A group of local women have come together to make a “huge difference” for The Sharing Place Food Centre.
The Orillia chapter of Ripple of Kindness has collected $25,000 — and counting — from its 175+ members to donate to the local food bank, which was selected in a member vote to be the beneficiary of this round of funding.
Dozens of local chapter members gathered at the Orillia Museum of Art and History Thursday evening for their biannual social event, where the donation was presented to Sharing Place officials.
Ripple of Kindness members contribute $200 each, twice per year, and nominate and vote on local charities to receive the raised funds.
Now in its fifth year, the Orillia chapter has donated more than $265,000 to 14 local organizations
“Ripple of Kindness is about caring for our community and working together to make a larger donation that many of us could not do as individuals, and for bringing like-minded women together,” said Amber McGarvey-Moreland, director of the Orillia chapter.
“It's a lot of money, but more importantly, these funds allow for vital community services to increase their programming, replace aging equipment, feed, shelter, care for and support people in our community, so thank you,” she said.
Chris Peacock, the executive director of the Dufferin Street food bank, said the Ripple of Kindness donation is an “impact-level” contribution to the food bank.
“Thank you so much for what you do and being able to support organizations like this,” he said. “(It’s) amazing, the statistics of what this group has done through not just, obviously, The Sharing Place, but the other organizations that you've supported. You make a huge difference.”
Supporting over 2,200 people per month through its food bank, thousands of local students through the School Fuel program, over 2,000 meals per week through its Meals for Change program, among other initiatives, Peacock said donations like these help ensure the continued operation of Sharing Place programs.
“Twenty-five thousand dollars: that's a holy smokes moment right there. That's a big deal, and that's the collective impact from everyone in this room and beyond,” he said.
Peacock said the funding will go directly to the Sharing Place’s core programs, and he also said the food bank partners with other area organizations, such as the Coldwater Food Bank, to grow its impact.
“We get help a lot from the city, large organizations down in Toronto, so we feel it's important for us to share that as well in the more rural regions,” he said.
“We partner with Coldwater Food Bank, and then also Rama at the Chippewas of Rama First Nation," said Peacock. “Partnering with other organizations that have existing capacity, and being able to work with them to support their organizations is huge, and it's a big part of what we are.”
