Welcome To Our December Newsletter | | |
Welcome to the December edition of the Community Care newsletter! In this issue we celebrate an important employee milestone, share an update on the Good Food Box program, and much more!
View the newsletter on our website
| | A Holiday Message from Ryan Alexander | | |
It’s hard to believe another holiday season is upon us! Throughout 2025, we have had the privilege of celebrating 40 years of care in our community. As we looked back through our archives this year, we rediscovered moments from four decades of compassion and connection. Moments that have helped shape Community Care into the organization it is today.
Community Care exists because our community believes that care and support should be compassionate, accessible, and close to home. Every visit made, every client and caregiver supported, and every volunteer lending a helping hand, reinforces that belief. I often have the privilege to interact with people who use our services. Having recently attended a holiday season Diners Club, which brings together seniors for a meal and fellowship, a woman pulled me aside to express her gratitude. She spoke to being relatively new to the area, and how important the luncheon was for her and her husband’s integration into the community. It was not a long exchange, but the genuine appreciation for Community Care was on full display. It is little moments like this that serve as reminders of what an honour it is to lead an organization so deeply rooted in service and community trust.
| | A holiday lunch at the Bobcaygeon Diners Club in December 2025 | |
This care and support is not possible without meaningful partnerships between staff, volunteers, donors, health system partners, caregivers and families. Each one plays an important role in helping Community Care to respond to the changing needs of our community. Whether it be supporting seniors to live independently, helping families navigate complex care journeys, or walking alongside individuals facing life-limiting illness, our work is strengthened by the community that surrounds us.
Looking ahead to 2026, it will be a year of continued service and thoughtful growth. Our community is growing, our demographics are shifting, system pressures exist, and demand for community-based care persists. Like we have for 40 years, we will continue to leverage feedback from clients, caregivers, and people like you to position Community Care to best serve the Kawartha Lakes community.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Together we are building a community that supports and cares for one another in deep and meaningful ways. Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season!
With gratitude,
Ryan Alexander
CEO, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes
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Our Community Care Wishlist | | |
What’s on our wish list this holiday season? Your kindness and community spirit.
Right now, 80 clients are waiting to be matched with a Friendly Visitor volunteer, someone to share conversation, connection, and a bit of joy each week.
We are also in need of 10 new volunteer drivers to help neighbours get to medical appointments, run errands, and stay engaged in the community.
If you’ve been thinking about volunteering, this is the perfect time. A few hours a week can make a tremendous difference for someone who needs extra support this winter.
Help make our holiday wish come true.
To learn more or sign up, please visit www.ccckl.ca/volunteer or call us at 705-324-7323.
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Celebrating 30 Years of Heartfelt Service | | | | |
When Kerri Daley first joined Community Care in 1995, she couldn’t have known the lasting impact she would have on the people and programs of Kawartha Lakes. Three decades later, her commitment to supporting older adults continues to inspire our team and strengthen our community.
Read Kerri’s story and discover what 30 years of meaningful service looks like.
Please join us in congratulating Kerri and thanking her for her dedication to the residents and families Kawartha Lakes.
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Caring for Yourself During the Holidays
Submitted by Hospice Services
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The holiday season can be a tender time.
For many, this time of year brings connection, tradition, and joy — but for those grieving, it can also stir up longing, fatigue, and unexpected waves of emotion. There is no “right way” to feel during the holidays, and there is no timetable for grief.
At Hospice Services, we want you to know:
- It’s okay to step back from traditions that feel too heavy.
- It’s okay to create new ones that honour your loved one.
- It’s okay to feel joy, sadness, or both — sometimes in the same moment.
If you or someone you care about is navigating grief, you’re not alone. Our team is here with support, understanding, and space to talk.
Be gentle with yourself this season.
Your heart is doing the best it can.
| | | Win Big and Show You Care! | | December Early Bird Winners | | Lisa W. is the lucky winner of our second early bird prize this month! Lisa is going home with $500 in cash! | | Frances L. is also the winner of our last early bird prize this month! Frances is walking away with $1,000 cash! | | |
The grand prize draw takes place on December 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Tickets: 1 for $5 | 5 for $10 | 20 for $20 | 100 for $50
Get your tickets now at lottery.ccckl.ca or visit the Community Care Foundation office (152 Angeline St. N., Lindsay – back entrance); or call us at (705) 324-7323 ext. 8.
Open to anyone 18+ living in Ontario — so spread the word!
| | Updates to the Good Food Box Program | |
We’re pleased to share an update about the Good Food Box, as Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes joins with Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) to help strengthen and grow the program. This partnership will help reach more households and ensure continued access to fresh, affordable produce each month.
What’s staying the same:
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Pick-up will continue on the third Tuesday of each month at 21 Angeline St. N., Lindsay.
What’s new:
• Pick-up time is now extended to 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Payment and pre-payment will now be managed by Kawartha Lakes Food Source. Pre-payment will no longer be accepted by Community Care at the pick up location.
To learn more or to pre-pay for your Good Food Box, please contact Kawartha Lakes Food Source at 705-324-0707 or visit their website at https://kawarthalakesfoodsource.com/store/p/good-food-box.
If you have questions about these changes, please reach out directly to Kawartha Lakes Food Source, who will now be the main point of contact for program inquiries.
We look forward to seeing you at the next pick-up on January 20, 2026!
| | | Every Act of Giving is a Story of Hope | | Holiday Fundraisers in Support of Community Care | | This season, our community is helping spread holiday cheer while raising funds to support essential programs at Community Care. Check out upcoming holiday fundraisers below! | | St. Dave’s Diner Holiday Bake Sale | |
Get into the holiday spirit with a sweet treat for a great cause! St. Dave’s Diner is hosting a Holiday Bake Sale until December 24, with proceeds supporting Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes.
This is the last week to get your goodies, so make sure you stop by before December 24th. Check out their tasty treats on offer below!
Thank you to St. Dave’s for sharing the holiday cheer and supporting care in our community!
| | | Thank You, Kawartha Lakes Concert Band! | |
The Kawartha Lakes Concert Band recently held their Winter Dawn concert and generously chose Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes to receive a portion of their ticket sales.
Thanks to their support, $1,050 was raised for our Meals on Wheels Program, helping ensure nutritious meals continue to reach local residents who rely on this service.
We are truly grateful to the Kawartha Lakes Concert Band for their generosity and community spirit this holiday season. Please join us in thanking them for their wonderful support!
If you missed the concert this time, not to worry! you can follow the Kawartha Lakes Concert Band on Facebook for all updates on upcoming spring concerts.
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Thinking about hosting an event or fundraiser?
Consider supporting Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes. To learn more, please contact the Community Care Foundation at foundation@ccckl.ca or call 705-324-7323 ext. 8
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Community Kitchen
We have added new dates for our Community Kitchen this January! This is a chance to work on your cooking skills by making a soup recipe with fresh produce. Participants will take home some of the soup they help make and contribute to meals that will be shared with others in need in our community.
📅 Upcoming Sessions:
January 6th | 10:00AM – 12:00PM, 21 Angeline St. N. Lindsay
January 13th | 1:00PM – 3:00PM, 21 Angeline St. N. Lindsay
No registration is required. Feel free to drop in and help make some delicious and nutritious soup for your community!
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Wellness Program Holiday Break
A friendly reminder that our Wellness Programs will be taking a short break over the holidays.
There will be no wellness programming from December 22 to January 2. You can check out our January calendar below for specific start dates of programming in the new year.
| | | Girl Guides Spread Winter Cheer with Care Packages | | |
This winter, some of our clients received a little extra support and kindness thanks to a thoughtful initiative supported by Kimberly Cook, Community Care’s Director of People and Culture. Kimberly, who also volunteers as a Girl Guides leader, organized an activity where girls from her unit assembled care packages and emergency kits for Community Care clients in need of a bit of extra comfort this season.
The kits were filled with winter essentials such as soup, shampoo, body wash, blankets, and other important items, which were all chosen to help keep clients warm, supported, and cared for during the colder months.
A heartfelt thank-you to Kimberly and her Girl Guides unit for this wonderful act of community kindness. Your generosity brightened the season for so many!
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As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’re looking back at memorable moments from past newsletters.
In December 1999, Community Care shared practical advice with clients and caregivers on how to prepare for the uncertainty of “Y2K.” With concerns about potential power outages and service disruptions, our communications covered our readiness plan to support clients as the year 2000 approached.
It’s a meaningful snapshot of a moment filled with uncertainty, and a reminder of how Community Care has always kept our focus on ensuring clients feel safe, supported, and never alone.
Take a look at the full page below and enjoy a glimpse into our roots!
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Let's Do Lunch!
Join us at our Diners Club for some warming winter meals!
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We have just a few more holiday lunches scheduled this month along with some delicious meals planned for January. Click on the menu below to see a larger version.
Don't wait, reserve your spot today!
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As we reflect on this milestone 40th anniversary year, we’re filled with gratitude for the kindness and support that surrounds Community Care. From our caring staff and volunteers to our generous donors and community partners, you make it possible for us to provide care and support to thousands of your neighbours each year.
For four decades, our neighbour-helping-neighbour spirit has guided everything we do, and it’s your compassion that continues to bring that philosophy to life. We are truly lucky, and deeply thankful, to be part of such a remarkable and caring community.
Wishing you a peaceful, joyful holiday season, and heartfelt thanks for being part of our story.
Happy Holidays, from all of us at Community Care.
| | Join Us in Making Every Day Better | | |
At Community Care, every role is a chance to create real, lasting change. Whether you’re lending your time as a volunteer or building a career in care, you become part of something bigger—a community rooted in compassion, connection, and hope. If you’re looking for purpose and the opportunity to truly make a difference, we invite you to explore our current openings.
Together, we can make every day better!
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CARE FOR ALL AGES
We're here to help
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