Huronia Community Foundation Grant

Shelter Now is honoured to have been chosen as a recipient for a grant from the Huronia Community Foundation. The funds received were dedicated to the creation of a therapeutic garden and healing pond for current and past clients of Shelter Now’s Transitional Housing Program.

In collaboration with the Huronia Community Foundation, Home Depot Midland, Charles Morden Construction and Harvey’s Midland, Shelter Now planted a full vegetable garden and built a gazebo for the use and enjoyment of our clients. This grant had a profound impact on both our organization and most importantly, our clients. As many of our clients suffer from mental illness and addiction, the garden and gazebo have proven to be therapeutic. Horticulture has aided our clients in developing social and work skills, literacy and numeric skills, the opportunity for social interaction, the development of independence, self-confidence and self-esteem. In speaking with our clients, they have stated that the garden, gazebo and pond project has affected them in ways that they would never have imagined. As one client revealed, as a result of being required to assist in garden up-keep and maintenance, the project has assisted him in gaining structure and stability in his daily routine.

He went on to state that it has also a positive influence on his health, both mentally and physically. By having access to fresh, healthy affordable food, he has noticed an improvement in his physical health. Mentally, he stated that having a positive environment to relax in and hearing the sound of water moving – murmuring, gurgling and splashing has helped put him at ease and soothe his soul.

After many of our clients having experienced homelessness, there has been an overwhelming response that the new garden, gazebo and pond have created a sense of home and a sense of belonging. Instead of feeling like they are living in an institution, the garden, gazebo and pond have assisted in creating a feeling of social cohesion among our clients. Through the development of new skills, the sense of responsibility that they feel in managing the property, the sense of fulfillment for completing a community project and the positive effect on their health, our project has been extremely successful in making a positive difference in the lives of our clients.

With an initial vision of completing a vegetable garden, gazebo and pond for our current and past clients to heal, learn and grow, we believe that we achieved and in fact surpassed our original goal.

By receiving the grant from the Huronia Community Foundation, we were able to purchase some of the materials that were required to complete our project. Without the support of the Huronia Community Foundation, Shelter Now would not have been able to complete such an important and worthwhile project.

Shelter Now is a registered charity #853993079RR0001.

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