Community Outreach Vehicle - John Howard Society

Want to join us in making a difference? We are raising money for the John Howard Society of Simcoe and Muskoka, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.

Our goal is to purchase a pick-up truck or a cargo van to assist our community with various needs. Some of these needs include:

Emergency/crisis intervention, harm reduction and encampment check-ups are some of the many goals for our agency. With the new and questionable by-laws in Barrie regarding the distribution of things like food and water in a public space, as well as the destruction of encampments in Orillia, there is a greater need for outreach services now than ever before.

Housing for all is one of our main priorities. A vehicle will help with the process of getting people into their new place.

There are many fundraising opportunities for short-term and long-term solutions to many of the problems affecting our community. We are running a bottle drive program and we have several charity auctions coming up.

Sometimes it is necesary to ensure that everyone is aware of the ongoing issues that we may not see on a day-to-day basis. John Howard Society of Simcoe and Muskoka is working to ensure that basic needs are being met for every single person, without discrimination.

As a non-profit, we largely rely on donations of food and clothing to redistribute to our clients. In the past few years, we have seen a dramatic increase in food insecurity. We work closely with businesses and residents to ensure a steady supply of the things needed most in hard times.

The John Howard Society runs various programs such as cooling stations in the summer and a warming centre in the winter. A vehicle to transport supplies needed to run these programs is crucial to maintaining smooth operations.

We offer assistance to people dealing with the justice system and reintegration process. Often, we see many people set up for failure, causing them to get caught up in the "crime cycle." By assisting with housing needs, rehabilitation programs and ensuring legal matters are dealt with, we can help to make sure that people don't have to resort to crime as a means for survival. Transportation to court, visitations and various release planning programs are some of the plans we have for the near future.

Many of our community's most vulnerable are struggling to get the help they need. A lot of this is due to transportation issues. Sometimes we can't find a family doctor or specialist nearby and a lot of the time, we see our clients simply going without treatment as a result.

We have many different initiatives to improve the living conditions of the entire community. Projects like supportive transitional housing, food drives and outreach events, all require us to have the capacity to transport people and goods to where they need to be.

Cost Breakdown (approximate figures)

-$3500 will go towards a vehicle for the agency's needs

-$1500 will go towards insurance and maintenance costs

-$1000 will go toward fuel costs

These funds should sustain our programs for about a year

At the John Howard Society of Simcoe and Muskoka, we strive to ensure that everyone has the basic needs to survive, thrive and live life to its fullest - regardless of demographic background. Unfortunately, since the pandemic, the issues we are facing have gotten much worse, but it doesn't have to be that way. The good news is you can make a difference without getting your hands dirty or giving up time out of your day. Your donations can make a big difference in the direction things are heading. It's not too late to improve the lives of so many affected by the pandemic and various other traumatic events. Join us now in our journey to end homelessness and work toward equity and equality for all.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Our community thanks you for your contributions!