Donor appreciation breakfast at the Grace Centre

Jeff Green | May 25, 2016

You need to get up pretty early in the morning to attract many of the movers and shakers of the Sydenham Village business community, and the grateful staff and board of Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS) did just that last Wednesday morning.

Coffee, muffins and a copious breakfast buffet greeted a full house at the Grace Centre at 7:30 am. The morning chat was interrupted briefly by SFCS Executive Director, David Townsend, who welcomed all those who have contributed to its fund-raising campaigns over the past couple of years.

Townsend pointed out that the agency depends on local fundraising to make sure it can provide service to all those who come looking for help.

Since 2011, the annual budget of SFCS has gone up 48%, to almost $1.4 million. About $1 million comes from funders such as the Ontario Ministry of Health (through the Local Health Integration Network) the United Way and the City of Kingston. The other $400,000 comes from client fees, and fund-raised dollars.

“The important statistic for us is that the overall number of people we serve each year has gone up by 72% in that same time period,” said Townsend.

SFCS receives provincial funding to serve 1,100 hot meals per year, for example.

“Last year we served 3,890 hot meals to seniors. And that was without promoting our program. And now people want us to expand the hot meals program to Fridays as well. It is only because of the generosity of the local community, and the people in this room, that we are able to continue to meet these needs,” Townsend said.

SFCS board member Mark Segsworth then addressed the audience. He outlined briefly how SFCS is looking outward to work with partners, including the township and other service organisations.

He also let it slip, in his role as SFCS fund-raising chair, that in the month of June, SFCS will be holding its major fund-raising campaign for 2016.

Southern Frontenac Community Services provides services for seniors, operates a busy Food Bank, and co-ordinates programs under the City of Kingston and Frontenac County homelessness prevention strategy.