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United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes is excited to announce the world premiere of The Garden, an original documentary produced by YourTV. This documentary covers the first year of Edwin Binney’s Community Garden – an innovative food security initiative that has provided over three tons of fresh vegetables to non-profit agencies and food banks across the City of Kawartha Lakes.

“This movie celebrates community leaders and how partnerships are key to the creation of a highly productive garden,” says Penny Barton Dyke, Executive Director or UWCKL. “It shares the story of a community willing to seize the opportunity to create a response to produce higher yields of food to support food programs while simultaneously creating a unique experiential educational centre for Fleming students and local elementary and secondary schools,” she adds.

This completely innovative garden is located on roughly two acres of Crayola Canada’s previously unused land in Lindsay. In its first year of operation, Edwin Binney’s Community Garden provided more than 5,500 pounds of fresh vegetables to ten food banks and eleven social service agencies in our community: supplementing budgets for agencies while providing healthy and fresh options for their clients. At the same time, our staff hosted educational agriculture workshops for 350 children from 15 summer camps and school classes.

“The excitement and enthusiasm of the United Way CKL were enough for YourTV to become involved in the process of documenting Edwin Binney’s Community Garden,” says YourTV producer Marcus Ferguson, who directed and produced the movie.

“The transformation from a muddy field to a thriving garden was truly an inspiration and we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it. YourTV looks forward to sharing this special program which will serve to document not only the transformation but the effort to assist the community in combating hunger through community gardening,” he adds.

More than anything, this event is a celebration of community and the power that comes from working together. The documentary features interviews with the Dean of Fleming College Frost Campus, the Mayor of the City of Kawartha Lakes, Managers of Crayola Canada, and some workshop participants.

The event will take place at the Crombie Lecture Theatre at Fleming College Frost Campus from 6 – 8 p.m. on February 6, 2020. Mock-tails and popcorn will be served before the movie, which begins at 6:30. Tickets are available for $15 and all proceeds go toward Edwin Binney’s Community Garden.

We would like to thank our sponsors: Electric Electric, Brant Doyle Plumbing, and Crayola Canada for supporting this cause with such enthusiasm.

Contact us to get your tickets today!

E: office@ckl.unitedway.ca t: 705 878-5081

United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes (UWCKL) has announced A Place Called Home (APCH) as the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Telecare Mona Hall Fund to pilot a new Youth Emergency Fund Project.

This pilot will ensure that the immediate needs of youth in crisis, facing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness are met during the waiting period for other financial aid. Funds provided in the form of gift cards will help youth stay warm, fed, and connected to their community.

“Over the years, we have been given the privilege of small legacy gifts which have allowed us to invest in people in real time.  When donors give to UWCKL they do so with purpose and with the knowledge that funds go to high priority needs. These funds are monitored with the help of citizen review panel teams to ensure transparency and accountability,” explains Penny Barton Dyke, Executive Director of UWCKL.

When Lifeline Telecare closed its doors, funds were transferred to UWCKL to administer through a committee process and to help local groups initiate innovative programs in response to emerging or identified community priorities over a five-year period. The funds have been overseen by a committee of volunteers with expertise. Five agencies have received funding since the launch of the grant fund in 2016: Kawartha Sexual Assault addressed dating violence prevention for youth; Ontario Early Years created the Queen Victoria Public School Summer Outreach Program; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton created an in-School Mentoring Resource initiative and marketing for mentors, The John Howard Society started a Caring Dads Program to increase skills for fathers needing special supports, and last year Community Care Health and Care Network created a teleconference caregiver support program.

This was the final round for the Telecare Mona Hall Legacy Fund.  The criteria and process was created through the efforts of volunteer panels, led by Lynne Downey, with support by UWCKL staff.  UWCKL has been able to support several pilot projects and the agencies awarded the gifts were able to capture measurable outcomes and help identify potential new programs.  Together we have helped strengthen supports for people who live here.

For further information on the Youth Emergency Fund, please contact:

Jennifer Lopinski, Youth Trustee – A Place Called Home

(705) 328-0905