The Sault Ste. Marie chapter of 100 Guys Who Care is looking ahead to the next four local charitable organizations it will support as part of its 'COVID Catch Up' initiative.
On Tuesday, the group handed over $50,000 to Save Our Young Adults from Drug Abuse to go toward the renovations on its new building and supplies for the street outreach the organization does to assist people living with addiction and experiencing poverty.
Joe Ruscio, organizer for 100 Guys Who Care of Sault Ste. Marie, also announced the next four organizations that will receive funding through the group.
The name 'COVID Catch Up' refers to the idea of supporting organizations that were hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, noted Ruscio.
"For our our next four charities, the goal is to hit each of them with $15,000," said Ruscio in his remarks.
Those organizations that will benefit from the group's fundraising effort in the next round include the local chapters of: KidSport, the YMCA, Meals on Wheels and The Salvation Army.
At the meeting, Jessica Casola spoke about KidSport Sault Ste. Marie, where she serves as applications and funds distribution coordinator. The group offers grants of up to $500 per child to help eliminate the barrier for entry for youth sports.
"We fund local low-income families so their kids can play organized sports. We either fund the registration or we fund equipment costs for them, so the dollars earned and raised are local dollars that stay local," Casola said.
She said the organization and the support it provides has grown exponentially in recent years.
"The number of registrations that we've had in the first year we started off was maybe at about 19. We're looking to triple that this year so far, so it's great. We've been able to get a lot of local kids out playing sports."
Major Sean Furey of The Salvation Army Sault Ste. Marie said the name 'COVID Catch Up' is a good way to phrase what is needed, because the effects of the pandemic were devastating to his organization.
"Prior to COVID, we would serve 3,600 families a year. Last year there were 37,000 visits when people came to us for help," said Furey.
He noted that Food Banks Canada predicts food insecurity will get worse before it gets better.
"That's a consequence of COVID and it doesn't appear to be getting any better," Furey said.
Don Ferguson, public relations manager for the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA, said the Y is thought of as a fitness facility, but not as many consider that it's also a charitable organization. He noted the effects of COVID on the Y are well documented, with the organization on the brink of having its doors locked for good last year.
"The money that's raised by the YMCA as a charity gets funnelled right back into our community to provide membership and programming opportunities for individuals and families in the community who might not necessarily be able to afford that kind of fitness, wellness, sports, . . . those kind of activities," said Ferguson.
Membership opportunities are offered to children and seniors in need, newcomers and refugees, among others.
"So the money raised gets put right back into creating a community that provides a safe space for people in the community that need it," said Ferguson.
Meals on Wheels in Sault Ste. Marie was also hard hit during COVID-19 and even had to cease deliveries for a time, said program coordinator Cassidy Ryan.
"Right now we have about 175 clients between hot and frozen meals. Some areas actually are wait-listed due to the fact that we're limited for spots. So this funding can definitely help to give us more slots of people in the community," Ryan said.
The organization also needs to replace all of its inventory bags and Ryan noted that Meals on Wheels is also currently in need of volunteers.
"Not only are you delivering meals, but you are also doing wellness checks on the seniors in our community," said Ryan.
Ruscio said if 100 Men Who Care is able to achieve its goal of its increasing membership number from 127 to 200, the group will be able to increase the amount of good that can be done in the community.
More information can be found on the group's Facebook page.