Heather Latter
More funds
needed to
meet demand
The Fort Frances chapter of “KidSport,” an organization that provides financial support to children to allow them to play organized sports, has seen a huge influx in applications this fall—and the committee needs to find more funds in order to meet the demand.
“To date, we’ve processed over 75 applications and we’ve had over $10,000 in requests for registration and/or equipment support,” noted committee member Elaine Fischer.
“We’re just trying to get through as many as we can and hopefully we’re winding down now.
“I think we’re probably on the other side of it with most sport registration deadlines being around now to the end of the month,” she added.
Fischer indicated one reason they’ve likely seen an increase in applications is due to the National Child Benefit no longer funding registration costs for families who are on “Ontario Works.”
“So that has been a contributor to the influx in applications because we’re now having to find funding for families who can’t afford it that are on ‘Ontario Works,’” she explained.
“So that demand has basically been turned over to families and communities to cover now.”
This is the third year the local “KidSport” chapter has accepted applications. But having launched late in 2007, it only processed a few applications then.
Last year was its first full year.
But Fischer conceded they weren’t expecting such an increase this year. And now the committee needs more funding to meet the demand because it won’t know how many applications it will be receiving in years to come.
“We definitely need to start fundraising again,” she stressed, though noting the committee has been successful in getting some fundraising dollars, as well as accessing some grants.
“But we are definitely going to have to beef up our fundraising efforts to meet the demand in our community for sport and recreation,” she warned.
Fischer said they’ve also received “jeans fund” donations from workplaces and organizations. And they would be accepting of other donations from the public, too.
“We are going to be meeting next month sometime and I think fundraising will have to be at the top of our agenda just so we can be prepared for next year,” she added.
Most recently, TD Canada Trust here held a fundraiser, with proceeds going to the local “KidSport” chapter.
“We held a used book sale, with the staff and even some of our customers donating the books,” explained Gina Sigurdson, an investment consultant at the branch.
The sale was held all day Friday, and the local branch provided reusable bags that customers could fill with books. Staff simply encouraged customers to make a donation, as well.
“I think we’ve raised a great amount,” Sigurdson noted Friday afternoon. “There’s been good traffic coming through and people have been quite generous.”
Fischer certainly was grateful of their efforts.
“They have access to the general public, obviously, and from the sounds of it, it’s going really well,” she said of the book sale.
“We really just appreciate that community support.”
Fischer said all funds raised go directly back to the children of the community.
“There are no administration fees taken off—it goes 100 percent back to the kids,” she stressed, noting she knows the families they help are grateful for the assistance.
“I spoke to a mom yesterday and she was very pleased that her daughter would be able to play hockey again this year.”
Still, Fischer reiterated they can’t meet all the needs because the demand exceeds their resources.
“There is a review process and we do try to help out every family as much as possible,” she assured. “We do look at every application individually and try to help out the family as much as we can.
“We’re definitely a recreation town and it’s nice when you do see all kids play,” she enthused.
Fischer added people can help out the local “KidSport” chapter in other ways than making a monetary donation. Volunteers always are welcome to sit on the committee and they also are looking for donations of gently-used sports equipment for their “equipment swap.”
“Right now we have the need for small hockey equipment,” she explained. “We have a lot of four- and five-year-olds trying out hockey for the first time and we don’t have a lot of little hockey skates, sizes 11, 12, 13.”
Fischer noted there are three “KidSport” chapters in Rainy River District—Fort Frances, Rainy River, and Atikokan—and they all have the same mandate.
“We try to work together where possible,” she said. “Our equipment swap we do try to run together just to meet as many kids’ needs as possible.
“And we’re very fortunate to work closely with the Canadian Tire ‘Jump Start’ program that has a very similar mandate.”
Anyone interested in making a donation or volunteering for “KidSport” Fort Frances can contact Fischer at 274-9827.
