NEWS RELEASE
KINSMEN CLUB OF STRATFORD
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On May 1 the Kinsmen Club of Stratford was happy to drop off a donation to the Stratford Library to assist the Library Snack Stop Program. For 12 consecutive months, the Stratford Kinsmen Club will be donating $500 monthly to the Library's Nutrition Program. In making the presentation Kin Doug Young stated, “The Stratford Kinsmen know the monthly donation will be wisely and efficiently utilized to help families, young students and individuals.”
At the April 11 Kinsmen meeting Shauna Coustache, Public Service Supervisor for the Stratford Public Library gave Kinsmen a presentation on the new Library Snack Stop Outreach Program it started in September 2023. Shauna noted children were coming in to eat lunch, and some had no lunch at all. Being situated near to the Stratford Intermediate School, library staff could see first hand the need of the greater community and those of our children and established a food program.
In keeping with best practices established at other libraries, Snack Stop was started. The library sees about 5-10 children at lunch, there’s another little flurry after school, and a steady trickle all day. Safe to say the Snack Stop has at least 60 visits from children a week. The cost is $600 to $800 per month to keep shelves stocked with the majority of cash funding by private donation. Shauna noted they do not scrutinize the users: some are homeless, some are school age, some elderly but approximately 40 per cent are students.
Chartered in 1945, the Kinsmen Club of Stratford was one of the most recognized service clubs in the city and at one time had over 75 active members. Major fund-raising and service projects over the past 65 plus years have included Arena Booth, Canada Day and Santa Claus parades, Canada Day fireworks, Stratford Blues and Ribfest, high school bursaries and Cystic Fibrosis to name a few.
Most recently the Kinsmen have made financial donations to the Stratford Hospital Foundation, Wellspring for Cancer, Rotary Aquabox, Connections Centre and gym equipment for a new outdoor facility by the skate park.
The Stratford Kinsmen will be hosting a couple of events in the next four months where if you would like to support them with a free will donation there will be a donation bucket available. All proceeds received from these events are used in the community. On Sunday, June 9 and Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. it is the ever popular Classic Car Show on Lakeside Drive at the Lake free to all car buff viewers with over 200 classics and a 50/50 Draw.
Then on Monday July 1 the Canada Day fireworks celebration at the SERC Park between Matilda and Foreman St. Kinsmen have been hosting the fireworks for over 30 years. Come early to get a good spot, bring a lawn chair or blanket. The food vendors will be starting at 7:30 p.m. The Canada Day Concert begins at 8 p.m. with the fireworks at dusk.
If you would like more information on the Kinsmen Club of Stratford or would like to come out to a meeting just contact us at www.stratfordkinsmen.ca
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