Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Foundation Launch 2024 Santa's Sleigh to Fulfill Kids' Christmas Wishlists

For the past 35 years, Children’s Christmas wishes are getting fulfilled through the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation (KHCAS) 2024 Santa’s Sleigh Program launched at the Chemong Road Walmart on Thursday.

Ivana Braithwaite, 4, gets a Merry Christmas and holiday cheer from Santa as Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation launches its Santa’s Sleigh program for 2025. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Our community is so generous,” said Carrie Truman, KHCAS executive director. People have given for many years and we're hoping they're going to give in the same way again this year.”

The program is in conjunction with the Central Lakes Association of Realtors, East Peterborough Lions Club, 101.5 The Wolf, Global Peterborough and 100.5 Fresh Radio.

Roughly 900 children are involved in the foundation, with gift requests written on tags and placed on a Christmas tree in Walmart. Shoppers can grab a tag, fulfill it, and put it in a drop-in sleigh at the store. The program runs until Dec. 9 at 1 p.m.

“We are inviting the community to choose a child’s gift suggestion from our tree at Walmart, and then shop for that gift in order to fulfill the child’s holiday wish” said Truman. “The gifts will go directly to children in our community, so that together we can put smiles on the faces of local children this holiday season.”

Presents, gift cards, and monetary donations are accepted during the program. Donated money purchases gifts and gift cards for children and youth involved with the KHCAS.

Donors can make online monetary donations on the foundation’s website.

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Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society’s Board of Directors Tender Resignation

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society’s entire Board of Directors resigned on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society.

According to a press release, the resignations are effective Oct. 23rd. They follow the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services’ decision to install a supervisor.

The following is the full statement:

It is with profound sadness that all Members of the Board of Directors for the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society have tendered their resignation, effective October 23, 2024.

We were notified on October 22nd that the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services intended to install a Supervisor on October 23rd, as provided for in legislation (Child, Youth and Family Services Act). Board Members can no longer meet their fiduciary duty when this happens.

The Board worked diligently to avert this from happening; however, the difficulties we experienced are echoed across the sector and were not repairable within the structures and guidelines we must work within.

Although there will be difficult days ahead, we know that the staff and leadership team at Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society will continue to provide excellent care and service to the children, youth and families in our communities.

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Oct. 25 Is Dress Purple Day to Raise Child Welfare Awareness

Oct. 25 marks Dress Purple Day, a campaign to raise awareness about the important role individuals play in supporting children, youth, and families facing challenges.

Photo courtesy of ONtario Association of Children’s Aid Societies.

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society (KHCAS) is collaborating with children’s aid societies and Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being agencies across the province in partnership with government and community-based organizations for the campaign.

On Dress Purple Day, KHCAS invites the community to wear purple to show their commitment to child welfare and spread the message that help is available to the children and youth in our communities. Wearing purple stresses the importance of community support in ensuring the safety and well-being of children and youth in our communities.

“Dress Purple Day offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the important role we all play in supporting vulnerable children, youth and families and that the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society works together with many community organizations to help children, youth, and families facing challenges.” says Jennifer McLauchlan, Executive Director of the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society. “We are wearing purple today to show children, youth, and families that we care and are here to help.”

The goals of Dress Purple Day for the KHCAS are:

• To highlight how the KHCAS works in partnership with local community-based organizations and service providers to support vulnerable children, youth and families.

• To continue to work collectively with the Ontario government regarding the need to invest in social infrastructure so children, youth and families can access the right care, at the right time, close to home.

• To raise awareness that every child and youth has a right to safety and well-being in all spaces and that the community plays a role in protecting those rights.

• For KHCAS to strengthen relationships with local community-based organizations and service providers supporting children, youth and families.

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Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Foundation Helps Fulfill Kids' Christmas Wishlist Launching Santa's Sleigh

Children’s Christmas lists are getting checked and fulfilled through the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation (KHCAS) 2023 Santa’s Sleigh Program launched at the Chemong Road Walmart on Thursday.

Bella Myers, 5, gets a ‘Merry Christmas’ from Santa Claus as several children got a visit from Father Christmas to give him their Christmas wishes. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The program is in conjunction with the Central Lakes Association of Realtors, East Peterborough Lions Club, 101.5 The Wolf, Global Peterborough and 100.5 Fresh Radio.

The program has 900 children involved in the foundation with gift requests written on tags and placed on a Christmas tree in Walmart. Shoppers can grab a tag, fulfill it and put it in a drop-in sleigh ion the store. The program runs until Dec. 4 at 1 p.m.

For the past 34 years, KHCAS’s Santa’s Sleigh Program has helped make the holidays brighter for local children and youth involved with the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society.

“We are inviting the community to choose a child’s gift suggestion from our tree at Walmart, and then shop for that gift in order to fulfill the child’s holiday wish,” said Carrie Truman, KHCAS executive director. “The gifts will go directly to children in our community so that together we can put smiles on the faces of local children this holiday season.”

Presents, gift cards and monetary donations are being accepted during the program’s duration. Donated money is being used to purchase gifts and gift cards for children and youth involved with the KHCAS according to a press release.

Donors can make online monetary donations on the foundation’s website.

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Children’s Aid Society Creating Family Awareness With Dress Purple Day

Kawartha Haliburton Children's Aid Society (and others across Ontario) is raising awareness about the important role that individuals and communities play in supporting vulnerable children, youth and families through the provincial Dress Purple Day campaign on Friday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KAWARTHA-HALIBURTON CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY.

“Dress Purple Day offers an opportunity to raise awareness that the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society works together with many community organizations to help children, youth, and families facing challenges.” says Jennifer McLauchlan, Kawartha- Haliburton Children’s Aid Society executive director. “We are wearing purple today to show children, youth, and families that we care and are here to help.”

Dress Purple Day also reminds young people that they have rights to safety and well-being which goes beyond what we often think of when we use those words according to a press release.

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Send A Kid To Camp This Summer Through the AXE-travaganza Fundraising Event at the Peterborough Axe Club

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation is bringing back the Send a Kid to Camp AXE-travaganza fundraising event at the Peterborough Axe Club on May 5.

Carlo Raponi of the Peterborough Axe Club, Carrie Truman, Executive Director of the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation and Kevan Herod of Herod Financial Services. photo courtesy of the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation.

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation, in partnership with Herod Financial Services and supported by AON, Chemong Family Dental, KOMFS, Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn and Paris Marine, are bringing back this fundraising event with a goal to help 200 children involved with the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society attend camp this summer.

“We are so excited to be able to bring this event back. This is our major fundraiser that allows us to provide the summer camp experience to children involved with the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society.” says Carrie Truman, executive director of the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation “The format of the evening is a family friendly axe throwing competition, along with food, a photo booth and a silent auction.”

2023 is the 40th anniversary of the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation. Since 1983, Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation says they have expanded their scope of support, yet summer camps have remained a priority program. Over the past 40 years, the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation reports they have sent over 5,340 kids to summer camp.

“Summer camp can offer disadvantaged children much more than a vacation. Camp is also an opportunity to connect with new friends, to meet and build relationships with caring adults and counsellors and to get outside and just be a kid,” said Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation in a press release. Our goal is to foster feelings of inclusion and belonging in children and build their self-confidence.”

Those participating in the Send a Kid to Camp AXE-travaganza can help ensure local, at-risk children have the opportunity to experience the joy of camp this summer.

There are two time slots of axe throwing, available May 5 from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Tickets are available starting Monday for $50 per person and can be purchased online.

Event sponsorship opportunities are still available. Those interested can reach out to carrie@k-hchildrensfoundation.com to learn more. Online monetary donations directed towards the Summer Camp Program can be made online here.

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3rd Annual Santa's Sleigh Yields Over 900 Gifts For Children and Families

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation (KHCAS) has collected over 900 gifts for children and families in their 33rd annual Santa’s Sleigh program for the holiday season announced on Tuesday.

IRELAND REID, 6, TELLING SANTA CLAUS WHAT SHE WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS DURING THE LAUNCH OF SANTA’S SLEIGH AT WALMART. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The gifts are for those affiliated with the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society.

“So many individuals, workplaces and community groups came together to make sure a gift was purchased for every child on our tree, so they will each have a special gift to open this holiday season,” said Carrie Truman, KHCAS executive director. “I am so thankful for the support and generosity the community has provided for the Santa’s Sleigh program again this year.”

The event was held at Walmart (Chemong Road location) and ran from Nov. 24 to Dec. 5.

Children wrote their gift lists on cards to be hung on a Christmas tree at Walmart. Any customer could grab the card, purchase the gift and donate it in a dropbox.

Money, gift cards and presents not on wish lists are encouraged and accepted for the program as alternate ways to help.

Members of the Peterborough Lions Club, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of REALTORS and Corus Entertainment have volunteered to help add new cards to the tree and collect items from donors.

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Children's Gift Wishes Being Granted Through 33rd Annual Santa's Sleigh Program

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation (KHCAS) has launched its 33rd annual Santa’s Sleigh program encouraging the community to grant 850 children’s Christmas wish lists at Walmart (Chemong location) announced Thursday.

Ireland Reid, 6, telling Santa Claus what she wanted for Christmas during the launch of Santa’s Sleigh at Walmart. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The children affiliated with the charity wrote their gift lists on cards to be hung on a Christmas tree at Walmart. Anyone can grab the card, purchase the gift and donate it in a dropbox shaped like Santa’s sleigh.

Money, gift cards and presents not on wish lists are encouraged and accepted for the program as alternate ways to help.

"They (the children) have to be involved in the local Children's Aid Society and so they would have been referred there because there is something going on in their family that they need help with so the Children's Aid Society is involved and trying to help that family and we wanted to give themselves a boost this Christmas,” said Carrie Truman, KHCAS executive director.

The campaign runs from Nov. 24 to Dec. 5 at noon at Walmart (Chemong Road location).

Members of the Peterborough Lions Club, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of REALTORS and Corus Entertainment have volunteered to help add new cards to the tree and collect items from donors.

Click here to make an online monetary donation to the charity.

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Santa's Sleigh Program Distributes Over 850 Gifts To Kids and Families For the Holidays

After 11 days of getting the community to grant kids’ Christmas wishes, the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Foundation’s (KHCF) Santa’s Sleigh program has given over 850 gifts announced on Monday.

During last year’s campaign, the program ran under different conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and could not do their traditional sleigh drive. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

The foundation collected gift cards, money and toys for children, youth and families. The campaign collected wishlist cards from kids, placed them on a tree in Walmart (Chemong location) and had the community shop for the items to be donated.

“I am overwhelmed with the generosity, and thankful for the support the community has shown for the Santa’s Sleigh program this year” said Carrie Truman, KHCAS executive director. “So many individuals, workplaces and community groups came together to make sure every name on our tree was picked, and everyone will have a special gift to open this holiday season.”

The campaign ran from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6 and has run for the past 32 years.

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Local Charity Granting Children's Gift Wishes Through Santa's Sleigh Program

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation (KHCAS) has launched their Santa’s Sleigh program encouraging the community to donate gifts on children’s wish lists at Walmart (Chemong location) announced Thursday.

In 2019, $50,000 in gifts were donated by the community for roughly 1,200 children and teens. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The supported children of the charity wrote their gift list on cards and hung it on a tree at Walmart. Anyone can grab the card, purchase the gift and donate it in a dropbox shaped like Santa’s sleigh.

Money, gift cards and presents not on wish lists are encouraged and accepted for the program as alternate ways to help.

"There are lots of kids in need of gift cards especially some of the older kids involved with the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society,” said Carrie Truman, KHCAS executive director. “You can donate those gift cards monetary donations at the sleigh or you can make a donation online at our foundation website. This gift will go directly to the child in our community so that together we can put a smile on their face Christmas morning.”

KHCAS has been running the Santa’s Sleigh program for the past 32 years. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

During the 2020 campaign, the program ran under different conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and could not do their traditional sleigh drive. Local realtors had donated money through the REALTORS Care Foundation to ensure gifts were given to all the children last year.

"We are so excited to be back here this year,” exclaimed Truman. “We were just doing gift cards but people have been phoning me and asking if we're going to be back so I know that the community is excited to be buying physical gifts for the kids involved with the society.”

The tree with the wish lists is set up at the Home & Pharmacy entrance of Walmart on Chemong Road. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Click here to make an online monetary donation to the charity.

The campaign will run from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6 at noon at Walmart (Chemong location).

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