News

Two and a half year-old Nicholas Thaler spent the past summer helping his mom and dad grow a variety of delicious vegetables in their family garden in Ingoldsby.

A gardener at heart, some of the items he grew included zucchinis, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, kale and more. His favourite things to grow and eat are little tomatoes and zucchini, said his mom Katie Paroschy.

“We have a big garden and Nicholas helps plant it,” she said. “Mostly he helps pick things.”

After he helps pick the veggies, he then sells them to neighbours and friends at ‘Nicholas’s Veggie Stand’, said Katie. However Nicholas doesn’t squander his proceeds on candy or toys, but instead puts it to good use.

“With the money he made he got to keep half for his savings account and the other half he donates to a local charity. This year we decided to donate to SIRCH Community Services,” said Katie.

Nicholas donated $93 to SIRCH this fall, all raised from selling his veggies. His donation enabled SIRCH to give more than 18 nutritious meals to those in need. We are so grateful to Nicholas!

Last year he donated his garden proceeds to the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre.

Katie says the large garden is a community effort, with lots of friends and neighbours helping out. However Nicholas pulls his weight.

“He is a good worker, he’s a good helper around the house and the yard,” said his mom.

https://haliburtonecho.ca/sirch-to-open-bistro-in-haliburton-village/?fbclid=IwAR1L4_Fy8yjeIfh-EF1Dnvj8QTNVoJu9geUHvvROeHIcjWCpNumjo-WB7J8

Looking for help and don’t know who to call? Download the Haliburton County Community Resource Directory. If you still need help please call us at 705-457-1742.

Do you sometimes wonder how you’ll put food on the table for you and your family?  Are you concerned about the upcoming fall and winter?

SIRCH Community Services is looking to the community to help them assess the need for food in general and SIRCH’s frozen meals specifically.  While requests for the meals have increased dramatically, SIRCH isn’t sure it’s all COVID related.

We are connecting with local food banks, community organizations, and residents to collect information and experiences on the impact of the pandemic as it relates to their ability to purchase nutritious food. We’re also asking some additional questions to try to gather information that might be helpful in creating solutions to food insecurity in our county. Already we have made valuable and meaningful connections in the community, and the research being done will have a greater impact on Haliburton County.

An online survey will help capture issues in regards to food security and whether they are COVID related or not.. The survey is completely confidentiality.  No names or identifying information will be given out. 

SIRCH appreciates and values everybody who takes the time to complete the survey and share their story. This information is highly valuable and will help shape their outreach programs going forward. 

Click HERE to complete the Food Security Survey

SIRCH, in collaboration with Haliburton Highlands Health Services, sent a call to the community for cloth masks back in April. The response was amazing and be the end of July we had received over 1,200 that were sent to HHHS to be sanitized. Some were kept there for the use of front line staff and the rest were returned to SIRCH to bag and distribute to the community.

Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr.Teresa Tam, has said that non medical masks (e.g. homemade face masks) may stop you from touching your mouth and nose and could help cover your cough if you are ill or have early symptoms of Covid-19.  But it can’t be an excuse to ignore measures such as hand washing, social distancing and self-isolation. Mask-wearing must be complementary to, not a substitute for, other actions.

Together we have done so much! Thank you for your unwavering support to our community – particularly through the difficult past months.