South Frontenac Community Services embarking on building campaign

The Grace Centre has been a good location for Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS). The former chapel is a large, welcoming programming space and the bottom floor has a large kitchen and comfortable space for the agencies’ Day Away program for the frail elderly. It was a major improvement over the rented space on George Street where SFCS was previously located.

But the former church has only limited office space, and much of the SFCS staff have been working out of a portable for years. The South Frontenac Food Bank is also located in the portable.

The agency has applied for funding from the Provincial government to put up a new administrative building on the site, to no avail.

“Now, we are working on a smaller addition, that we can get done without provincial funding,” said Executive Director David Townsend.

The price tag for an addition to house the Food Bank and create new office space is pegged at $1.5 million.

Before embarking on a fundraising campaign, however, SFCS is going to South Frontenac Council.

“We are hoping the township will be willing to make a commitment to the project, which would give us the momentum we need to mount a fundraising campaign,” said Townsend.

He will be appearing before Council on July 13th, as a delegation - cap figuratively in hand.

At this point, the amount of the request is not finalised.

“Our hope is that council will agree to look at this when they are working on the 2022 this coming fall,” said Townsend.

South Frontenac Community Services receives most of its operating funding for its senior’s focussed Community Support Services programs, from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.