The nomination window is open until Aug. 1. Twice a year, the group gives local charities a chance to win fundraising. Muskoka 100 People Who Care was built on the idea of 100+ people coming together to impact a charity through donations and promoting local awareness. Their next meeting is happening on Aug. 25 at the Windermere Golf and Country Club. The event will include a social hour and dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and the meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. Organizers ask attendees to support the venue before the meeting and bring $100 for their donation.

Please follow this link to nominate and register for the event, or email muskoka100pwc@gmail.com.

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The meeting was the third fundraising gathering for the group, which formed early last year. They meet twice annually to raise money for local charities, along with supporting the Muskoka Shoebox Project in between events. About 70 people came together at the Patterson Kaye Resort in Bracebridge on the 18th. Representatives from Muskoka Victim Services, YWCA Muskoka and MiND-AID Muskoka presented about their charities. Attendees voted for MiND-AID, a cost-free service that helps young people find mental health support, as the recipient for this round of funding.

“It definitely helps children and young adults, which is a big need right now,” said Marion Mochrie, one of four organizers for Muskoka 100 People Who Care. “They also have a van that goes around to different locations, and this hopefully will help this van to connect with more people.”

Mochrie and fellow organizers Aly Brown and Gillian Sifft presented the money to MiND-AID on June 26. Sometimes their donations feel like too little, Mochrie said, but it feels good knowing that the charities have more resources to work with than the day before. In 2024, the group donated $10,840 to Andy’s House hospice in Port Carling and $7,260 to Food4Kids Muskoka.

Mochrie said they hope to grow the event to 100 or more supporters. They use social media, email lists, and flyers at post offices, stores and libraries to spread the word about their efforts. As great as it is to hear from local charities during each round of fundraising, it also highlights the immense need in Muskoka.

“There’s a lot that could be done in the community to help all the charities,” she said. “There’s not just these three. There’s a lot of charities out there that are in need of help right now.”

The organizers are grateful to the people who come out and contribute, and they hope to someday expand their meeting schedule to four times a year. For now, they’re trying to capitalize on the seasonal and year-round residents by hosting two meetings in the summer.

Their next meeting will be on Aug. 25 at Windermere Golf and Country Club. About a month before the meeting, organizers will send out an email seeking charity nominations for the event. They’re also getting a head start on their contributions for the Muskoka Shoebox Project as they prepare for their next fundraising event.

The project puts together gift boxes for local women impacted by homelessness and poverty. Last year, Muskoka 100 People Who Care donated over 160 shoeboxes alongside a slew of individual products after hosting a Shoebox Raiser on Nov. 3. They started gathering empty shoeboxes at the June 18 meeting to kickstart progress for this year.

“We plan on doing another [Shoebox Raiser] late November, early December,” Mochrie said. “Last year, we had more product than we had shoeboxes, so we’d like to get that going earlier.”

Mariko Fletcher, program manager and navigator at MiND-AID Muskoka, said groups like Muskoka 100 People Who Care are immensely helpful to local charities. It can be hard for non-profits, especially small grassroots organizations, to find avenues of support. They don’t always know if they’ll get what they need to continue offering services, so efforts like this that provide donations on a regular basis have a huge impact.

“It can be hard, and we want to make sure that our youth are getting served and making sure that their wellness is taken care of,” Fletcher said. “It was just really great to be there with all the other nominations that were there, and to connect with them as well, because they also have great programs.”

The meeting was MiND-AID’s second time presenting with 100 People Who Care. Fletcher said they were surprised to be nominated again, and it was even more amazing to be chosen for the funding. It’s a weight off their staff’s shoulders to receive the donation.

MiND-AID aims to be the “first door” for people who need to access mental wellness services. Finding the right resources can be a challenge, especially if a person is struggling with their mental health, Fletcher said. The organization helps connect locals to therapy, social services, addiction support and more.

“We service anyone who’s under the age of 30 and their families, making sure that they get those right supports,” she said. “We just listen to every part of what’s going on in their life to better understand and to help direct them more in a streamlined approach, so that way you’re not bouncing around from place to place.”

The MiND-AID team is currently revamping their website, so they’ll have a schedule posted for their Mobile Hub in the near future. The hub, which is their On The Road To Youth Wellness van, travels around Muskoka to host free drop-in activities and programs. Whether there’s an official schedule or not, the staff is still delivering services in the community, so anyone in need of help is encouraged to reach out.

Locals who are interested in getting involved are also welcome to get in contact. Fletcher said MiND-AID is still working to grow their organization, so they’re open to volunteers and outside fundraising efforts. Whether it’s from their donation link on Canada Helps or through groups like 100 People Who Care, the money goes straight to helping Muskoka residents.

“Generally, when we have funds like that come through, it goes directly to client support,” Fletcher said. “Whether that be making sure we’re providing necessities as we’re out and about, or maybe it’s the therapy dollars, we do try to make sure that those pockets of money go directly to those who are going to be impacted.”

Going forward, Fletcher is excited to see what other charities are nominated for fundraising through Muskoka 100 People Who Care. It’s a great opportunity, not just for funding, but also to help the community better understand the supports and services available to them in Muskoka. She and her fellow team members are busy with their work at MiND-AID, but she hopes they’ll be able to participate in future meetings.

“I really do enjoy going and just connecting with our community,” she said. “It’s really good to support other non-profits in the area as well, so I hope I could attend one day and be able to support other non-profits that are doing such great work in our community.”

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The meeting will take place from 7 to 8 p.m., and organizers encourage attendees to come and support the local restaurant ahead of the meeting. They also ask participants to bring $100 in cash to put in an envelope upon arrival. Attendees will receive a voting ballot once the envelope with their details and donation is returned to the registration desk. Once the presentation is complete, supporters will vote for their chosen charity, ballots will be collected and counted, and the chosen charity will be announced.

The presenting charities for this event are Muskoka Victim Services, YWCA Muskoka and MiND-AID Muskoka. Each will get a maximum of five minutes to speak about their charity and how they would use these extra funds if awarded to their charity.

The group formed last year to fill the void left when 100 Women Who Care in Bracebridge ceased operating. They meet twice a year to raise money for local charities. Last year, they raised $10,840 for Andy’s House hospice in Port Carling and $7,260 for Food4Kids Muskoka.

Click here to RSVP for the meeting. For more information regarding Muskoka 100 People Who Care, visit the group’s website.

Muskoka 100 People Who Care Raises $7,260 For Food4Kids

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Owners Paul Stevenson and Tammy Jacklin opted to continue the campaign for local education, which was started by former operator Ashley Hrinkanic, after taking over in 2023. The two Gravenhurst locations raised money for Muskoka Beechgrove Public School before taking on another four years committed to schools. First came Gravenhurst Public School, then K.P. Manson, and now Glen Orchard Public School in Muskoka Lakes is getting its turn. Smile Cookies cost $1.50 each, with all proceeds in Gravenhurst going to the school’s technology and equipment fund.

“It’ll help all of our students from kindergarten all the way up to Grade 8, moving forward in the school year and next year, so any support is welcome,” said Grade 4 teacher Matt Cobean, who is acting as head of the Smile Cookie campaign at Glen Orchard.

Cobean said everyone at Glen Orchard is “over-the-moon excited” to be this year’s recipient for the campaign. The school recently received a donation to fund a new playground. Now, it can focus Smile Cookie funds on equipment and technology needs.

Once they see how much the Tim Hortons locations raise, the staff will sit down together to decide how to spend the money. They’re considering additional laptops, outdoor equipment for their new playground, and a projector to use in the gym for assemblies, parent council meetings and movie nights. But they won’t make any final decisions until they see the results.

“It’s such a great feeling to know that local businesses are putting money back into local schools,” he said. “It’s the perfect opportunity to give schools what they need, and it’s a wonderful thing that those owners are doing.”

Between staff and students, the school will have all hands on deck to decorate cookies as well as posters to promote the campaign. Cobean has been going around Gravenhurst distributing flyers to local businesses with the hope of garnering as much support as possible.

He knows teachers at Beechgrove and Gravenhurst Public School who have benefited from Smile Cookies in the past few years. After lending his support to their school campaigns, he’s asked them to do the same for Glen Orchard. The response has been as enthusiastic as he expected from the tight-knit community of Gravenhurst.

“It’s good to know that you can ask anyone at a different school within Gravenhurst and they’ll be ready to help, almost at a moment’s notice,” Cobean said. “It’s a great feeling.”

Gravenhurst Tim Hortons raised about $22,202 for Muskoka Beechgrove, $19,806 for Gravenhurst Public School and $18,494 for KP Manson. The totals and the impact they had on each of the schools were more than the Tim Hortons team could have imagined.

“It’s huge,” said Kristina Brownlee, general manager of the two Gravenhurst Tim Hortons locations. “We’ve raised way more than we expected for all the schools.”

It was special for them to see the success last year because several team members have children at KP Manson. This year, they’re hoping to match or surpass that total, which allowed the school to upgrade its outdoor learning space.

Each year, they do assemblies at the schools to announce the totals and present the cheques. Brownlee said it’s an awesome part of the process to witness the joy it brings students.

“The kids, holy, they could break your eardrums, they’re so excited,” she said.

She and her team are excited to start yet another campaign dedicated to the area’s children. They don’t have an early estimate of the sales since they haven’t received preorder forms from Glen Orchard quite yet, but they’re gearing up for another big win for Gravenhurst’s schools.

“Everybody loves it,” Brownlee said. “They all work harder just to get those Smile Cookies out because they know it’s going to benefit all the kids.”

To support Glen Orchard Public School through the Smile Cookie campaign, visit the Gravenhurst Tim Hortons locations at 150 Talisman Drive and 2329 Highway 11 South from April 28 to May 4.

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“Our holiday fundraising has already fallen by 50%, and donors need more time to give,” says Lieut.-Colonel John Murray, territorial secretary for communications.

Funds raised during this period help to provide shelter, food, emergency disaster relief, and other vital services. A dramatic shortfall in donations jeopardizes The Salvation Army’s ability to provide these essential programs and services in the 400 Canadian communities where they serve.

The Salvation Army is urgently calling on the Government of Canada to take immediate action and extend the period in which Canadians can claim 2024 charitable donations to the end of February 2025.

“We request that Canadians be given additional time to support their favourite causes and assist charities in recovering from donation shortfalls,” says Lieut.-Colonel Murray

It’s a difficult time for many Canadians. In a recent survey by The Salvation Army, more than half of people accessing food banks are requiring assistance for the first time and parents with children are eating less so their children or family members have a meal.

“Given that, last year, more than three million visits were made to The Salvation Army for assistance such as food security, shelter and emergency disaster relief, the disruption in mail services is a big worry,” says Lieut.-Colonel Murray. “People are forced into impossible choices, having to decide between paying for food or rent, Christmas dinner or medication. The need for Salvation Army services continues to grow, particularly during the holiday season when so many individuals and families depend on us for support.”

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The Gala will feature an incredible buffet breakfast, inspiring speakers, and a chance to connect with other passionate community members to make a difference in the local community. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a live auction with exciting prizes, all while helping raise critical funds for children in our community who experience food insecurity on weekends during the school year. The event runs from 7:30 to 10 a.m. on Nov. 12.

“We are so excited to celebrate the incredible impact we’ve made in our first year and look forward to building on that momentum,” said Kristie Shaver, marketing and communications manager at Food4Kids Muskoka. “With the generous support of our community, we are ensuring that more children will have access to healthy meals on weekends, giving them the fuel they need to succeed in school and beyond. This year’s event is especially meaningful as we reflect on our accomplishments and continue to scale our program to feed 400 kids across Muskoka.”

All funds raised will go directly to support Food4Kids Muskoka Weekends Without Hunger program, providing nutritious food packs to local children in need.

Join us for this inspiring event and help make a difference in the lives of children facing food insecurity!

Click here to buy a table at the Weekends Without Hunger Breakfast Gala.

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Formed earlier this year, the group meets twice annually to raise money, learn about three charities and vote on which one should receive the funds. They came together at Turtle Jacks in Port Carling on Aug. 28 for their second meeting of the year. Food4Kids Muskoka, the Muskoka Shoebox Project and MiND-AID Muskoka made presentations about their work, and attendees voted to make the donation to Food4Kids. Sarah Thatcher, founder and executive director at Food4Kids Muskoka, said her team is overjoyed to receive the donation.

“By highlighting charities in our region, they have helped us raise awareness and funds to support our ‘Weekends Without Hunger’ program,” Thatcher said. “With their help, we will be able to continue to scale to feed 400 kids across Muskoka this school year in order to ensure that kids have the food they need on the weekend to help them learn, play and grow.” 

Each Friday during the academic year, the team at Food4Kids Muskoka brings packages of food to schools across the region. The packages are placed directly into students’ bags to avoid any stigma or unwanted attention. They also prioritize foods that are easy for children to open and eat on their own in case their family is facing illness, addiction or other challenges.

Food4Kids is a charity that operates across the continent, and the Muskoka branch started serving children at the end of September last year. Though the local branch is just a year old, the number of families accessing their services has grown quickly. As of February, they were supporting 76 students compared to the 400 they hope to serve this year.

Marion Mochrie, one of the group’s founding members, said it really hit home to hear about their mission. It’s an organized and efficient operation, but more importantly, it fills a critical gap in services for the youngest and most vulnerable people in Muskoka. 

“It’s something that I never thought of before hearing their little talk,” Mochrie said. “Yes, we have programs for kids throughout the week at schools, but I never even thought about the weekends when they go home, they don’t have any food.”

Mochrie and her fellow founding members, Aly Brown and Alex MacDonald, went to the Food4Kids Muskoka facility in Huntsville on Sept. 17 to present the cheque. Since Food4Kids is launching its school-based services next week, it’s the perfect time to kickstart their cash flow.

Muskoka 100 People Who Care were able to raise the money thanks to another great turnout at their second meeting. It was an emotional night hearing about all of the charities, Mochrie said. Many attendees were asking about splitting the funds between the three charities, offering the largest amount to the winning organization, but the founders felt it would lessen their ability to impact local causes.

“I don’t think we’re at a point yet where we could do the split,” she said. “If we had more people come out and we raise more funds, we would think about doing that.”

While only one charity receives the funding, they all get a chance to showcase their efforts and get recognition from the community. At their first meeting, one of the charities that wasn’t selected ended up partnering with a local business. At both meetings, participants donated to the other two charities alongside their contribution to the group.

Mochrie and the other organizers are proud of the fact that they’ve been able to support such critical causes. Their first donation of $10,840 went to Andy’s House, a hospice facility in Port Carling. They hope they can continue to assist local charities for years to come.

“They are both great causes, and there’s so many more great causes out there, it’s overwhelming at times,” Mochrie said. “You’d like to do more, but there’s only so much you can do, so we’ll just keep working at it.”

The organizers decided to add an extra event to their schedule, inspired by one of the speakers at the meeting. They will host a Shoebox Project event at the Port Carling Community Centre on Nov. 3. Locals can join to pack and drop off shoeboxes full of gifts for women experiencing homelessness.

Mochrie said they’re already starting to get donations of wrapping paper, Christmas cards and more. Founding member Aly Brown has also sourced toiletry items like toothpaste and shampoo through family connections, so they’re aiming to put together 150 boxes.

Along with attending the shoebox event, Muskoka 100 People Who Care participants can help the organizers by sharing their opinions on meeting dates. So far, it’s looking like they’ll hold meetings in mid-June and mid-September, but they’re still taking feedback. They’re grateful to everyone who has helped them get the group going, and they’re excited to keep up the momentum.

“I’d just like to thank everybody that was there and that donated,” Mochrie said. “Their motivation to come out is great, and we just hope it can continue on in the future.”

To learn more about Muskoka 100 People Who Care, visit their website. Email muskoka100pwc@gmail.com to provide feedback on meeting dates or to make a donation for the shoebox event on Nov. 3.

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This year’s run promises to be bigger than ever, with new surprises, a silent auction, live music and a BBQ lunch. Participants, young and old, along with pets, will either walk, run, or cycle through the scenic rural roads, embodying the same spirit of resilience and hope that defined Terry Fox’s iconic Marathon of Hope.

The Windermere Terry Fox Run was established in 2000 by Bev Longhurst after her daughter was diagnosed with cancer. What began as a humble event raising $2,016 in its first year has grown into one of the country’s most impressive per capita fundraising efforts. By 2023, the event had raised over $575,000 for cancer research. The funds raised each year continually contribute to life-saving research in the name of Terry Fox, whose Marathon of Hope in 1980 captured the hearts of millions across Canada.

Fox, who lost his right leg to osteosarcoma at the age of 18, set out to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. Although his run was cut short after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres when cancer spread to his lungs, his legacy lives on through events like the Windermere run. Fox’s efforts have inspired millions globally, raising over $850 million for cancer research through annual Terry Fox Runs.

Linda Edwards, who has been volunteering with the event since 2001, noted that the success of the Windermere run is largely due to the unwavering support from local businesses and residents. “The sense of community here is overwhelming,” Edwards said. “Everyone pitches in, whether it’s volunteering, donating items for the silent auction, or simply showing up to walk or run. It’s inspiring to see how Terry’s dream continues to unite people.”

As the Windermere run gears up for its 25th anniversary, the message remains the same: keep Terry Fox’s dream alive and strive towards a world without cancer. As Bev Longhurst once said, “This run is about more than just raising money. It’s about remembering those we’ve lost and celebrating the survivors among us.”

Registration for the 2024 Windermere Terry Fox Run will begin at 8 a.m., with the run starting at 9 a.m. Participants can choose from various routes, from a 5 km to a 10 km loop, beginning and ending at the Windermere Community Centre. As they do each year, the residents of Windermere will lace up their sneakers, share stories, and continue Terry Fox’s legacy of hope, courage and community.

Thank you,

Randy Jackson
Windermere Terry Fox Run

The post Letter: Windermere Terry Fox Run Celebrates 25 Years On Sept. 15 appeared first on Muskoka411.

The playground, which was more than 25 years old, needed some accessible pieces and equipment for junior and intermediate students. The School Advisory Council (SAC) had been fundraising for about eight years. The school’s name and story were submitted to the Shania Twain and Marner Assist Foundations in February. Understanding the importance of outdoor play, both foundations stepped up to donate the $65,000 required to make this dream a reality for MacTier Public School.

The new playground is a circuit system, featuring climbers, monkey bars, balance pieces and a wheelchair gondola.

Former principal Leisa Wheaton says the community has been outstanding over the past eight years. “As a SAC and through our community, we have raised 35k of the 100k. We are so grateful for their ongoing support and look forward to finally having this project installed!” she says.

The Near North District School Board is grateful to the Shania Twain and Marner Assist Foundations for their very generous support of this accessible playground for MacTier Public School.

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After the success of the first Cookout with Cuddy last year, the CNIB team was excited to bring back the Jim Cuddy Trio on Aug. 17. The event was held at the campgrounds in MacTier and offered attractions like a hot air balloon, a puppy pit and a silent auction in addition to the headlining act. The money raised at the event will subsidize the cost of attending camp at CNIB Lake Joe for blind people of all ages. 

“We are thrilled with the turnout and the overwhelming support we received this year,” said Monique Pilkington, executive director at CNIB Lake Joe, in a press release. “Events like Cookout with Cuddy are vital not only for raising funds but also for increasing awareness about the challenges faced by individuals experiencing vision loss.”

CNIB provides a wide range of free services to blind and partially sighted Canadians and their families. Their programs include support groups, employment workshops, tech training and more. 

CNIB Lake Joe offers camps for children, adults and families in fully-accessible facilities. A week of camp typically costs $2,500 for participants, but thanks to fundraising, families often pay just $150 per camper. 

A major component of the Cookout with Cuddy fundraising came from the silent auction. Items included guitars signed by Jim Cuddy and Taylor Swift, autographed sports jerseys, event tickets, and vacations like resort stays and cruises. 

Retired Toronto Maple Leafs Captain Wendell Clark and HGTV’s Brian McCourt attended as celebrity guests alongside sports commentator Rod Black. Black said the event brought in more than 400,000 reasons to say thank you to all who came, donated and partied together.

“I’ve been part of the CNIB Lake Joe summer gala for a few years now, and this one was the biggest and best yet,” he said. “Not even Mother Nature could spoil a night to remember.  Great entertainment, great food, great people and a great result.” 

Headliner Jim Cuddy brought in enough fans to sell out the event quickly two years in a row, according to organizers. He’s a Muskoka favourite, and the fond feelings are mutual.

“It’s always a pleasure to come to the Lake Joseph CNIB camp and play for the generous donors,” Cuddy said. “I love seeing the improvements each year. It is a very inspiring place.”

To learn more about CNIB Lake Joe, visit the camp’s website.

With files from Stefan Ottenbrite

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