$149,000 OTF Grant Creates Agricultural Opportunities for Adults with Disabilities
Angus, ON – On Friday August 26, local MPP Brain Saunderson met with the team at Camphill Communities Ontario to hear more about the $149,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that enabled Camphill to re-open its programs last fall in the wake of COVID-19 related protocols which had left many people with disabilities socially isolated.
“This investment by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to renovate and upgrade buildings for Camphill’s agricultural programs is great news for many in our community,” said Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey. “This ensures that adults with disabilities in rural Simcoe County can continue to access valuable programs and resources like those provided by Camphill.”
The grant, which the organization received in late 2020, was used to renovate and upgrade Camphill’s agricultural greenhouse, and provided additional staffing, allowing programs to re-open with more space to ensure social distancing, enabling smaller group sizes and improved facilities to support everyone. The project not only allowed for the safe return to programs but will give more adults with developmental disabilities improved access to agricultural programs for years to come, increased opportunities for connection and partnerships, as well as revenue generation within Camphill’s social enterprises.
"The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be overstated,” said Larry Palmer, Executive Director of Camphill Communities Ontario. “Camphill has a long history of environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture. This grant gave us the opportunity to grow our agriculture programs while creating safe program spaces for the individuals we support, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Camphill’s agricultural programs are used to provide therapeutic, recreational and vocational training for adults with developmental disabilities in Simcoe County. Thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, more people with disabilities will be able to safely access Camphill’s programs with enhanced health and safety measures.
Camphill Communities Ontario is an accredited not-for-profit organization that supports adults with developmental disabilities in Simcoe County. Camphill’s mission is to enrich society by creating meaningful opportunities to live, learn, and work together, building a community where people of diverse abilities enjoy quality of life and personal growth in a rich social and cultural environment. Visit www.camphill.on.ca/ to learn more.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Since 2020, OTF has supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
