Another ripple of kindness is about to reverberate around the community.
Ripple of Kindness (ROK) Orillia - a “women’s giving circle” - has chosen to support the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka (CYAC) with its latest gift, which will likely be a donation of about $20,000.
ROK co-founders Amber McGarvey-Moreland and Raquel Ness informed the group’s 217 members this weekend that the CYAC had been selected by a majority of members to receive the funding.
McGarvey-Moreland said the CYAC is “extremely grateful” for the support.
CYAC executive director Dawn MacDonald told McGarvey-Moreland the organization has experienced a “significant increase” in case numbers in recent months.
”Our Ripple gift will directly support children and youth who have suffered abuse, assisting in minimizing trauma for clients and their families during their healing journey,” said McGarvey-Moreland.
Christine Jarvis, who serves as the treasurer for the CYAC and is also a member of Ripple of Kindness, said the financial support is much-needed.
“I have been the treasurer pretty much since inception and have seen this organization struggle and grow to meet demand,” said Jarvis.
“We have amazing partners who support both our Orillia and Barrie locations, however we are constantly looking for grants and donations to assist with meeting our annual budget. Thank you to all of the ROK members for making this happen,” she said.
McGarvey-Moreland said the pandemic has “magnified the need for financial support as traditional fundraising events continue to be faced with logistical challenges.”
She noted 17 local organizations were nominated to be supported.
“The nominees provide a short written description of their organization's services, and although we can only give to one charity at a time, members learn about the important work each of them is doing,” said McGarvey-Moreland, who stressed “raising awareness for these services within the community is, in my opinion, equally as important.”
McGarvey-Moreland and Ness are proud of the group’s commitment to give even amid a pandemic.
“Even though we have not been able to gather in-person safely since early 2020 to host Socials, we continue to strive to connect the generosity of our membership to the needs of our community,” said McGarvey-Moreland.
“Each time someone joins ROK Orillia, our charitable giving increases, and our gift to CYAC will be approximately $20,000,” she said.
Ness explained that each member donates $100, four times per year, in support of a local organization.
She said the CYAC “is an invaluable resource for the children and young adults of our community that can be relied upon when they need it most.
“With a personal connection to the organization, the outcome to further support their efforts is certainly one that makes me ecstatic,” said Ness, who explained the gift is the group’s sixth donation, bringing “our total to approximately $130,000 since inception of the Orillia chapter in 2019.”
Previous gifts from Ripples of Kindness Orillia have supported: Mariposa House Hospice, Green Haven Shelter, Building Hope Campaign, Orillia Youth Centre, and The Sharing Place Food Centre.
If you are interested in joining ROK Orillia Chapter, email [email protected] for more information or complete the online membership form at www.rippleofkindness.ca
