As the holiday season gets underway, local charities and not-for-profts that make our community a better place need support more than ever.
We’ve compiled wish lists submitted by local organizations to help them continue their good works throughout the holidays and beyond.
The National Day of Giving (a.k.a. Giving Tuesday), on Tuesday, November 30, kicks off the gift-giving season. From now through the end of the year, here’s how you can help local organizations make the season bright for the people and animals they support.
With thanks to the Ungard family for suggesting this feature.
Alzheimer Society of Muskoka
On Giving Tuesday, the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka aims to raise $2,000 to fund the purchase of robotic companion animals for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in Muskoka-Parry Sound. Companion pets bring comfort, companionship, and fun to people living with dementia.
Donate online at alzheimermuskoka.kindful.com or in-person at 440 Ecclestone Dr. Unit 17A, Bracebridge.
For more information, call 705-645-562, email [email protected], or visit alzheimer.ca/muskoka.
Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary accepts goods, gift cards, and monetary donations to help them care for the animals in their charge.
The items noted below can be dropped off at Withey Insurance (111 Howland Drive in Huntsville, next to Kelseys) or order directly from the sanctuary’s Amazon wish list here.
- Dry dog food (any brand)
- Peanut butter, honey, apple sauce
- Contractor-grade garbage bags
- Bleach
- Dawn dish soap (original scent, non-concentrated)
- Liquid laundry detergent
- Scrub brushes and sponges
- Gift cards for grocery stores (to purchase fruits and vegetables needed to feed the animals), home improvement retail stores (to purchase cleaning and maintenance supplies), gas bars (to purchase gas for the transporting of animals), and pet stores (to purchase food and supplies).
Monetary donations can be made at aspenvalley.ca.
For more information, email [email protected].
Children’s Foundation of Muskoka
The Children’s Foundation approves grant applications for less fortunate children in Muskoka to participate in activities of all types: recreational, sports, cultural, educational, artistic, as well as funding summer camp programs. We also provide some funding to support medical needs and even necessities such as clothing and furniture. We are always happy to accept donations at any time of year. Donations can be made through our website at childrenofmuskoka.com.
Community Living South Muskoka
Community Living South Muskoka (CLSM) has been working diligently these past 19 months to protect 150 supported adults living with developmental disabilities from the potentially devastating effects of COVID-19, and has continued to provide important services to more than 350 children and their families across South Muskoka.
That’s why your support is so critical today. CLSM has always relied on our caring, compassionate Muskoka community to help make life better for the vulnerable people we support. Providing high quality, responsive, continuous care requires innovation and creativity at the best of times, but the need has never been greater than it is right now.
This community has a longstanding reputation for responding to the needs of its neighbours. We urgently need your help to ensure that all members of our South Muskoka community can continue to live with dignity and success, despite the great challenges they will continue to face.
It is more critical than ever for CLSM to receive support from our community. As we mark the beginning of the giving season, please consider making a donation to CLSM and our ongoing goal; to help the people we support thrive. To make a donation, please visit www.clsm.on.ca. We cannot thank you enough for your consideration and generosity.
Enliven Cancer Care
Enliven Cancer Care facilitates community supports and connections for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, those bereaved, and health care providers throughout Muskoka.
Enliven Cancer Care needs:
- Financial donations, no amount is too small
- Board Members with expertise in the following areas:
- Finance and accounting
- Strategic Planning
- Risk Management
- Social Media Marketing
- Human Resources
- Organizational Capacity Building
- Board Governance
- Fundraising
- Volunteer Development
- Volunteers:
- many volunteer positions and needs available, we work with the strengths you bring to us
To make a donation, please complete the donation form on our website: enlivenmuskoka.ca
For more information, contact Taude Plexman, executive director, at 705-787-5459 or [email protected], or visit our website enlivenmuskoka.ca.
Habitat for Humanity
Seeks donation of funds, building supplies, kitchens, appliances, windows, hardware, and flooring to help build safe and affordable homes. Funds can be donated online here, while the process for donating goods can be found here.
For more information, visit habitatgatewaynorth.com.
Hospice Muskoka
Hospice Muskoka receives referrals from health care providers, clergy, social workers, caregivers, friends and family. The National Standard for Hospice Palliative Care recommends palliative care support any time after diagnosis of a life-threatening illness to assist individuals and their families as they adjust to their diagnosis, treatment protocol, and if treatment outcomes do not alter the course of the illness.
Clients may also include those who may have entered the final quadrant of a chronic disease or individuals who are failing to thrive because of age, illness, or overall frailty and are at extreme risk. Community Hospices often become involved when there is a palliative prognosis of one year or less.
Find out the many ways to donate here.
South Muskoka Hospital Foundation
The South Muskoka Hospital Foundation receives no funding from the Government of Ontario to purchase new or replacement equipment. To ensure our hospital remains at the cutting edge of healthcare services and delivery, we depend on the generosity of our donors.
The South Muskoka Hospital Foundation encourages our community to invest in the highest standard of health care, everything from lifesaving equipment to health care education and urgent renovations and repairs.
The Emergency Department at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital sees approximately 22,000 patients each year, averaging 60 people every day needing emergency care in our community. Sixty percent of those visits require some level of diagnostic testing or lab work. Our emergency care department is the cornerstone of our greatest needs, to ensure the highest level of healthcare is available today, and tomorrow.
Life. The greatest gift of all. Supporting your hospital is an investment in people, in your future, and in life. It’s a way to make an impact in your community, today and tomorrow.
Donate here.
Muskoka Pride
Muskoka Pride is always seeking donations of funds from individuals or businesses to help us continue our monthly LGBTQ+ social networking and our monthly Youth Group.
In 2022 we are working to establish Pride benches in all municipalities of Muskoka, we have our third annual Muskoka Queer Film Festival in March, and of course the 2022 Pride Week in July.
Donations can be made via e-transfer to [email protected].
More information can be found at muskokapride.com or on social media @muskokapride.
Muskoka Seniors Home Assistance
Muskoka Seniors Home Assistance is a not-for-profit charitable organization working to serve the seniors of Huntsville and the surrounding area. A variety of services are available to support seniors living in their own homes to maintain their independence, promote safety, and keep connected within the community.
When donating to Muskoka Seniors, there are a few funds you can choose from to support your donation:
- General fund: allows Muskoka Seniors to use your donation where it’s needed most
- Meals on Wheels fund: helps keep required costs to clients as low as possible. Also helps to support the cost of mileage to deliver meals in such a large geographical service area.
- Transportation fund: during the pandemic there have been many limitations placed on transporting individuals to their medical appointments, including disinfection between clients and ride-sharing not being allowed, resulting in increased costs for this service.
- Social Connections fund: supports individual and small group opportunities to keep people connected in meaningful ways, including delivery of care packages to isolated seniors, those in hospital, or needing a pick-me-up. It also supports the purchase of stamps and greeting cards, coffee and grocery gift cards, and entertainment to provide a wonderful experience for our clients while attending one of our programs. At a time where gathering together has been challenging, Muskoka Seniors is committed to keeping connections with its clients in as many creative ways as possible.
- E-transfer to [email protected] (our e-transfer is set up for auto deposit – please include your mailing address in the comment portion of the e-transfer to ensure you receive a tax receipt);
- Call our office with your credit ard information and we would be happy to process on your behalf;
- Donate via Canada Helps; or
- Mail your donation to: Muskoka Seniors, 55 Centre Street North Unit 4, Huntsville, ON, P1H1T4
Call our office at 705-789-6676 and we would be happy to assist you! Thank you for supporting the seniors of our community!
Muskoka Women’s Advocacy Group (operates the women’s shelters in Huntsville and Bracebridge)
At both shelters we ask for gift cards in varying denominations ($50 or less) for any local businesses – stores, restaurants, coffee shops – which can be passed on to our clients. Quite often the women we serve have experienced financial abuse and we like to be able to give them gift cards for Christmas, holidays, birthdays, other special occasions, and for things like buying items for a new apartment, etc. This enables the women to make their own choices in what they’d like to buy for themselves and their children, and helps with a sense of autonomy. They’re easy to store for us and the women really appreciate them.
Gift cards and/or financial donations can be dropped off at either shelter [Chrysalis in Huntsville at 56 Kinton Ave, or Interval House in Bracebridge at 43 Mary St.] where we have a locked donation box in the vestibules. We can also receive financial donations via Canada Helps, or by mail. Our mailing address is: Muskoka Women’s Advocacy Group, PO Box 748, Bracebridge ON, P1L 1T9.
Pets Too
Companion animals go hungry, too. Through monetary donations, Pets Too will buy and distribute pet food to food banks in Muskoka to help people feed, and keep, their pets. We can also arrange to pick up unopened bags of dry pet food or canned pet food if you would prefer to donate this way.
Pets Too realizes how strong the bond is between people and their companion animals, and how important it is to keep families intact. Studies show that having a pet helps people’s mental and physical health, especially through challenging times.
Pets Too is a division of Moosonee Puppy Rescue which is a registered Charitable Corporation (#84201-8988-RR0001).
Monetary donations can be made the following ways:
1) Cash donations are accepted through PayPal here: moosoneepuppyrescue.com/pets-too
2) Cheques made to “Moosonee Puppy Rescue” can be sent to Jane Young (Head of Pets Too), 17 Pheasant Run, Bracebridge ON, P1L 0A9
If you would like more information or have any questions, contact Jane Young at 705-394-8547 or [email protected], visit moosoneepuppyrescue.com/pets-too, or see their Facebook page: facebook.com/petstoo
The Salvation Army Food Bank
Our Organization is always in need of non-perishable food donations and our annual Project Porchlight is happening on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. This will be The Huntsville/Lake Of Bays Fire Departments 33rd Annual event in support of The Salvation Army Huntsville. The community is encouraged to leave non perishables on their porch/or end of their driveway and the fire department will be by to pick it up. This event is such a huge help and allows our organization the ability to feed those in our community struggling with food insecurity throughout the coming year.
Donations of food and monetary donations can be accepted at The Salvation Army Church – 4 Mary Street East, Huntsville, Monday-Friday from 9-3 p.m.
We are also in need of assistance with children’s and teen gifts for our annual Christmas Program.
Those in need of a little help this Christmas can contact us at 705-789-3398 x102 or email [email protected]. We are here to help those in need.
YWCA Muskoka
Since the pandemic began, YWCA Muskoka has helped 148 families through our Covid Relief Fund. Donations from community members provide small grants for families who have been struggling over the past two years. They help with a wide range of issues, including groceries, child care costs, transportation, housing and rent, gas and utility bills, legal fees and so much more. The requests for help continue to come in and increase as we head into the tough winter months.
Donate to YWCA Muskoka at ywcamuskoka.com/donate.
For more information about YWCA Muskoka, visit ywcamuskoka.com.
Mana Food Bank
The Manna Food Bank is a Bracebridge-based food bank serving, and supported by, the residents of Muskoka.
The Manna Food Bank is a volunteer-run registered charity supported by the local community. We are grateful to enjoy widespread community awareness, support, and engagement. Find out how you can donate and volunteer for Manna here.
West Muskoka Food Bank
The Muskoka Lakes region is blessed with an abundance of riches but 60% of the permanent households earn less than $30,000 per year and 30% of those live below the poverty level.
At the West Muskoka Food Bank we can’t solve all of the needs of our community, so we just focus on addressing hunger. We don’t have a lot of rules. If you are hungry, we will give you food. If you are in a position to donate food or money you can rest assured that 99% your donations will go to those in need.
You can find more and donate here.
Gravenhurst Against Poverty (G.A.P.)
Gravenhurst Against Poverty – or G.A.P. – is an inclusive, open, and transparent grassroots organization, with the goal of reducing poverty within the greater Gravenhurst community.
Food Program
Working in tandem with our G.A.P. Garden Program and the utilization of generous donations from a growing number of local farmers & organizations, G.A.P. is proud to offer a twice-weekly Food Program to support those in need from our community.
Wellness
Through partnerships with organizations such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, MiND-AID the YWCA and many others, G.A.P. is proud to deliver a wide range of offerings such as the Virtual Speaker Series, YAC and the dream of building a community hub.
Transportation
G.A.P. is proud to partner with local taxi organizations to offer subsidized fares for those in the community faced with barriers around transportation.
The quickest way to make an immediate impact with G.A.P. and towards aiding our mission to supporting those in need in Gravenhurst is by financial donation. Donate here.
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