WELLINGTON COUNTY – A local nonprofit has turned to the community for support offering its annual winter wear program.
The Community Resource Centre (CRC) has launched a Wishes for Winter Program to allow residents to sponsor low-income families of one or two children from across North and Centre Wellington by purchasing "big ticket items" like winter coats, pants and boots.
The program will help fund its annual Winter Wear program after "increased costs" have left the organization without enough funding to support all the registered children.
"We are trying to fulfill everything, but with the rising costs of goods and services, everything's just gone up," said the CRC's manager of community outreach Lauren Petty. "And as our community's needs have increased, so have all the families."
A nonprofit charity, Petty said the funding shortfall is because the CRC has seen a "decrease in grants and donations" which the program relies on.
Sixty-two families are currently registered for the Winter Wear program with 154 children between them requiring winter gear.
"The goal of this specific program is to be able to help provide children, youth living in poverty, the equal opportunities as other children in their communities and to feel included and that's why this program is so important," said Petty. "As an agency, we really strive to help others feel included and to really reduce that stigma."
Commenting on the hidden costs of Canadian winters, Petty said purchasing items like snowsuits or winter gear for the family can be difficult especially when someone is already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Petty said they've continued to see an increase in people registering for the program. In 2022, the program registrations increased by 50 per cent.
"This is just another cost that we try to alleviate for our families," said Petty. "When you're living in poverty or are a lower income family, (buying winter gear) is just another cost so we try to take away so that they can put food on their plate or pay that rent so they can maintain or sustain their household."
Residents who register to sponsor a family will be expected to spend between $100-$200 for one-child families and between $150-$300 for two. Residents able to support larger families are asked to contact the CRC directly.
Once registered, sponsors will be matched with a family and provided all sizing and gender information. The deadline to provide the items is Oct. 25.
To sponsor a family, click here.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
