WHITBY, ON – On Friday, local MPP Lorne Coe and Terry Johnston, an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) volunteer, met with representatives with Community Care Durham (CCD) to hear from them about the difference that a $10,200 Capital grant awarded by OTF has had on its operations both here in Whitby and at its Ajax-Pickering hub as well. The six-month grant, which was awarded in late 2022, has enabled the group to be prepared for any power outages and ensure that their programs continue to operate smoothly.

“We are investing in projects to increase the capacity of organizations like Community Care Durham so they can build resiliency and adapt the way they work with an eye toward long-term sustainability,” said Whitby MPP and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, Lorne Coe. “I am pleased to support critical projects that clearly enhance program delivery and develop innovative solutions that drive positive change for residents in Whitby and other parts of the Region of Durham.”

The OTF grant enabled the organization to purchase two 15,000W generators for its Whitby Hub and two 2,500W portable generators for its Ajax-Pickering Hub. The funding also helped CCD to buy extension cords, and purchase and install an outdoor storage shed in Whitby as well.

The generators will help to power CCD’s large freezers and refrigerators in the event of a power outage. The freezers are used for CCD’s frozen Meals on Wheels while the refrigerators cool the fresh fruits and produce that is distributed through its Community Food Box program.

“A prolonged power outage could have dire consequences for our food programs,” said Melissa Rudan, Community Capital Development Lead, CCD. “Depending on the day of the week, these refrigeration units could be full. If the power went out, having that amount of food spoil would not only be costly for CCD but it would impact our clients.”

Last year CCD’s dedicated volunteers delivered 123,945 meals. That’s 340 meals provided to clients across Durham every day of the year. Community Care Durham is a multi-service registered charitable organization providing a broad range of support services for individuals over the age of 16 and their caregivers so that people can maximize their independence and thrive where they choose to live.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

Media Contact:
Ian McMillan, Communications Specialist, Community Care Durham
Phone: 905-430-1863
Email: imcmillan@communitycaredurham.on.ca