District announces recipients of Pay it Forward and Community Enhancement Grants

Organization

Area Served

Funding Allocated

Project Description

Foundations for Independence

Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville

$2,338

Bringing together students with Developmental Disabilities from various Muskoka secondary schools to network and establish relationships that will help them in their adult lives.

Free Stuff 4 Daily Needs

Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes, MacTier, Bala, Port Carling, Port Sydney, Kilworthy, Severn Bridge, etc.

$2,500

Addresses humanitarian needs in Muskoka where there are gaps. Collect and disperse household items donated by community members, provide aid for food, housing, rent, basic needs in emergency situations.

Friends of the MacTier Library

Townships of Georgian Bay, Muskoka Lakes and Seguin Township

$1,000

Funding two literary events. Indigenous author will share the 'art of storytelling’ in two workshops, one with adults and one with children and youth.

Imagination Library Muskoka West and Gravenhurst

Muskoka Lakes, Gravenhurst, Wahta, Bala, possibly Port Carling

$1,300

Expansion of Dolly Parton's Imagination Libraries providing free books to children in Muskoka.

Muskoka Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition (MAHT Coalition)

Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville

$1,755

Prevention initiative to equip Grade 9 students across Muskoka with the digital and social skills to prevent human trafficking. Recognizing that teenagers are primary targets for human trafficking, this project provides delivery of potentially life-saving information.

Muskoka Printmaker Collective

Huntsville, Dorset

$2,000

Delivery of printmaking workshops that will be free for participants to attend. Targeting participants who may not have means/access to otherwise attend, artists will teach classes such as Lino Block, Dry Point Intaglio, Silkscreen Printing, and Letter Writing.

Sewing Camp

Huntsville, Lake of Bays

$900

Providing the materials for sewing workshops and camps to the Muskoka community, schools, and libraries at no charge to participants.

Total PIF

$11,793

Camp Winston Foundation

Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Lake of Bays, Bracebridge

$5,000

Grandfamily Christmas Camp initiative to serve additional kinship-care families in Muskoka. Community-based holiday program designed specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren, a population that frequently experiences financial hardship, caregiving stress, and social isolation. Many of the children being raised in kinship-care arrangements also live with neurodevelopmental challenges or trauma-related needs.

Corner Lighthouse Food Bank and Community Hub

Huntsville, Lake of Bays, Novar, Dwight, Port Sydney, Utterson, Allensville

$5,000

Purchase non-food items that are essential to quality of life for people living in poverty and assisting with transportation to and from Food Bank and Community Hub.

Gravenhurst Against Poverty

Gravenhurst and area

$5,000

Weekly Healthy Snacks for Children initiative. This initiative is an expansion of the Healthy Summer Snacks for Children initiative that was launched in July 2025. The initiative is designed to provide children with nutritious, ready to eat snack bags, containing items that supplement their daily food intake when access to school-based nutrition programs is unavailable (i.e. the summer months).

Hospice Muskoka

Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes, Port Carling, Bala, Mactier, Torrence, Baysville, Port Sydney, Utterson, Wahta, Moose Deer

$2,500

To offer a Practical Caregiver Training Program which is a comprehensive, evidence-informed initiative designed to equip family and informal caregivers with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to provide safe, compassionate, and informed care.

Lake of Bays Curling & Bocce Club

Lake of Bays, Baysville

$4,238

Free certified First Aid and CPR training to strengthen safety, preparedness and community resilience within the rural area. Equipping community members and volunteers ensuring they are trained to respond to medical emergencies.

Manna Food Bank of Bracebridge Inc

Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes

$5,000

The Step Up Program is designed to address essential needs that go beyond food assistance such as basic personal care and household hygiene products not covered by social assistance or food benefit programs.

Mission Committee of Knox Presbyterian Church

Bracebridge

$3,500

Emergency Food boxes containing nutritious non-perishable food, toiletries, household cleaning supplies, eggs, frozen vegetables, potatoes, and $10 gift card to those in need. The desire to provide fresh produce resulted in the Community Garden Program needing seeds, supplies, and manure.

Muskoka Arts & Crafts Inc.

Bracebridge, Muskoka Lakes, Huntsville, Gravenhurst

$4,000

Artist-led free workshops aimed at youth. All materials will be provided, making participation accessible to all ages and skill levels. Hosted at Chapel Gallery and pop-up sessions throughout Muskoka, this program partners with different not-for-profit organizations each month to reach new and diverse segments of the community.

Muskoka Indigenous Friends Cultural Centre

Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville

$2,500

Ribbon Skirt Making Workshop providing a healing activity supporting the Muskoka urban Indigenous community’s cultural needs while bridging reconciliation with non-Indigenous allies. Workshop will coincide with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Muskoka Women's Shelters and Services

Huntsville, Lake of Bays

$4,357

A free three day/two night retreat for girls ages 12-15 who have experienced and/or witnessed gender based violence. The weekend will include therapy, yoga, beading, and topics to rebuild and strengthen.

Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions

Bracebridge, Baysville, Huntsville, Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes, Gravenhurst, Walker’s Point, Bala, Port Carling, Glen Orchard,
Melissa, Vankoughnet, Milford Bay, Mactier, Port Sydney, Dorset, Windermere, Dwight

$5,000

The Beds for Muskoka Kids program will address the need for beds, mattresses and bedding for children. Keeping children/youth as close to their family unit as possible, they are at times living in or placed in homes that meet every other requirement but lack appropriate sleeping arrangements, leading to instability and discomfort during what can be an already challenging period in their lives. This initiative ensures they have a comfortable and dignified environment to sleep in during their emergency placements.

The Salvation Army Huntsville Food Bank & Family Services

Huntsville, Lake of Bays - Baysville, Dwight, Utterson, Port Sydney.

$5,000

Initiative designed to improve access to nutritious food for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in Huntsville and surrounding areas. Program will support the purchase of additional fresh/healthy food items to supplement the food bank.

The Salvation Army South Muskoka Ministries

Bracebridge, Gravenhurst

$3,000

State-of-the-art mobile kitchen brings a healthy meal with lots of heart to the community. Volunteers facilitate the meal and ensure there is a space for friends and neighbours to share in conversation and good food.

Total CE

$54,095