Five Counties Children’s Centre is inviting kids to put crayons or markers to paper for a chance to win prizes and have their artwork featured on thank you cards.
The regional children’s centre will be distributing cards to thank supporters for their generosity as the centre celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and is encouraging children to help by entering its 50th Anniversary Thank You Card Contest.
“With Five Counties Children’s Centre marking its 50th anniversary in 2025, we’re planning a variety of festivities to celebrate, including ones for kids to take part and enjoy,” Bill Eekhof, communications coordinator for Five Counties, told kawarthaNOW. “The 50th Anniversary Thank You Card Contest is a nice way to do this, since it engages kids’ creative skills while helping Five Counties show its gratitude for 50 years of service.”
“Having children decorate colouring sheets that the centre can then use on individual thank you cards really says a lot,” Eekhof said.
“It’s a chance for our kids to showcase their talents and, for our volunteers, donors and, supporters receiving the thank you cards, we hope it adds extra meaning that the support they’ve shown Five Counties is really appreciated by the children and youth benefiting from the services here.”
Children of all ages are being asked to lend their creative skills to Five Counties. Until Wednesday, April 30, kids are encouraged to decorate, colour, and create artwork on a selection of 50th anniversary colouring sheets supplied by Five Counties. Centre staff will use all submitted artwork on individual thank you cards.
Kids who enter the contest can win prizes, including Five Counties’ 50th anniversary T-shirts. In addition, one winning design will be chosen to grace the cover of new corporate thank you cards that Five Counties is creating in 2025 to mark the anniversary.
“Five Counties has much to be grateful for over its 50-year history, so who better to say thanks than the kids who benefit from our services,” said Maddie Jackson, community engagement coordinator at Five Counties, in a media release.
“At the core of what Five Counties does is serving and supporting kids of all ages and abilities, so showcasing their artwork on 50th anniversary thank you cards will add extra meaning when we send appreciation to our supporters.”
For details about the colouring contest, and to download one or more of the colouring sheets, visit www.fivecounties.on.ca/thankyou50/.
Opening its doors in Peterborough in 1975 and serving 126 clients that year, the centre has expanded to support children and youth with physical, developmental, and communications needs in Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County as well. That growth is reflected in the 6,103 clients in the area who received services last year through Five Counties.
As part of its 50th festivities, Five Counties is planning family-friendly events at each of its sites, including one in Campbellford on May 27, another in Cobourg in late June, one over the summer in Minden, another in Lindsay on September 6, and one in Peterborough on September. 27.
The centre is also featuring monthly stories from current and former clients, parents, families, staff, volunteers and supporters reflecting on their experiences and successes at Five Counties. These stories and more information are available at www.fivecounties.on.ca/50years/.
