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.
The Clothes Closet at Huntsville High School
With COVID, we found that the demand for The Clothes Closet’s services, which provides gently used and new clothing to students, continued and perhaps increased to some degree.
Ongoing donations of gently used and new clothing suitable for high school students is needed to keep this project functioning. Monetary donations are also appreciated, as they allow us to purchase specific clothing in sizes we may not have in stock.
Items the CC is most in need of: winter coats; hats/toques; mittens/gloves; hoodies; underwear; socks; winter boots (the students like boots that look like Blundstones); and running shoes.
Clothing and monetary donations (cheques made out to ’The Clothes Closet’) can be dropped off to Karen Litchfield at 371 South Fairy Lake Rd. Please do not drop items off at the high school – they will first be assessed and sorted to ensure they are clean, without any flaws, and are age appropriate.
For more information visit The Clothes Closet FB page @theclothesclosetHHS, or contact Karen Litchfield at 705-783-0686 or [email protected].
Community Living Huntsville
Community Living Huntsville is most in need of financial contributions to our Rev Up Independence Donation Drive to help us purchase a more reliable, accessible, and discreet vehicle to serve people our not-for-profit organization supports
Donors can visit clhuntsville.ca/donate to contribute or contact Jennifer Jerrett, Community Engagement Specialist, Community Living Huntsville, at [email protected] or 705-380-4153 for more information
People interested in learning more about our organization can visit our website, clhuntsville.ca, for information on our programs and services.
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 Huntsville/Algonquin Grace Residential Hospice
To operate the Algonquin Grace Residential Hospice, Hospice Huntsville needs to raise at least $1,800 each and every day. Each year, Hospice Huntsville receives funding that supports 40 per cent of the annual operating budget. The remaining 60 per cent of operating costs must be fundraised each year. These funds support our five residential hospice beds as well as visiting hospice services plus grief/bereavement services in both one-to-one and group settings.
Your gift will truly impact and enriches the lives of individuals in our community and their families. Your kindness will enable us to respond to the needs of everyone who comes through our doors at Algonquin Grace for support and care. Every dollar raised, stays in our community, helping our friends and family receive care, compassion and dignity at a difficult time in life.
Thank you so much for considering a gift to Hospice Huntsville.
Donate online: hospicehuntsville.com/annual-appeal
By telephone: To donate by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) please contact Hospice Huntsville at (705) 789-6878
E-transfers: Please email [email protected]. When donating by e-transfer, please include full name and mailing address in comment section to ensure a charitable tax receipt can be issued.
By mail: Cheques (payable to Hospice Huntsville) and credit card donations (Visa, MasterCard) can be mailed directly to:
Hospice Huntsville
100 Frank Miller Drive
Huntsville, Ontario
P1H 1H7
In person: Visit us at Hospice Huntsville/Algonquin Grace Residential Hospice 100 Frank Miller Drive, Huntsville
For more information, call 705-789-6878, email: [email protected], or visit hospicehuntsville.com.
Huntsville Hospital Foundation
Make your love and generosity visible in Huntsville…
We give at this time of year to others who are not as fortunate as we are. We give to ensure family safety or enable better lives and opportunities in the future. All based on a feeling, all inspired by what we cannot see.
You may never see or need the technology and equipment your gift makes possible. You may never meet the child or grandparent it saves. You will simply feel it and that feeling will be amazing.
Please give this holiday season to inspire the hope of better, healthy days ahead for everyone. Please give to let our healthcare experts and professionals know you appreciate what they have endured over the past year and a half.
In the spirt of making hope visible, visit our website and learn more about your Foundation’s Focus on Imaging Capital Campaign. We’re giving our professionals the imaging and diagnostics technology upgrade they need over the next five years. Your interest and support now will make a healthy future much easier to see for every patient.
Visit huntsvillehospitalfoundation.ca/focus-on-imaging for details.
Madill Church Preservation Society
The Madill Church Preservation Society formed to protect and preserve a significant heritage site by restoring and maintaining Madill Church and its surrounding land that commemorate the site for present and future generations.
It needs in-kind expertise in the following areas:
- Social Media expertise and management,
- Marketing expertise and services,
- Photography and videography services (to record the restoration of the church), and
- Research and writing expertise to assist with the development of ‘graveside tour’ and heritage displays.
The work of Madill Church Preservation Society is made possible solely through the generous donations of community members and interested individuals.
Online donations can be made via canadahelps.org or via e-transfer to [email protected].
Cheques can be made payable to Madill Church Preservation Society c/o Donna Collins at 371 Old Muskoka Road, Huntsville, ON, P1H 2J2.
Charitable tax receipts are available to those who donate $25 or more.
Learn more about the Madill Church Preservation Society (MCPS) at madillchurch.wordpress.com and facebook.com/MadillChurchPS or by contacting Carolynn MacKay (president) at 705 788 9746.
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.
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