Don Harloff had a valid point this week.
The executive director of Woolwich Community Services suggested that it’s time for the township to take another look at its grant budget, which has essentially stayed the same for years, with a few cost-of-living increases.
That’s because cost-of-living increases don’t account for two things — the continued growth of the township (with an approximate population of 23,000), and the economic struggle that our residents are facing.
Woolwich Community Services is one of three local agencies that helps those who don’t always have the resources to help themselves. They are joined by Woolwich Counselling Centre, which provides counselling services regardless of the ability to pay, and Community Care Concepts, which provides affordable support to keep seniors in their homes as long as possible.
All three agencies already rely heavily on support from the community through fundraisers. Woolwich Community Services, for instance, holds an annual golf tournament for its Family Violence Prevention Program, participates in the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, and, earlier this month, sold poinsettias and angel ornaments in support of its programs.
Woolwich Counselling Centre has held such events as a Patsy Cline tribute show, as well as bringing luminaries Malcolm Gladwell and … Martin to Floradale, as fundraisers for the agency.
Community Care Concepts also does its own fundraising, and all three agencies rely heavily on the support of volunteers to deliver their services.
These are compelling arguments for providing more support to these three organizations, who do so much good in the community.
Of course, there are others — the thousands of township residents who benefit from their services.
Agencies such as Woolwich Community Services, Community Care Concepts and Woolwich Counselling Centre are part of what makes this township so special.
They are the organizations that help people when they have lost their jobs, are struggling with personal issues, or are becoming more and more unable to fully care for themselves as they age.
While one could argue that many of these services are outside of the jurisdiction of the township’s responsibilities, which include keeping roads and infrastructure in repair, and providing recreational activities for residents, there is another argument that could be made.
It is simply this — the health and state of our community are enriched by these program providers, who do so much good for so many.
As such, we believe it would be a worthy investment to increase funding to all three organizations in the coming year.