2024 Annual Grant Recipients
Haldimand Norfolk
Shelter Movers Southwestern Ontario
Project: Safe Tomorrows
Pillar: Housing
Grant Amount: $20,000
Shelter Movers is a volunteer-powered charitable organization dedicated to providing free moving and storage services to individuals and families fleeing abuse, helping them transition to a better, safer life. This grant will enable the organization to meet the increased demand for its services in Haldimand and Norfolk counties at no cost to clients. They typically move a survivor multiple times (into shelter, into transitional housing, and into a final home) if necessary until they find proper housing. By not having to worry about moving and storage costs, their clients are in a better position to pay rent.
Huron Perth
Organization: Eat Local Huron
Project: New In-Person Store
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $ 10,420
Eat Local Huron is expanding its operations by opening a store in downtown Goderich. This project aims to showcase the fantastic farmers and food producers in the county through information displays, takeaways, pop-up experiences, and, of course, great local food for sale from across the county. Additionally, they will have a donation station to ensure that food-insecure individuals have access to healthy local food as well.
Organization: Facile Perth
Project: Building Bright Futures in Perth-Huron
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $ 19,580
Building Bright Futures is an initiative supporting young people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), aged 14-21, transitioning from the Ontario education system. This grant will fund a pilot program for 10-15 youth with significant disabilities to gain work experience and mentorship focused on their employment goals. The program promotes career development through community mentorship, an employer network, and youth-led learning. Participants will receive support from a facilitator, connect with local businesses, and share recommendations for achieving long-term employment success.
Organization: Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health
Project: Skilled Healthcare Attraction Retention Program (SHARP) – Simulation Lab
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $20,000
The program aims to revolutionize healthcare education and workforce development in Huron and surrounding communities by establishing a state-of-the-art simulation lab in Goderich, Ontario. This lab will replicate real-world medical settings, equipped with advanced medical equipment, true-to-life mannequins, and assistive devices, allowing students to practice essential skills safely. In collaboration with Georgian College, the initiative enhances training for healthcare students and professionals. It seeks to reduce entry barriers for rural individuals and address Ontario’s critical shortage of healthcare workers, ultimately strengthening the local healthcare workforce.
Organization: The Governing council of The Salvation Army in Canada
Project: Barrier Free Garden Addition
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $ 10,000
This project will build upon the existing “Harvest of Hope Educational Garden” to include barrier-free and accessible garden beds and paths. This initiative will ensure inclusivity for individuals with mobility limitations and enhance the current infrastructure, creating accessible spaces for those with limited mobility. We also aim to promote inclusivity by accommodating individuals with physical limitations. The garden serves as an educational tool and community hub for learning about nutrition, gardening, and sustainability.
Lambton Kent Middlesex
Organization: Noelle’s Gift to Children
Project: Student Nutrition Program
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $ 20,000
The Student Nutrition Program (SNP) provides food to 47 schools serving 10,200 students in Lambton County. The SNP receives seed funding for approximately 15% of the cost of a healthy snack per child, and additional funds are needed to supplement this. Funding from this grant will be directed toward enhancing and delivering Student Nutrition program needs in Lambton County during the 2024-25 school year. Funds will be specifically allocated for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables, with a priority focus on twelve Ministry-identified schools based on material deprivation.
Organization: Sarnia-Lambton Rebound
Project: The Hub
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $ 7,000
The Hub is an integrative youth drop-in service that supports youth aged 12-24. It welcomes youth Monday to Friday from 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Each night, a nutritious hot meal is prepared, either by The Hub team or by the youth themselves, and served family-style, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who enter the space. Youth have access to amenities such as an emergency food bank, laundry and shower facilities, clothing, and hygiene supplies, along with a caring Hub team member to check in with. Funding from this grant will support food access for youth facing food insecurity.
Organization: Technical Training Group
Project: Introductory Welding Course (MIG and STICK) for Youth Employment
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $ 14,000
This program aims to provide a quick path to employment in the manufacturing sector for youth aged 17-29. TTG plans to expose 10 youth without a chosen career path to hands-on training in welding, potentially sparking interest in the trades. Participants will complete a 40-hour course covering safety, theory, and MIG and STICK welding techniques in a state-of-the-art facility. The program targets individuals who may not have finished high school or have not identified a career path, including those facing financial barriers. Ultimately, it seeks to address labor market needs and support positive employment outcomes for youth.
Organization: Women’s Rural Resource Centre
Project: Financial Empowerment for Women
Pillar: Financial Resilience
Grant Amount: $ 9,000
The goal of this project is to empower women by equipping them with essential financial knowledge and skills that foster independence. The workshops will cover key topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management, while encouraging participants to reflect on their personal relationships with money. Attendees will engage in goal-setting exercises, learn practical budgeting techniques, explore effective saving and investing strategies, and create personalized action plans for achieving financial health.
London Elgin Oxford
Organization: Forests Ontario/ Forest Recovery Canada
Project: Growing Edible Community Forests
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $ 10,000
Forests Ontario (FO) is collaborating with the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN) on this unique project to address access to local food within their community. Growing Edible Community Forests will see 500 edible fruit trees and shrubs distributed to community members for planting in their home gardens. Each plant will come with a planting guide detailing where and how to plant the tree or shrub, as well as an aftercare package that includes information on maintaining the edible plants. This small-scale urban agriculture initiative aligns with food justice principles by addressing inequities in food access, empowering community members to participate in their local food system and promoting food accessibility.
Organization: Harvest Outreach o/a Harvest Hands
Project: Used refrigerated 24-foot truck
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $ 10,000
Harvest Hands rescues food from across southwestern Ontario and brings it to their distribution center in Saint Thomas, where it is sorted, divided, and packaged into manageable sizes for consumption. They provide this food at no charge to over 250 agencies in the region, including food banks, shelters, soup kitchens, and community organizations serving those in need. This grant will help purchase a refrigerated truck, enhancing their transportation capacity and enabling Harvest Hands to increase the volume of rescued food delivered to individuals and families in need.
Organization: Ignite Youth Centre – operated by Elgin St. Thomas Youth Employment Counselling Centre
Project: Ignite Youth Centre Food Programming
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $ 12,000
This project at Ignite Centre will provide nutritional education, reduce food insecurity, and connect youth with a strong community of peers. This grant will enable the Centre to utilize its newly renovated kitchen to host weekly food programming (cooking classes, nutritional snacks, and holiday meals) for local youth, many of whom are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing food insecurity. This project will run from November 2024 to July 2025 and will be supported by existing Centre staff members, who hold diplomas in Child and Youth Care.
Organization: Inn Out of The Cold St. Thomas Elgin
Project: Empowerment Through Support: Comprehensive Assistance for Stability
Pillar: Housing
Grant Amount: $ 15,000
This initiative aims to provide vital services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the St. Thomas Elgin area by addressing critical needs in three key areas: ID replacement, which is a crucial step in helping clients reclaim their identity and access essential services; assistance with income support, ensuring clients have a stable income fundamental to their journey toward housing and self-sufficiency; and healthcare and mental health support, which addresses the immediate medical needs of clients and connects those interested in treatment to community partners.
Organization: Rotary Club of London South
Project: Community Fridge London
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $ 3,000
This is London’s first and only community fridge, housed on the property of St. John the Divine Church, serving the Berkshire and area community. The fridge allows consumers to donate extra perishable and non-perishable food for anyone in need. Twice a week, food is picked up in St. Thomas at Harvest Hands, a food rescue warehouse, and divided into daily amounts that are stored in a fridge or freezer and restocked each day of the week. Food is available to individuals in need in the southwest part of London 24/7, 365 days a year.
Organization: Single Women in Motherhood Training Program
Project: Life Coaching Program
Pillar: Financial Resilience
Grant Amount: $ 5,000
This program empowers single mothers in London, Ontario, by promoting financial resilience and self-reliance. Recognizing their unique challenges, it provides essential life skills and support through structured workshops and one-on-one coaching. Participants learn to manage stress, set achievable goals, and develop strategies for financial management and career advancement. These skills enhance emotional well-being and equip mothers to navigate life’s challenges more effectively, fostering greater independence and stability for themselves and their families.
Organization: Society of St. Vincent de Paul London Particular Council
Project: Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Affordable Housing Project
Pillar: Housing
Grant Amount: $ 5,000
This grant will contribute to a housing project that aims to build a 73-unit apartment complex in London, including 57 one-bedroom units and 16 two-bedroom units, with 17 of the units being accessible. One hundred percent of the units will be affordable.
Waterloo Region
Organization: Marillac Place
Project: Transition to Independence Program
Pillar: Housing
Grant Amount: $19,894
The Transition to Independence Program provides specialized housing planning support for mothers experiencing homelessness. It empowers women by enhancing their financial knowledge and resilience, enabling families to achieve long-term stable housing. By leveraging partnerships and working with landlords to create better tenant agreements and ensure consistent rent payments, the program aims to secure safe and sustainable long-term housing for clients.
Organization: Sexual Assault Support Centre WR
Project: Housing Stability for Victims of Human Trafficking
Pillar: Housing
Grant Amount: $10,106
The Housing Stability Project for Victims of Human Trafficking is a crucial part of the Anti-Human Trafficking Program. This initiative provides comprehensive, wrap-around support to trafficking victims at risk of or experiencing homelessness, addressing their urgent need for stable and safe housing. By offering a critical foundation for healing and rebuilding their lives, the project aids in recovery and reintegration into society, ultimately preventing re-victimization. The program approach combines immediate shelter solutions with long-term, sustainable housing stability and support services, ensuring victims receive the assistance they need to thrive.
Organization: Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR)
Project: Transitional Housing: Empowered Living for Women and Children
Pillar: Housing
Grant Amount: $20,000
This project will assist women and children through transitional housing, supporting families as they move out of emergency shelters and toward independence. It offers a tailored approach, prioritizing housing for the most vulnerable by guiding them on their path to a fresh start. Clients can access transitional housing for up to one year while they work on securing more permanent housing. The facility is conveniently located near schools, public transit, and other essential amenities, making it a great fit for families. On-site staff offices ensure support workers are available to assist clients as needed, and a shared community room facilitates life skills groups and other programming for residents.
Windsor Essex
Organization: Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex
Project: Libro CU and Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex Financial Education Collaboration
Pillar: Housing
Grant Amount: $11,168
This project will be a key part of a larger 300-home mixed-income development in Leamington, where 30% of the homes will be deeply affordable. Twenty-two homes will be constructed through the Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex build program, and the broader development will feature a mix of affordable, rental, and market-rate housing, fostering a diverse and resilient community. In collaboration with Libro Credit Union, financial literacy sessions will be offered, allowing participants to learn about budgeting, saving strategies, and financial readiness, thereby empowering them to make informed decisions about homeownership.
Organization: Invest Windsor Essex (IWE)
Project: New Start Ventures: Newcomer Entrepreneurship Program
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $20,000
This program provides business support for newcomer-led startups in Windsor-Essex, equipping participants with essential knowledge, skills, and confidence to successfully launch and operate a business in Canada. Tailored for the Canadian market and the Windsor-Essex business community, it offers step-by-step guidance on entrepreneurship. The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre will host up to 10 seminars to inform newcomers about starting a business and attract participants for a week-long training program. These seminars will be delivered directly to SBEC clients and the wider community through local partners offering newcomer and settlement services.
Organization: Opportunities United, Community Initiative
Project: Executive Mentorship Program (EMP)
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $20,000
This program is designed to provide graduates of the On Track to Success program, who are currently enrolled in a post-secondary program, with meaningful and gainful mentorship opportunities in organizations aligned with their career interests. It is dedicated to facilitating invaluable learning, networking, and career-building experiences that youth would otherwise not have access to. The EMP specifically supports youth from low-income households and racialized communities, aiming to better prepare them for sustainable and fulfilling employment. By connecting youth with experienced professionals and influential organizations, this program helps bridge the gap between academic achievement and professional success.
Organization: Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Windsor Essex Central Council
Project: W.E. “Cool” Project (Windsor Essex)
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $18,832
This grant will contribute to the purchase of commercial-grade refrigeration and freezers at four locations. The addition of this equipment will allow the organization to expand its offerings to families in need, providing items such as bread, milk, eggs, and meat, thereby improving the nutritional needs of individuals and families.