for the boards so that the kids can safely and seamlessly play Canada’s game.

Organization: WDMH Foundation
Project: Commodes
Website/Social Media: wdmhfoundation.ca  |  @wdmhfoundation
Amount Requested: $6,000

Description:

If you have been admitted to the hospital, you may have used a commode (portable toilet). They are used primarily in the Medical/Surgical and Complex Care Units, but also in Emergency and Obstetrics. Having access to a commode is important for patients who can get out of bed, but cannot walk far.

Our commodes are used often each day. They go through a rigorous cleaning process, all done by hand by our housekeeping staff. There is a gap between the seat and the bucket, so sometimes splashing gets through – meaning the floor also needs cleaning several times a day. And, they are starting to rust from all of the cleaning.

We need to purchase stainless steel commodes, which will not rust, and can go through a sterilization process, rather than being cleaned by hand. They also have a guard to ensure that everything stays within the commode – saving housekeeping time from cleaning the floor.

Although they are not at all glamorous – they are a necessary part of health care. WDMH needs to replace all of our commodes – 36 in total. Your gift of $6,000 to our General Equipment Fund would mean that these new commodes could be ordered within a few weeks. You can make a difference today.