Dear Supporters,
Last year, it was brought to my attention that students at Chief Simeon McKay Education Centre were in need of coats to adequately protect them from the harsh winter elements. We took on the challenge of getting 350 coats to these students in 35 days. Together, we far surpassed that goal and received 550 coats! Since then, it has come to my attention that there are more isolated fly-in First Nation communities in need.
This year we have teamed up with HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples), Kawartha Truth and Reconciliation Support Group, Pine Ridge School, Mowat Collegiate School, Kawartha Mission, Lang Pioneer Village Museum, uniPoint Software, Backyard Brands, Canadian Cancer Society, Costco, Scarborough Bluffs Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Peterborough and Rotary Club of Pickering with a goal of acquiring 1000 coats to be distributed to 10+ First Nation communities.
Having a warm coat means attending school on a cold day, instead of staying home!
These isolated communities are located between 480 to 600 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. Winters are harsh in this climate and routinely range between -20⁰ C and -40⁰ C without the wind chill factor. These cold conditions lower the immune system making people susceptible to colds, flus and influenza. Additionally, exposure to extreme cold causes hypothermia and physical damage in the form of frost bite where the cold causes freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. As a fly-in community, Indigenous people who live here have limited access to warm winter clothing because the cost of transportation makes necessities like food and clothing extremely expensive. The median household income hovers around $30,000 while the Ontario median income is $60,000. To make life even more challenging, the cost of food and products are significantly higher than the rest of Ontario. For example, the cost of milk is often double, and sometimes triple, what we pay in Toronto.
How you can help!
3 ways you can help:
- Donate a Winter Coat before November 24th! Drop off a new or slightly used coat to a designated drop off site:
- Peterborough: PNVCCDSB at 1355 Lansdowne St. W.,
- Cobourg: 300 Division Street
- Toronto: Teach For Canada - 215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 550, Toronto, ON M5T 2C7
- Pickering: Pine Ridge Secondary School - 2155 Liverpool Rd N, Pickering, ON L1X 1V4
- Scarborough: Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute - 5400 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1C 2C6
- Make a financial donation! (https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/HIP/NorthernCoatDrive). All funds raised will go directly to purchasing and transporting coats to isolated northern First Nation people. HIP is a registered charity and tax receipts will be provided. No amount is too small and all donations are thankfully received!
- Spread the word! Please forward and share this request with all of your contacts.
With Warm Regards,
John Currie
Director of Projects & Gifts-in-Kind
Honouring Indigenous Peoples (HIP)
Mobile: 416.884.0075
Understanding the past, moving forward together.
HIP is a not-for-profit registered charity & 100 per cent dependent & sustained by the activism & generous donations from people like you. You can support HIP by visiting HIP’s Canada Helps pagewww.canadahelps.org/en/charities/HIP or to learn more, go to www.rotaryhip.com where you will find resources, be able to schedule a HIP Talk & register as an ally.