To The Haldimand Press
DUNNVILLE—On Monday, December 19, 2022 local MPP Bobbi Ann Brady met with the team at True Experience Supportive Housing and Community Work Program to hear more about how the $145,400 Resilient Communities Fund from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) was used to upgrade their kitchen. The kitchen renovations and equipment purchases were completed in early September 2022 and the True Pantry Program started thereafter in late September.
“This investment by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to support these renovations and provide this programming is great news for many in our community,” said MPP Bobbi Ann Brady. “There are many in the community who will benefit as the space and equipment will enable us to continue to provide supports in our community.”
In addition to the kitchen upgrades, the True Experience Supportive Housing and Community Work Program is now able to provide hands-on cooking instruction to those who are most in need. Introducing the “Basic Shelf” cookbook to the group has provided both knowledge and skill development supporting participants in building and maintaining a basic shelf pantry in their own kitchens to support affordable, healthy meals. Thanks to the grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, participants have shared and gained new insights in meal preparation on a budget.
“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be overstated. The True Pantry Program has provided those in our rural community living with mental health as well those of low income an opportunity to re-engage while gaining knowledge and hands-on cooking skills in preparing healthy meals on a budget using the Basic Shelf (Pantry) cookbook,” said Rhonda Geyer, Executive Director of True Experience. “This grant has allowed needed renovations to be made. It will open new opportunities to grow our Social Enterprise to offer additional supports to those in need in our community. A huge shout out to Ontario Trillium Foundation for giving us this amazing opportunity.”
True Experience is committed to growing and providing high quality programming and services in our community for those in need. For more information, please visit:
trueexperience.ca.
OTF, an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209 million into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
