“We’ve had great success in the past with our program,” said store manager Sean Toldy. “We’ve been collecting donations on and off for almost two years now, and every few months we do giveaways for our customers. This month, it’s free garlic bread.”

When the campaign ends, the donations will be converted into frozen meals, which are then collected and stored at Salvation Army South Muskoka Ministries (456 Manitoba Street, Bracebridge) for local families in need. The food bank is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“We’ve worked with Robin, who manages the Food Bank and Family Services, and we applaud her and her whole team for all the work they’ve done for the community,” Sean added. “We’ve been told that many families are struggling and those housed in motels are in desperate need for microwaveable meals.”

Alongside the program, the store is highlighting its 2 lb lasagna, where the regular price is now frozen at $9.99. A classic combination to go along with your garlic bread.

For those who might not know, M&M Food Market offers a variety of frozen meals, meats, seafood, appetizers, and desserts, all made without artificial flavours or colours, with gluten-free and vegetarian options available as well.

“It’s more than just a business,” Sean said. “It’s about making sure every family has something to put on the table, and supporting our community.”

The Bracebridge location, at 295 Wellington Street North, Unit 11, is known for its welcoming customer service and have proudly been operating as a family business for five years. The Toldy family — David, Donna, and Sean — have also been in Muskoka for over 30 years.

“We are blessed to have this community,” Sean said. “We appreciate all our wonderful customers, many of whom have become our close friends over the years. We can’t thank you all enough for your support.”

Don’t miss out on your chance to donate to your local food bank and go home with a great meal of your own.

The post Local Store Gives Free Garlic Bread For Any Food Bank Donation appeared first on Muskoka411.

Guided by Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat”, The Table has served Huntsville for almost two decades since their first Soup Kitchen meal was offered in 2006. In 2024, they served 8.6% of Huntsville’s population of 21,147 at their Food Bank, which accounted for 74% of their guests. The remaining 26% of guests came from 38 surrounding communities. Rising rates of homelessness, food insecurity, mental health, and addictions, coupled with the lack of a warming and cooling centre, demand bold action.

The Table Plaza presents a unique opportunity to create a meaningful gathering place. It aims to address specific needs with innovative services, such as pet kennels to keep individuals who are homeless and their pets together. It seeks to provide centralized access to essential services and foster a welcoming space for everyone—guests, volunteers, and donors alike—helping to revitalize Huntsville’s downtown core.

The Table’s Founder and Executive Director, Heather Cassie, explains, “While moving forward with these necessary services in our community, The Table Plaza movement is embracing obedience to a Vision Plan given by God over a year ago and has been supported by TTSKF’s Board of Directors. TTSKF President Brian Rasmussen has been instrumental in assisting me in pursuing this plan, and we have seen the Lord do amazing things to bring us to this point! We are excited to see revival as we bring the Church and our community together in service in the name of Jesus Christ. We extend our gratitude for the remarkable support and collaborations with Rob Dyet, Sobeys Inc., our landlords, Sarjit Uppal and his business partners, Duncan Ross Architect, as well as the backing from our Table Family. This is an incredible calling from God that we have been blessed to be given and are putting into action.”

In the coming months, leasehold improvements will be carried out under the supervision of Randy Blain Construction, serving as Project Manager. Anyone interested, including construction firms, building supply stores, and skilled individuals and professionals, is encouraged to reach out to Randy Blain at 705-788-1054 or by email at randy@randyblainconstruction.com if you wish to contribute to this remarkable community initiative.

Financial donations to The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation can be made on their website at thetablefoundation.ca or by contacting the Foundation directly at 705-783-5827. Your generous support will help them make The Table Plaza a reality, addressing the needs of many in the community.

There will be an increased need for volunteers as they move forward. Members of the community can learn more on their website and complete their Volunteer Application to assist them as they work diligently to bring this exciting plan to fruition.

While some services will commence this fall, other ministries are scheduled to be introduced gradually as the project develops. To learn more, please visit their website at thetablefoundation.ca, connect with them on their social media platforms, or visit them at 9 Hanes St. All are welcome!

The post A Transformative Place For The Entire Community – Former Freshco Site Is Now Home To The Table Plaza. appeared first on Muskoka411.

Clara’s artwork will be proudly featured on all marketing materials for the upcoming 2024/25 school year. The Food4Kids Muskoka Kids Summer Design Challenge invited local children to submit designs inspired by the charity’s mission to provide healthy food to children in need. Clara’s design stood out for its creativity and meaningful representation of our values, and it will now be the face of our outreach efforts for the next year.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the unveiling of this winning design, especially because it captures the spirit of what we do, and we couldn’t be more proud to share it with the community,” said Kristie Shaver, marketing and communications manager at Food4Kids Muskoka.

The winning design will be showcased on Food4Kids Muskoka’s social media channels, so their team encourages everyone to visit, celebrate and share Clara’s fantastic achievement.

The post Food4Kids Muskoka Announces Winner Of Kids Summer Design Challenge appeared first on Muskoka411.

This year’s Toy Drive, organized by the Township’s Communication & Sustainability Officer and volunteers from the community, who seeks to collect new, unwrapped toys to brighten the holiday season for children of all ages. The campaign encourages residents, local businesses, and community organizations to come together and make a positive impact on the lives of those less fortunate.

Key Details:

Drop-off Locations: Please deliver your unwrapped toy during regular business hours to the Municipal Administration Office located at 99 Lone Pine Road, Port Severn or one of the three local community libraries in Honey Harbour, MacTier, or Port Severn.

Dates: The Toy Drive officially kicks off on Monday, November 20, 2023 and will run until Friday, December 8, 2023. Early donations are highly encouraged to ensure ample time for sorting and distribution before the holiday season.

Accepted Items: The Toy Drive welcomes new, unwrapped toys suitable for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers. Consider donating a diverse range of toys, including dolls, board games, sports equipment, and educational toys.

Community Involvement: The success of the Toy Drive relies on the participation and generosity of the entire community. Individuals, businesses, and organizations are invited to join forces to make this holiday season memorable for every child in the Township of Georgian Bay.

Mayor Koetsier states, “The Township of Georgian Bay is committed to building a strong and caring community. The Municipal Toy Drive is just one of the many initiatives aimed at fostering a sense of unity and support among residents.”

How to Get Involved:

Donate Toys: Drop off new, unwrapped toys at any designated collection point.

Financial Contributions: Financial contributions can be mailed or dropped off to the Municipal Administration Office located at 99 Lone Pine Road, Port Severn. Please indicate that it is a donation for the Food Bank Toy Drive.

Spread the Word: Share information about the Toy Drive on social media platforms using the hashtag #GBToyDrive and encourage others to participate.

For more information about the Municipal Toy Drive, contact Trisha Walton at twalton@gbtownship.ca or 705-528-2437.

Together, You Can Make the Holidays Bright for Every Child in the Township of Georgian Bay!

Donations can be made to each food bank all year long.

Port Severn / Honey Harbour Foodbank

Trisha Walton, Communications and Sustainability Officer

Email: twalton@gbtownship.ca

Phone: 705-528-2437

MacTier Foodbank

Donna Jordan

Email: Djordan5@sympatico.ca

Phone: 705-774-1756

Let’s Eat Away at Hunger Together.

The post Spread Holiday Cheer, Be An Elf this Year appeared first on Muskoka411.

Ashley Hrinkanic, operator of the Gravenhurst Tim Hortons locations, said the holiday campaign is expanding after being tested in smaller markets. The cookies with red and green sprinkles baked in come with white chocolate chunks and a smile for $1.50 plus tax. Half of the proceeds go toward Tims Camps and the other half goes toward a partnership chosen by store owners, so it allows Hrinkanic and her team to partner with a community organization right before the holidays.

“We have so much fun during our regular Smile Cookie program, so when we had announced to our team there’s a second one coming, of course, all the smiles started,” she said. “There’s lots of ideas going around on who to reach out to and making sure that we’ve got the staff on hand and the quantities that we need, so everyone’s excited.”

Tim Hortons Foundation Camps give store owners the chance to send kids from low-income families to seven camps across Canada and the US. The organization also offers leadership and outreach opportunities for young people in schools and online.

“We have our donation boxes set up at all of our locations and, of course, we have Camp Day every year that we participate in,” she said. “This is just another opportunity to be able to help the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation as well as a partnership within our community.”

The Tim Hortons team enjoyed working with the Salvation Army Food Bank for the regular Smile Cookie campaign in 2020, so it was an easy choice for the holiday fundraiser. The $8,000 they raised went directly to buying food for their shelves, so it made a major difference during the increased need caused by COVID. 

“Gearing up for the holiday season, we understand that food banks around the province are experiencing low volumes and are really looking for any assistance within the communities, so it was a no-brainer for us to partner with them,” Hrinkanic said.

Emily Gribbin, community outreach coordinator at the Gravenhurst Salvation Army, said she has high hopes for the holiday fundraiser. It’s a busy time at the food bank, to say the least, so they were thrilled to hear the news of the campaign.

“We were honestly ecstatic,” Gribbin said. “We were just so happy to be chosen, and we want to make sure we can help make the campaign as successful as possible because the hunger situation is a very real issue here.”

When Gribbin started in her role eight months ago, she was serving an average of about 80 families a month. Now, she’s up to 110 families a month, and at Christmas, they expect the need to nearly triple.

Buying a Smile Cookie means providing a financial contribution that allows the team at the food bank to buy exactly what they need for their clients.

“We have a lot of hungry people and we just need to feed them, essentially, so everything is much appreciated,” she said. “The financial donations definitely help because we can buy perishable food items that people aren’t going to donate… like milk and bread.”

While buying a cookie for $1.50 may not seem like much, each one helps tremendously, Gribbin said. Some local families can’t afford groceries, much less cookies or Christmas gifts, so it can be a particularly hard time of year for people. 

“We have clients that are homeless and they’re cold, and we provide support for them in that way as well, not even just the food bank,” Gribbin said. “We also provide support for people that need warm clothes and stuff like that, so anything helps, especially in the colder season.”

To support the Gravenhurst Salvation Army Food Bank and Tims Camps through the Holiday Smile Cookie campaign, visit the Gravenhurst Tim Hortons locations at 150 Talisman Drive and 2329 Highway 11 South from Nov. 13 to 19. 

The post Holiday Smile Cookies Come To Gravenhurst November 13 To 19 appeared first on Muskoka411.

The holidays are a time of joyful giving; however, for some families, they are more concerned with having enough money for weekly groceries, let alone the gift their child has asked for. It’s important that we come together as a community to support local food programs so that together we can provide some relief for food insecure families in [location] this holiday season.

To help alleviate the strain, Terry’s Your Independent Grocer will be supporting the Gravenhurst Food Bank to help with the increased demand around the holiday season. From December 2 – 24, donate to the food bank while you shop at Terry’s Your Independent Grocer.

There are two ways community members can support their local food bank; you can donate funds or food. While food donations are always welcome, food banks also need cash donations in order to keep things running with critical infrastructure and to fill in the gap when supply is low. Some food donations Food Banks are always looking for include:

• Grains: cereal, rice, pasta, oats, granola bars,
• Proteins: canned fish, beans, peanut butter
• Fruit and vegetables: canned fruits and vegetables,
• Special diet foods: low sugar, gluten free, dairy free, halal, kosher, vegan, vegetarian
• Pantry staples: soup, pasta, vegetable oil
• Household and hygiene: toilet paper, cleaning products, toothpaste, deodorant, sanitary products

Next time you visit your local grocery store, think about giving the gift of food and pick up some extra items to add to the donation bins at the front of our stores. You can also donate money at the cash register at your local Your Independent Grocer.

The post Terry’s Your Independent Grocer Supporting Local Food Bank And You Can Too appeared first on Muskoka411.

“It’s a tough time for many and those hardest hit include families with children. We’re seeing more and more families asking for our assistance for the first time. With the threat of a recession, we anticipate this number will continue to grow,” says Lt-Colonel John Murray, territorial secretary for communications for The Salvation Army. “Now more than ever before, we are here for people who need us.”

Last year, the organization saw a national increase of 500,000 people who looked to The Salvation Army for assistance.

The overwhelming need underpins the organization’s annual Kettle Campaign fundraiser. This year’s campaign, entitled, Her Only Meal, focuses on providing support to hungry children and families during the Christmas season and hopes to raise $22 million. Thanks to an anonymous donor, the campaign includes a matching gift up to $100,000. Donors can double their impact and provide twice as much food and hope. Donations to the campaign will support programming that provides food, clothing, gifts for children and other necessities.

Contributions to the Kettle Campaign allow The Salvation Army to provide practical assistance for all who need it, throughout the year. This includes meals, food banks, children’s breakfast programs, housing supports, substance-use recovery, and care for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Every donation to any of the 2,000 kettle locations across the country remains in the community in which it was given, to support local needs. Most units across Canada offer a safe and simple tap-and-go payment option to donate.

Each year, The Salvation Army relies on the support of thousands of kettle workers who give their time and energy to collect donations at kettle locations across the country. Furthermore, the campaign would not be possible without the support of numerous corporate partners, including Walmart Canada, BellMedia, Loblaw Companies Limited, Costco, BC Liquor Stores, LCBO (in Ontario), Canadian Tire, Cadillac Fairview, Oxford Properties, Ivanhoé Cambridge, Morguard, Metro, Safeway, Save-on-Foods, Sobeys, Bass Pro Shops, The Salvation Army National Recycling Operations (thrift stores) and many more.

Donations to the 2022 Christmas Kettle Campaign can also be made at SalvationArmy.ca, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769) and via mail to The Salvation Army, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON M4H 1P4.

The post Salvation Army Sees Significant Increase In The Number Of Children Needing Food Bank Support appeared first on Muskoka411.

MLBC President Jeff Shurie stated, “We have a lot of fun at our club, and everyone enjoys an opportunity to give back to this great community.  Our members were very generous with their food donations for the Manna Food Bank.”

“The thoughtful and generous donation of the Muskoka Lawn Bowling Club as a result of the ‘Christmas in July’ event is greatly appreciated”, stated Sam Robinson, President of the Manna Food Bank.   “Manna is funded entirely through donations, financial and food, therefore gestures such as this allow us to continue to provide for our Client Families, which are numbering about 500 at this time.  This year the number of Client Families who rely on the food bank have remained unusually high during the spring and summer months when a limited decline is the norm.  The support of Manna Food Bank allows our dedicated volunteers to continue to provide a hand-up for those in our community facing food insecurity challenges.”

The club held their first “Christmas in July” event in 2019.  The members had so much fun decorating the club, dressing in red and green, and collecting toy donations, that they decided to make it an annual event.  After a forced two-year hiatus, MLBC was thrilled to be able to once again hold this great charity event this year.

A Christmas themed luncheon was held after the bowling at member Terri Follis’ home, where tongue-in-cheek prizes were awarded for some of the most creative and fun outfits.

The lawn bowling club, located on the grounds of the Muskoka Highlands Golf Course, holds various member events, leagues, community events, and tournaments throughout the May to October season.  For more information, visit www.muskokabowls.ca, call 705-645-9767, or email office@muskokabowls.ca.

The post Christmas In July At Muskoka Lawn Bowling Club Benefits Manna Food Bank appeared first on Muskoka411.

In the spirit of the event, the money normally allocated to hosting this year’s event is being donated to the Manna Food Bank, whom the Town has supported via the levee for years with requests for food from attendees.

Mayor Smith is requesting that in lieu of this year’s event, people consider making a donation to the food bank.

“I am disappointed that we have to cancel this years’ event, but my hope is that the community will support the Manna Food Bank with a donation. In years past we have always encouraged Levee attendees to bring a donation for them and that part should continue. I wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best in 2022 as we look forward to better times,” said Mayor Graydon Smith.

The post Mayor’s Levee Event Cancelled; Funds Donated To Manna Food Bank appeared first on Muskoka411.

Students from JK-8 bring in donations for three weeks leading up to the big donation day. While under strict COVID-19 protocols, the human chain returned on Dec. 10. Students remained in their cohorts all while masked bringing the collected donations down to 250 Clark, which houses the food bank.

More than 250 students formed the human chain, and the annual passing of donations from one person to the next began until the items ended in the hands of a food bank volunteer to place in a box to be brought inside the food bank.

Grade 8 student Jane Piper who has been a part of this event for 10 years, noted she has always had a strong desire to give back to those in the community.

“Giving back has always been something that I’ve wanted to do,” she said. “Ensuring that everybody has something is important to me. If I just have a house and food, that’s all I need, so I could donate a lot of stuff to people or if somebody needs help with something, I can do that.”

Piper noted you don’t need to donate a large sum of money to make a big impact.

As the chain of students passed each non-perishable donation up to volunteers at the food bank, Diane Cole, assistant coordinator for the Powassan and District Food Bank was moved by the act of giving.

“This shows what a giving community we live in and our children are taught early on what it is to help the community. I think acts like this show why we have such giving adults and children,” she said.

Principal of Mapleridge Public School, Alison Clarke, said it’s important to teach students from an early age what it means to be a part of a community.

“We’re teaching children about the importance of giving and the human chain is a nice hands-on idea. For some, it can be an abstract concept, if they know they’re just bringing food into the school, but then they don’t really know what’s happening after that,” she said. “Some students, we hear them say, ‘we’re going to have a big feast?’ and so it allows for a learning opportunity to say no, it’s going to the food bank for community members to access.”

Clarke noted this allows for a conversation about sharing with those who may not have as much.

Grade 8 student Vienna Driscoll explained that any donation, no matter how big or small is important. “Even if it’s just a small donation, it’s still helping someone. It’s not difficult to give and help other people.”

This campaign comes full circle. Before becoming the Powassan and District Food Bank, 250 Clark was the Powassan Junior Public School, the school where the Jingle All the Way campaign began. Following the merger of the two Powassan schools, the annual tradition continued at Mapleridge Public School.

“When you do something for a number of years, sometimes they lose their momentum, or they get stale, or they lack the support, but this event is still going strong. I anticipate this will continue to go on for many, many more years, which is a testament to how important it is to our school and the larger community of Powassan,” exclaimed Clarke.

More than 700 items and $700 was collected during this year’s campaign, which Cole noted will keep the food bank going well into February.

“We really appreciate all the children doing this and I think it shows such great community support,” said Cole. “We’re bringing our children up properly to let them know that there are less fortunate people in the world and they need help and not to look down on them.”

As Piper reflected on her final Jingle All the Way event, she noted how great it has been to see the school community pull together all these years.

“I remember when I was younger, you’d always look forward to being with the big kids, too. You get to see everybody, do something outside of school, and do something for the community,” she noted. “It’s nice to have everybody all together as a school doing something nice for the community and working together.”

This event is just one of many events that Mapleridge Public School students participate in for the community.

“It’s something we can all do together as a school to give back to our community,” said Driscoll. “It feels good to help and contribute towards that.”

The post Mapleridge Public School Students Create Human Chain To Help Local Food Bank appeared first on Muskoka411.