Fundraising campaign for Grace Centre upgrade gets underway.

Jeff Green | Apr 27, 2022

It has been dubbed the Community First Capital Campaign, seeking to raise $2 million to fund the construction of a 3,600 square foot extension to the Grace Centre. The Grace Centre is the headquarters for Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS) in the converted Grace United Church on Stagecoach Road in Sydenham.

SFCS runs programming for seniors and the community at large in the Centre, but most of SFCS staff work in outdated portables next to the building, The South Frontenac Food Bank runs out of the portables as well.

“We put those portables in as a temporary measure quite a few years ago now,” said SFCS outgoing Executive Director David Townsend. They do not have washroom facilities and are not suitable for our staff or clients who access the food bank.

Mark Segsworth, who is the fundraising campaign chair, said that the intention is to get a shovel in the ground for the extension this year, so the project can be substantially complete by next spring.

As the campaign launches next week, supported by public engagement sessions in Inverary, Sydenham and Verona in early May, a substantial amount of money has already been committed, $1.25 million of the $2 million target, with the largest contribution, $750,000 coming from South Frontenac Township.

When the fundraising thermometers go up around the township next week, they will be almost 2/3 filled in.

“We have a great start,” said Mark Segsworth, with levels of government and foundations having stepped up to support our work with seniors and people in need. It is the community's turn now, and I am confident that we will all come through.”

The upgrade to the Grace Centre is taking place in the context of a projected increase of over 20% in the population between 55 and 74 by 2036, along with a projected massive 110% increase in the 75 and over age group.

The Aging at Home strategy, that the Ontario government is pursuing, is a shift of focus from acute care in hospitals, and long-term care institutions, to community care that is delivered in the home.

The numbers are already showing that services aimed at supporting seniors in the community, by SFCS, are increasing yearly. Support programs, meals on wheels, check in calls, all hit record levels again in 2021.

“SFCS has outgrown its facility,” said David Townsend. The condition of the site poses safety and accessibility issues for our clients and staff, which is not what you want when you are devoted to helping aging adults stay safe in their communities.”

Other insufficiencies at the Grace Centre include inadequate accessible entrances and washrooms, a Food Bank that barely meets public health standards, an inadequate septic system, and a parking lot that needs to be improved.

The addition that has already been designed, and is being finalised, so construction tenders can be issued, is designed to address these issues and set up SFCS to continue to grow in order to meet community needs.

Community sessions are set for Tuesday, May 3 at the Verona Lions Hall, Wednesday May 4 at the Grace Centre in Sydenham, and Thursday, May 12 at the Storrington Lions Hall in Sunbury.

For information or to volunteer with the campaign, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.