Dozens of Local Organizations Benefit From Spring Grants

Hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of funding has been handed out, thanks to the Chatham-Kent Community Foundation and South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Over 40 local groups and agencies have been given support through the CKCF spring grants.

The Village Resource Centre in Wheatley has received $30,500 to buy equipment and supplies, pay honoraria for instructors and pay for subscriptions for online applications for life skills workshops.

A three-year, $21,900 grant has been given to the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of CK to set up Mobi Mats and amphibious wheelchair access at three beaches in Chatham-Kent.

Squash Ontario has been given $15,000 to set up two concrete squash courts and two pickleball courts in Dresden.

Full list of charitable organizations in Chatham-Kent funded through CKCF Spring grants in 2023:

The Village Resource Centre – $30,500 – To purchase equipment and supplies, pay honoraria for instructors and pay for subscriptions for online applications for life skills workshops in Wheatley. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Canadian Red Cross Society – $20,000 – To run the Let’s Go Home with Homeward Bound program. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Childrens Treatment Centre Foundation of C-K – $21,900 – To set up 3 locations in Chatham Kent to enable Adults and Children to have access to amphibious wheelchairs, with Mobi Mats to be able to get in the water. This is a multi-year grant, $7,300 per year for three years. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

YMCA of Southwestern Ontario – $20,000 – To make improvements to automatic pool equipment. Funding includes a contribution from the Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation.

Municipality of Chatham-Kent – $15,000 – To establish a Public Art Grant – grant total will be matched by municipal funds. This is a multi-year grant, $5,000 per year for three years.

Tilbury Solid Rock Café Youth Centre – $15,600 – To purchase supplies and cover programming and staff costs. Funding includes contributions from the South Kent Wind Community Fund and the Donald A Cottingham Fund.

Squash Ontario – $15,000 – To build two concrete squash courts and two pickle ball courts in Dresden. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Restorative Justice Chatham-Kent – $14,000 – To run the Positive Strides program in Chatham-Kent. Funding includes contributions from the South Kent Wind Community Fund and the Wayne & Sylvia Barnard Family Fund.

Four Counties Health Services Foundation – $12,000 – To purchase of one of nine electrocardiogram monitors for the emergency department. Funding includes contributions from the South Kent Wind Community Fund and the Garnet George Case Fund.

Rotary Club of Dresden Service Fund – $10,560 – To fund roof repairs for Rotary Club of Dresden’s community hub building. Funding includes a contribution from the Garnet George Case Fund.

Blenheim Youth Centre – $10,500 – To support Summer program supplies and materials, travel, field trips, and promotions. Funding includes contributions from the South Kent Wind Community Fund, the Wesley D. & Pat Thompson Fund and the JoLynn Deprez Athletic Fund.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation – $10,000 – To purchase an Operating Room Surgical Table with Bariatric Extensions. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

First Presbyterian Church – $10,000 – To purchase supplies for free breakfast food insecurity program. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

FreeHelpCK– $10,000 – To purchase supplies for 10 food pantries, and to build 4 more pantries. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent (Dollywood Foundation)– $10,000 – To mail approximately 5,000 additional children’s books to Chatham-Kent homes during the next 12 months – part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority – $10,000 – To purchase equipment and supplies and to fund building maintenance for conservation and heritage programming at C.M. Wilson Learning Centre. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

NeighbourLink Chatham-Kent – $10,000 – To send local children from needy families to the Kenesserie summer camp in the summer of 2023. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Reach Out Chatham Kent (ROCK) Missions – $10,000 – To establish a Drop-In Centre in Chatham – to purchase food, hygiene and First Aid supplies. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – St. Joseph – St. Ursula – $10,000 – To purchase food and supplies for a food insecurity outreach program. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Sydenham Field Naturalists – $10,000 – To fund two Miyawaki Forest projects in Chatham-Kent. Funding includes contributions from the South Kent Wind Community Fund, the Wonnacott Environmental Fund and the Environmental Legacy Fund.

New Beginnings ABI & Stroke Recovery Association – $8,500 – To purchase two foldable, motorized wheelchairs to support members. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Chatham Kent Animal Rescue – $8,000 – To fund a grant writing course for volunteers, dental work on four dogs, microchips, and the purchase of a storage unit. Funding includes a contribution from the Mary and Al Woods Animal Welfare Fund.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chatham-Kent – $7,500 – To purchase computer & office equipment. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

May Court Club of Chatham – $7,500 – To fund the Q E II P.S. daily Breakfast Program and the Emergency Lunchbox Program that provides nutritious snacks to 19 schools in C-K. Funding includes contributions from the South Kent Wind Community Fund, the Rosa G. Corsini Fund and the Lindsay and Cindy Boyd Fund.

Historical Society of Blenheim and District – $6,283 – To digitize over 130 years of indexes, newspapers, and images. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Campfire Circle– $6,000 – To restore overnight camp programs for oncology kids and families. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Friends of The Chatham Pipes & Drums – $5,500 – To purchase band equipment and uniforms.

Alzheimer Society of Chatham-Kent – $5,000 – For promotion and awareness purposes.

Blenheim and Community Senior Citizens Group – $5,000 – To purchase modernized Bridge equipment. Funding includes contributions from the South Kent Wind Community Fund and the Wesley D. & Pat Thompson Fund.

Christ Church – $5,000 – To upgrade church kitchen to meet safety codes and standards for an Outreach food insecurity program. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Knox Presbyterian Church Pantry – $5,000 – To purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, canned goods and other staples for Knox Food Pantry. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

No One Stands Alone – $5,000 – To produce and distribute 80,000 mental health resource booklets to youth in Chatham-Kent. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Ronald McDonald House – $5,000 – To purchase 1,000 Welcome Kits for C-K patients and families staying at Ronald McDonald House.

SWONT Conductive Education Trust Fund – $5,000 – To pay housing, transportation and wages for Conductor Teachers to come to Canada and to provide the program.

Tilbury Rotary Club – $5,000 – To fund leadership training, educational and recreational activities for the youth of Tilbury and area. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Trinity United Church – Wallaceburg – $5,000 – To purchase food and supplies for a food insecurity outreach program. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Chatham Kent Drug Awareness Council – $5,000 – To purchase promotional items, pay for advertising, design and printing of new brochures.

Chatham Kent & Lambton Children’s Water Festival- $3,000 – To fund tents, security, golf carts, first aid support, entertainers, support for volunteers, materials for activity stations, brochures, signage, and bussing. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.

Best Buddies Canada – $2,000 – To expand the Friendship Program in Chatham-Kent.

North Dresden Baptist Church – $1,726 – To expand the garden – 6 raised beds, making gardening accessible.

Meals on Wheels (Dresden) – $1,286 – To fund replacing, updating and acquiring new equipment and food preparation utensils. Funding includes a contribution from the South Kent Wind Community Fund.