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December's Grant Recipient!

posted Dec 16, 2011 6:04 AM by Awesome Kingston

It is the small things in life that really can bring a lasting smile to the faces of many people. HIV/AIDS Regional Services pitched their Awesome Idea of providing laundry facilities to Kingstonians in need to 10 Awesome Kingston Trustees Thursday December 15th at The Mansion. Jessica Lyon, Educational Coordinator at HIV/AIDS Regional Services, explained to the Trustees that many of life's small joys are out of reach for their clients.   "Even something like laundry, which is something most people often take for granted, when you don't have enough money to buy food, scratching up the cash to go to the Laundromat, or even buy the soap required, can be daunting or even impossible." said Lyon.  HIV/AIDS Resource Centre is an organization that serves people who are living with HIV/AIDS, while not all of their clients are low income, a large number of them are. Their clients are often marginalized within the community, and experience discrimination daily. Lyon feels that giving people a place where they can get something as simple as clean clothes will go a long way to improving their quality of life. She invited the Trustees to picture how they feel when they slip into bed with clean sheets, or pull a warm sweater over their head. "It's one of those moments that go unnoticed by many, but is unreachable for others." said Lyon.

 

The Awesome Kingston Trustees agreed, and responded by presenting HIV/AIDS Resource Centre with a $1000 no strings attached grant to help purchase a washer and dryer for their new project - Jeannie's Place.  Plans are in place to extend Jeannie's Place to also offer free access to a kitchen for those in need, once they receive additional funding.

 

This is Awesome Kingston's second $1000 grant, the first went to Orchestra Kingston to help purchase 4 refurbished tympanis.  In only their second month, Awesome Kingston has received over 30 grant applications indicating a real need in the Kingston community for micro-grants.  Shari Reed, Awesome Kingston Trustee, feels Awesome Kingston benefits the community by fostering a positive attitude and mindset that will spread from Awesome Kingston events into every day life in and around Kingston.  She hopes their group will help community members think about what can be done instead of what can't, and will inspire others to help support community projects.

 

Awesome Kingston's Pitch Nights are held the third Thursday of the month, the next one will be January 19th, 2012.


Awesome Upcoming Dates

Grant Application Deadline: March 1st,11:59pm

Next Pitch Party: March 15th, 7pm