While many of us take advantage of Black Friday sales, the Tuesday afterwards is worth buying into as well.
Giving Tuesday (November 28) is all about giving back, whether it’s making someone smile, assisting someone in need, making a donation, or being generous with our time and talents.
At Five Counties Children’s Centre, we have plenty to give and be grateful for every day. It’s obvious in seeing a child walk for the first time or hearing the giggle of a child greeting their therapist as they get ready for their visit.
I experienced a grateful moment at our Cougars for Kids night in Cobourg on Monday (November 20), when I had the good fortune of joining Five Counties alumnus Nick Scarr at centre ice for the pre-game puck drop before the Cobourg Cougars hockey game.
Nick is a huge Cougars fan and was thrilled to do the honour. It’s fitting that, during his time at Five Counties, our augmentative communication team set up Nick with a tablet to help him better communicate. He now uses it to text, email, and cheer on Cougars players.
There’s more to appreciate in Cobourg. Our field of dreams — the Northumberland Backyard Project — behind our centre site in Cobourg is a step closer to reality thanks to generous community support. This fall, we started the grading, drainage, landscaping, and fencing that’s needed to start the transformation of the backyard.
We want to create a safe, fully accessible outdoor area that provides space and options for treatment, recreation, cultural awareness, and outdoor education program. We hope to share more good news about the backyard project very soon, as we aim to complete it in 2024.
VIDEO: Northumberland Backyard Project – From a Field of Dreams to Reality
In Peterborough, we’ve had incredible news with a generous donation from a retired couple. Dr. James and Mrs. Sheila Ryan have gifted $227,000 to Five Counties to help us attack wait lists for kids’ treatment.
The couple worked in a hospital setting — James as a doctor and Sheila as a pediatric/orthopedic nurse — so they know of what they speak when they say: “Prompt treatment can bring amazing results.” We estimate the Ryans’ donation will benefit more than 280 children in our region.
There’s an art to saying ‘thank you’, and that was on full display this past June at our centre in Lindsay when we welcomed six-year-old Gordon and his family for the unveiling of our new Five Counties ‘thank you’ card. Gordon’s crayon-coloured dinosaur picture graces the cover of the card, with a short description on the back about the aspiring young artist.
Gordon is a former Five Counties client, who was born with a rare genetic condition called Aarskog-Scott syndrome that can cause many anatomical changes. Early on, Gordon’s parents noticed how he had difficulty reaching for objects and supporting his weight with his hands due to how they were developing.
From birth, Gordon also had crooked feet which raised concerns about how this could affect his walking. At Five Counties, Gordon was assessed to see what supports were needed, and he subsequently received assistance from an occupational therapist and physiotherapist.
“Thankfully we knew who to call — Five Counties,” notes Gordon’s mom Sarah.
We know how thankful families are to get support at Five Counties. Inspiring stories like Gordon’s and Nick’s speak to the life-changing work and impact we have in our community.
The support shown to us from groups and individuals, like the Ryans, allow us to go above and beyond. Consider that last year, treatment provided to one out of every eight children seen at Five Counties was paid for through fundraising events and donations.
At Five Counties, we know every act of generosity counts — any day of the year.
VIDEO: Investing in Our Kids Thank you to the Ryans!
