Community Service Projects and Donations

Community Service Committee Projects

Community service is one of Rotary’s Avenues of Service and it encourages Rotarians to offer service to their communities.  The Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar (RCOT) assumes a responsibility to find ways to improve the quality of life for those in our community and to serve the public interest. We do this both through charitable donations to worthwhile community organizations and through other means of service.
 
During the Rotary years 2023-26 we have focused on the following organizations (in alphabetical order):
 
 
 

 

 

Acclaim Health

 What They Do - Acclaim Health provides a full spectrum of program support for physical   and mental well-being through independent living, reduced social isolation,   innovative dementia care, end of life care and bereavement support.
 
Our Contribution – The RCOT provided funds to replace tables and chairs at Acclaim's Patty's Place, for use by seniors suffering from cognitive impairment.
 
To learn more about Acclaim Health CLICK HERE

 

 

Arthouse for Children and Youth

What They Do - ArtHouse is a Halton charitable organization that provides FREE arts-based programs that energize, engage and educate children and youth ages 7-17 who have little or no access to fee-related activities.
 
Our Contribution – The RCOT provided funds to purchase arts and supplies, supplement instructors fees and cover food expenses.
 
To learn more about ArtHouse CLICK HERE
 
 

 

 

 

 

Bandology

What They Do - Bandology provides opportunities for youth to play, perform and be inspired. They support the music community in building their programs and outreach. They advocate for more music education to policy makers, politicians and the greater community.
 
Our Contribution – The RCOT provided funds in support of the administration of their instrument lending library which provides musical instruments at no cost to Oakville youth.
 
To learn more about Bandology CLICK HERE

 

 

 

Comfy Cases

What They Do - Comfy Cases is a Canadian non-profit organization that brings volunteers together to stitch fun, colourful pillowcases for children with cancer or other life changing illnesses supported in hospitals and other organizations in Ontario. CASES also stands for: Children And Sewers Exchanging Smiles.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT raised money to purchase Comfy Cases, colourful pillowcases, for children in Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.
 
To learn more about Comfy Cases CLICK HERE

 

 

Diabetes Canada  - D-Camp

What They Do - Empowering children and youth with type 1 diabetes has been part of Diabetes Canada’s mission for more than sixty years. As Canada's leaders in diabetes treatment advice, they deliver the best support in how to live well with diabetes.  Their D-Camps bring together all the latest research and compact it into practical advice which can be applied to directly impact the lives of children today.
 
Our Contribution - The RCOT provided financial support for an Oakville youth to attend D-Camp.
 
To learn more about Diabetes Canada's D-camps CLICK HERE
 
 

Distress Centre Halton

What They Do - Distress Centre Halton is a non-profit charitable organization that provides telephone support to people 365 days of the year. They are a unique service in that they train volunteers for front-line work providing emotional support and befriending to people in distress or crisis.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided funds for new laptops, replacing their ten-year-old models. This assisted in the support of a valuable region-wide service based in Oakville.
 
To learn more about Distress Centre Halton CLICK HERE
 
 

ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development

What They Do - ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development is Ontario’s largest Children's Treatment Centre (CTC) – serving children and youth with disabilities and their families each year. Their clients have a wide range of physical and/or developmental disabilities, communication disorders, autism, and some of the children they care for are blind and/or deaf.
 
Our Contribution - The RCOT provided financial support to their Day Respite program at their Oakville site. The organization serves over 26,000 children with disabilities per year. This program provides treatment for children with autism.
 
To learn more about ErinoakKids CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

Food For Life

What They Do - Food for Life is the largest food rescue hub in Halton and Hamilton, ensuring neighbours have access to fresh, nutritious food. Since 1995, they have rescued over 35 million pounds of food — valued at more than $113 million — and redirected it to where it’s needed most.
 
Our Contribution - The RCOT provided financial support for two projects. One was the purchase of a pallet jack to assist in the movement of supplies in their warehouse. Additional funding was provided for the rescue, sorting and distribution of food throughout the Oakville area as well as food programming.
 
To learn more about Food for Life CLICK HERE

 

 

Home Suite Hope Shared Living Corp.

What They Do - Home Suite Hope unites a network of vital support services for families on their journey from poverty to stability.  Home Suite Hope’s mission is to break this cycle of poverty for single parents and their children, giving them the foundation they deserve.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided grocery store Gift Cards for distribution to clients.
 
To learn more about Home Suite Hope Shared Living Corp. CLICK HERE
 
 

Humane Society of Oakville, Milton & Halton

What They Do -The Humane Society of Oakville, Milton & Halton (HSOMH) is a safe haven for animals in need and a trusted resource for the people who care about them. They are more than a shelter. They are a community hub where compassion, education, and action come together to strengthen the human–animal bond.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided assistance in the purchase of a van to transport animal. This van is used for requirements outside the organizations municipally funded role.
To learn more about The Humane Society of Oakville, Milton & Halton CLICK HERE
 

 

 

 

 

 

Kerr Street Mission (KSM)

What They Do - For more than two decades, KSM has been providing essential programs and services for families and their children. Today Kerr Street Mission is a gathering place and a hub of care for the community.  Their program focus is on children and youth development, family services, neighbour care and food services.
Their goal for Food Services is to provide families with access to healthy, nutritious, and culturally sensitive food options.
 
Our Contribution – The RCOT supported families by providing funding for KSM’s Food Services.
 
To learn more about Kerr Street Mission CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 

Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides

What They Do - Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides empowers Canadians living with disabilities to navigate their world with confidence and independence, by providing a Dog Guide at no cost and supporting them in their journey together.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided financial support for the training of dog guides which are provided at no cost to individuals in traumatic situations.
 
To learn more about the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides CLICK HERE

 

 

MADD Canada

What They Do – Madd Canada’s mission is to stop impaired driving and to support victims of this violent crime.  Youth and school programming have been a key component of MADD Canada’s youth services, education and awareness initiatives since 1994. The presentations are designed to communicate directly with young people on their level and in their language, and encourage them to take a closer look at their values and perceptions.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided financial support for MADD’s school program in Oakville.
 
To learn more about MADD Canada’s school program CLICK HERE
 
 
 

March of Dimes Non-Profit Housing Corporation

What They Do – The Jean and Howard Caine Apartments in Oakville, is a 59-unit apartment building with 24 accessible units. On site support is provided to individuals with physical disabilities on a 24-hour, 7-day a week basis. Emblematic of March of Dimes' Canada vision of inclusiveness, independence, community engagement and full participation of people with disabilities, it remains a model for all of March of Dimes’ Non-Profit Housing Corporation endeavours.
 
Our Contribution – The RCOT provided financial support for repairs to the garage area at the Jean and Howard Caine Apartments.
 
To learn more about March of Dimes Non-Profit Housing corporation CLICK HERE
 
 

Oakvillegreen Conservation Association Inc

What They Do – Oakvillegreen is a non-partisan, grassroots environmental charity protecting and restoring nature in Oakville through community education and local action since 2000.
 
Our Contribution – The RCOT provided financial support to “Youth for Climate”, an initiative designed to educate Oakville youth about the importance of native trees and involve them directly in planting native trees and shrubs through community via school partnerships.
 
To learn more about the Oakvillegreen Conservation Association CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

Oakville Meals on Wheels (OMOW)

What They Do - Oakville Meals on Wheels is a local charitable organization dedicated to ensuring that no one is isolated, hungry or without human connection in our community. They serve over 300 clients with approximately 2,100 delivered meals and food items each month.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided financial support for the OMOW ongoing meal program.
 
To learn more about Oakville Meals on Wheels CLICK HERE     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre

What They Do - Oak Park is a welcoming community, supporting each other through diverse programs & resources to build friendships, strengthen our children and create healthy neighbourhoods in Halton. They relieve poverty, provide educational support, recreational & social opportunities for people of all abilities and ages
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided financial support to purchase gift cards at a community grocery store that were given to needy families and seniors within their area of Oakville during the Christmas season.
 
To learn more about the Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 

Oakville Parent Child Centre

What They Do - Oakville Parent-Child Centre (OPCC) is dedicated to creating a supportive environment where families can find assistance and empowerment in fostering the growth and learning of children.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided an Automated External Defibrillator for their main location which also houses an early childhood centre.
 
To learn more about the OPCC CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Oakwood Public School

What They Do - In 1983, Oakwood was reconfigured to service children from kindergarten to Grade 5. In 2018, Oakwood Public School, in partnership with Halton Region became a host site to an Ontario Parent-Child Centre, servicing children 0-6 years and their families.  For more information, please visit them at www.op-cc.ca.
 
Our Contribution – During the Christmas season, six members of RCOT “adopted" a family in need from this school and provided clothing & shoes.  The club also purchased grocery store gift cards and gave them to needy families whose children attended the school
 
To learn more about Oakwood Public School CLICK HERE
 
 
 

Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer (OPACC)

What They Do - Since our establishment in 1995, OPACC has been the parent voice for families with children diagnosed with cancer across Ontario. OPACC helps families through free programs and support services including in-hospital and virtual peer support, financial support, and community support.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT raised money to purchase Comfy Cases; colourful pillowcases for children in Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.
 
To learn more about Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer CLICK HERE
 
 

Safe Families Canada

What They Do - Safe Families provides a model in which parents can voluntarily place their child(ren) with a Host Family while retaining custody during the temporary placement. The families that Safe Families supports come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are referred by a school, hospital, church, pregnancy centre, homeless shelter, child welfare agency, or neighbour. A parent may also contact Safe Families themselves when in a time of crisis.
 
Our Contribution – The provided financial support to help families in crisis.
 
To learn more about Safe Families Canada CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 

SafetyNet Children & Youth Charities

What They Do - Helping people is what they do. They rely on community donations to provide free wrap-around services to financially disadvantaged families. SafetyNet provides wrap-around services that encourage independence and help to break the cycle of poverty.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided financial aid to help two families.
 
To learn more about SafetyNet CLICK HERE
 
 
 

The Salvation Army

What They Do - As the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in Canada, The Salvation Army offers unprecedented support to society’s most vulnerable.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided financial support for the Oakville Christmas Assistance program as well as pantry and food supplies for low-income families.
 
To learn more about The Salvation Army CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS)

What They Do - SAVIS of Halton offers free and confidential 24/7, one-on-one crisis counselling services, with no judgment, just support. Services can be short- or long-term in nature and are open to female-identified, male-identified and transgender people aged 16 and over who are survivors of violence, including childhood sexual abuse.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided funding of group program for sexually abused youth.
 
To learn more about SAVIS of Halton CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

St. John Ambulance

What They Do - St. John Ambulance is an international humanitarian organization and is a foundation of the Order of St. John. As Canada's standard for excellence in first aid and CPR services, St. John Ambulance offers innovative programs, ensuring Canadians receive the best quality training. Revenue generated from first aid/CPR training supports St. John Ambulance's charitable work.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided funding to replace worn-out equipment, specifically scoop stretchers, wheeled stretchers and stair chairs.
 
To learn more about St. John Ambulance CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 

Support House

What They Do - Support House, works to create a community where people with mental health and/or substance use concerns are treated with dignity and respect; and where housing, services and supports are available whenever and wherever needed to positively impact wellness.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided funds to assist in the repair of an external fire escape at their Chartwell Road facility which provides supportive interim housing for those suffering from homelessness.
 
To learn more about Support House CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 

United Way Golden Horseshoe

What They Do - The United Way collaborates with the local residents and partners to create coordinated seamless programs and services that meet the diverse needs of the community.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT supported the United Way's Period Promise Program. Through various United Way agencies in Oakville, feminine hygiene products were made available at no cost to those in need.
 
To learn more about The United Way CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation

What They Do - Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation provides a range of specialized programs designed to provide connection and belonging; ease pain, fatigue and distress; build strength and mobility; and support financial and workplace challenges to those suffering from cancer.
 
Our Contribution –The RCOT provided funding for their Cancer Exercise program at their Oakville location. There, patients learn to reduce pain, increase movement and prepare for a successful return to daily life and work.
 
To learn more about the Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation CLICK HERE