Huntsville’s Canadian Tire store has once again provided a boost to a local charity. Ken Moser, the store’s former owner, was on hand today with its new owner, Ian McEwen, to present a $10,000 cheque to Heather Berg, the founder and CEO of The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation. Moser has been a long-time supporter of The Table and said he’s pleased that McEwen is taking up the reins.
“I know Ian is going to be very community supportive and I feel good about that,” said Moser. “The corporation is very supportive of our stores supporting local causes and obviously Heather (Berg) is way up there. What she’s done for the community is just phenomenal and it’s so important to a lot of people in our community. Our store does very well and it’s our way of giving back.”
Moser added that the funding comes from three sources: an amount allotted to Canadian Tire stores for community initiatives, the summer farmers’ market makes a donation, and the store owner makes a donation, split by Moser and McEwen based on the number of months each was at the helm this year.
McEwen said he’s happy to continue with what Moser started. “Why would I change it when it’s already helping so many people?” He will also continue to support other local causes and has begun selling chocolate-covered almonds at the store’s checkouts as a way to boost that effort, adding that any funds left over would also be donated to The Table.
And that’s something Heather Berg, the founder and CEO of The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation, is grateful for. The charity is facing a significant fundraising shortfall this year – it’s currently at $100,000 less than usual – but Berg said The Table receives 80 per cent of its donations in November and December and she’s optimistic that local businesses and individuals will come through before the end of the year.
“There has been a shortfall in donations this year, perhaps due to the fact that we’ve focused on our new men’s shelter. People are so generous and many people have donated for physical needs, which we absolutely needed in order to open the shelter. For 2017, we are going to encourage people to donate to the Foundation so that we can direct funds where they are needed.”
Berg said they will also be asking the community to consider making monthly donations and will be pursuing significant fundraisers. It helps the organization to know what’s coming so that they can plan programs and services for the year. Berg estimates The Table will need $18,000 per month – up from $14,500 per month – to maintain all of its services plus operate the recently opened men’s shelter which requires qualified staff to run and slightly higher insurance premiums. The Table also relies on donations of food and goods as well as volunteers to provide all of its services.
The Table’s first fundraiser of 2017 will be The Coldest Night of the Year on February 25, a national fundraising walk. “That has been a very successful fundraiser with much community support. We would love if community members would sign up to walk with us to raise money for the hungry, hurting and homeless.”
In the meantime, they’ll gratefully accept donations in any amount and hope that other businesses will follow Canadian Tire’s lead. “Canadian Tire made the first very significant donation we ever received. We were blown away. Focusing on one charity and giving a big chunk makes such a massive impact for planning purposes, because we know we can rely on their support and we are so, so grateful.”
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