Kettle and Stony Point First Nation reclaims community spirit
In the spirit of our Ancestors the Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation – staff, community members, community businesses, and Leadership – “reclaimed” community spirit during the month of December 2014.
It was recognized by some staff early in the season that the usual internal and/or external groups that customarily took care of providing Christmas Hampers and/or children’s gifts for low income families and seniors did not have the resources and means to take on that responsibility again. In brainstorming, the focus of the staff was to come up with a solution that did not involve automatically going to Council to provide!
Several ideas were born and implemented:
1) Gift tags on the Christmas tree at the Administration office
- The gift tags listed gender and age of children of low income families (as provided by Ontario Works and Child & Family Services)
- Staff, Leadership and community members alike chose one or several gift tags and provided a gift
- Staff wrapped and distributed the gifts to the households the week before Christmas
- d. Close to 100 gifts were provided!
2) One time donation for Christmas Hampers from two band owned businesses
- Staff also approached other businesses/organizations to donate fresh produce and other food items
- Staff assembled the hampers for pick up and/or delivery
- Community members volunteered for the assembly and distribution activities
- d. Over 200 Hampers were provided!
3) Staff presented option for future years
- Payroll deduction of $2/pay per employee annually to cover cost of providing Christmas Hampers
- Ongoing Christmas Tree gift tags for child’s gift donations
The happiness and well-being of our community and its children, especially over the holidays, is of such importance that many came together to spread the joy of the season in a very meaningful way. The community spirit is alive and working for the Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation!