Jun 142019
 

At the June 4 meeting of 100 Men Kawartha Lakes difficult decisions had to be made by the members present regarding what charity to sponsor.

Three different groups presented to the club asking for support and they included Bobcaygeon Helps Food Bank, Kawartha-Haliburton Crime Stoppers and the Kawartha Conservation Authority.

The Bobcaygeon Helps Food Bank is an independent food bank operation that raises all of their own funds, and services two hundred different clients a year in Bobcaygeon and area.  They go a step further than many food banks by ensuring that there is a cake for clients birthdays, and a present at Christmas time for the children who utilize their services. They have outgrown their current space and are looking to move to Bethel Church in Bobcaygeon.  The only way the move makes sense is if an addition is put on the back of the church to house the food bank.  The Bobcaygeon Helps Food Bank is looking to raise between $30,000 – $40,000 to allow the expansion to occur.  The presenter seemed very sure that with community support and assistance from outside groups like 100 Men the build would occur.

Kawartha-Haliburton Crime Stoppers raises their entire budget through community donations.  The group is able to do its important work of support law enforcement with the aid of the community, the police and the press working together to get their message out to the wider public.  As the presenter said “too many pretend that crime is not happening, and only when the community gets together and gets involved can the police do their job.”  Crime Stoppers was looking for assistance in upgrading the hardware and software that operates and controls their telephone tip line.  With no funding coming from Crime Stoppers Ontario the local chapter is casting the net wide looking for financial support from groups like 100 Men.

The final group to present was the Kawartha Conservation Authority and Plantaforest.ca who are working in partnership to plant new trees right across CKL.  Any money donated to this cause is multiplied by existing federal government programs, and in the end even more trees get planted.  The newly planted trees improve air quality, limit erosion and help prevent flooding.  Some of the trees through this program are planted on private land, while many are planted on Conservation controlled property.  Depending upon the types of tree and the availability of volunteer labour to plant, trees cost a minimum of $1 to $2.50 per seedling.  With money from groups like 100 Men thousands of trees could be planted at a time.

In a very close vote the 38 members present decided that Kawartha-Haliburton Crime Stopper were the most worthy option this evening.  A $3800 cheque was presented to Crime Stopper that will cover not only the cost of the new hardware and software the group so desperately needs, but will also offset the licensing costs for the software package that runs their tip line.

In only five meeting the club has supported local charities to the tune of $18,000 and looks to continue this good work at their next meeting in the fall.

 Posted by at 8:58 am