FURNITURE PROJECT 2019
Thank you to all who supported our largest donation to-date this past December. More than 2.5 large rail containers of furniture, including queen size beds, mattresses, dressers, nightstands, couches and more have been delivered. More than 75 families representing approx. 475 individuals in Wabaseemong Independent Nation and other communities were served. Thank you to Sheraton Parkway Hotel in Richmond Hill, Canadian Pacifi c Railway , Ontario Provincial Police – Kenora Detachment , Let’s Get Moving and others for helping to make this project possible. We are currently planning another shipment of furniture in early March with the help of these partners. One Wabaseemong community member said; “I came to grab a couch for my mom. She’s been taking care of her grandkids and doesn’t have anywhere for the kids to sit together. This will help them out a lot.”
HOCKEY EQUIPMENT TO GINOOGAMING
Ginoogamming First Nation received 6 pallets of hockey equipment last week which is currently being distributed to Indigenous youth in this community. Thank you to the students of Centennial College in Toronto, and the Child and Youth Care program for collecting, cleaning and packing these donations. A special thank you to Bob Langlois who helped transfer this equipment in Toronto and prepare it for shipment as well as Access Storage for allowing us to stage it. Thanks to Victor Chapais in Ginoogaming for organizing this project in his community and overseeing distribution.
MANY THANKS FROM LALOCHE, SASKATCHEWAN
We are pleased to announce that a shipment of clothing, winter coats and other goods has arrived and been distributed in La Loche Saskatchewan! Thank you to Clear Water River Ministries & Pastor John, Sew on Fire Ministries, Just Consider Transportation Inc., Norman Mccallum and Earl Beebe Trucking Lt d for helping to make this project possible. “On behalf of Ducharme Elementary School in LaLoche, Saskatchewan, I want to than you for the donation items for our students that included jackets, toques, socks, first aid kits, hygiene packages, snow pants, band aids, blankets, shirts, writing utensils, papter, notebooks, colouring utensils and several more items. These donation items were appreciated as they put several smiles on our children’s faces. A lot of our students lack warm clothing for our severe cold winters as well as lack clothing in general. Several of our students only have a few pieces of clothing so therefore they were very thankful as it brought joy to them.” Teacher – Ducharme Elementary School
NORTHERN PRESENTS
In mid-December, the Ballantyne Project team travelled to Southend First Nation, Saskatchewan. During their trip, the team distributed more than 500 gift packages collected by two schools in Milton, ON. One of the team members, Noel, dressed up as Santa Claus and gave the presents to the children. The community was so grateful for the incredible generosity of the students and staff at St. Benedicts and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Elementary Schools in Milton for proving these incredible gifts.
HOCKEY EQUIPMENT FOR WEBEQUIE
5 pallets of hockey equipment have arrived in Webequie First Nation! Thank you to our generous donors for covering the cost of transportation and Jeffrey Jacob in Webequie who helped organize and distribute the equipment to community members. A HUGE THANK YOU to Shelley Poulton, Kristi Foley and the families in Oakville who collected and sorted these donations last fall. We could not have done this without the these dedicated volunteers.
SANDY BAY RECEIVES SHIPMENT OF NEW WINTER CLOTHES
Thank you to Jaiwantee Lal from Saskatoon and the Project HOPE Canada team for collecting a shipment of new winter supplies to help members of Sandy Bay First Nations in Saskatchewan. Through the generosity of our incredible donors, True North Aid was able to purchase the supplies that were sourced and collected, at huge discounts, with the help of Jai. This project was a team effort.
MAAMIIKIWE PROJECT UPDATE
From Nicole in Sioux Lookout: ” Sunset Women’s Aboriginal Circle (SWAC) and the Friendship center were very grateful to be recipients of True North Aid donations. The partners shared that the gifts from Subculture Yarn for the knits have been wonderful. Hats/mitts that were not taken from SWAC and Friendship center were donated to the 3 daycares in town and sent home with kids/families, Of which the majority are indigenous and well needed by families for the winter. There are hockey tournaments and broom ball events scheduled in Feb and March where families from the north come to Sioux to play. Tables will be set up by the partners to share some of donation items with families. The town is building a residence for mothers from the north that come to Sioux to ‘wait’ to have their babies with stays of up to 4-6 weeks before birth. Continued donations will serve moms living at this residence.
SABATINO FAMILY DONATION FOR HOCKEY CARES
So grateful to the Sabatino family and the Frank Sabatino Memorial Tournament for kicking off our fundraising with a very generous donation to Hockey Cares of $2000. #hockeycares2020 . The Hockey Cares Project is in its fourth year of a hockey exchange between the youth of Oakville and Attawapiskat Ontario. A strong committee of volunteers has begun the process of planning the program in July and November and various fundraising events to make it all possible.
SUPPORTING INCONTINENCE PROJECT
This February, we are looking for incontinence supplies for North Western Ontario communities. Thank you to V2Innovations Mobility for Life for providing drop off points as we launch this initiative! Currently, those with incontinence issues spend approximately 10% of their income on products each year. The prices for the products are significantly higher in northern communities and can be difficult to access. Please Consider supporting this project. WE ARE ONLY COLLECTING INCONTINENCE SUPPLIES ONLY