Welcome To Our February Newsletter | | |
Welcome to the February edition of our Community Care newsletter! In this issue we launch our Online Handbags for Health auction, extend an invitation to our upcoming Hospice Services event, and much more!
View the newsletter on our website
| | Handbags for Health Goes Online | |
The Community Care Foundation is excited to announce that Handbags for Health is going online this year! While we’re pressing pause on our in-person event, the spirit of this much-loved fundraiser remains the same: beautiful handbags, friendly bidding, and meaningful support for local healthcare.
Our Handbags for Health Online Auction features a curated collection of stylish handbags and luxury items, all up for bid from the comfort of your home. Every bid helps support Community Care programs and services that make a difference for people across Kawartha Lakes.
Whether you’re searching for a statement piece or treating yourself to something special, this is your chance to shop with purpose and support a great cause.
🗓 Auction closes February 28, 2026
🌐 Bid online at handbags.ccckl.ca
Happy bidding and thank you for supporting Community Care!
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Hospice Services is pleased to present Grief: The Elephant in the Room. Join us on March 31st for an evening of meaningful stories shared with kindness and wisdom by renowned grief specialist, Eugene Dufour.
Eugene is a clinically trained therapist and international speaker with vast knowledge and experience in life, loss, and resiliency. With more than three decades of experience in hospice palliative care, bereavement, trauma, and family therapy, he brings extraordinary depth and compassion to his work with individuals, families, and caregivers in Ontario, Canada, and beyond.
Space is limited. Reserve your space by March 27th, 2026 to jcraig@ccckl.ca or 705-324-7323 ext 553.
| | | Our Next 50/50 Draw is Live! | | |
This 50/50 has three Early Bird Prize Draws of $500, generously sponsored by Mariposa Dairy!
Early Bird Draw Dates:
📅 February 18 - congratulations to Sharon Y. for winning the first Early Bird Prize!
📅 March 3
📅 March 18
The main draw Jackpot takes place on March 31st!
🎟️ Ticket Packages: 1 for $5 | 5 for $10 | 20 for $20 | 100 for $50
Get your tickets now at lottery.ccckl.ca, in our office 152 Angeline St N., Lindsay, or call us (705) 324-7323 option 8.
Every ticket helps support vital programs in our community. Don't wait, get your tickets today!
| | | More Ways to Support Community Care | | Show Your Support with a CCCKL Winter Hat | |
The Community Care Foundation is excited to share their new “I Support Community Care” hats!
Each hat is more than just a winter accessory, it’s a statement of support for the people and programs that make our community stronger.
Grab your hat today for only $25 and wear your support proudly.
Visit shop.ccckl.ca or call 705-324-7323 option 8 to learn more!
| | Nominate a Staff Member or Volunteer for a Shining Star Award | |
Do you know a Community Care staff member or volunteer who has made a meaningful impact? You can recognize them with a Shining Star Award! With a donation made to Community Care, your nominee will receive a gold star pin, certificate, and public recognition.
This month our PSW Amber M. was nominated for a Shining Star by Kaca, who shared her heartfelt gratitude for Amber's skills, empathy, attitude and work ethic.
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Read the Community Care Foundation Winter/Spring Newsletter | | |
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The Community Care Foundation has published its latest Winter/Spring Newsletter, featuring highlights from recent fundraising initiatives, community partnerships, and the impact of donor support over the past quarter.
Inside, you’ll find stories that show how generosity from our community continues to strengthen programs and services across Kawartha Lakes.
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Printed copies are also available at the Foundation office, 152 Angeline St. N. (Lower Level), Lindsay. Feel free to stop by and pick one up.
Thank you for being part of a community that cares.
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When Grief Feels Stuck
In this month’s feature article below, Morgan McConnell, Grief Counsellor with Community Care’s Hospice Services team, explores the experience of complicated grief — what it is, why it happens, and how support can help when grief feels overwhelming or “stuck.”
If you or someone you know could benefit from speaking with our Hospice Services team, help is available. Visit www.ccckl.ca/hospice to learn more or get in touch with us at 705-324-7323 ext. 550 or hospiceinfo@ccckl.ca
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Complicated Grief: When Grief Feels Stuck
Submitted by Morgan McConnell, Grief Counsellor
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Grief is always complicated. Complicated grief refers to normal, necessary grief that has become extra complicated—grief that feels stuck or off track. It most often develops after an especially challenging loss, relationship, or life situation.
Complicated grief is not an illness or a personal failure. It is a form of grief that makes sense given the circumstances of the death, the nature of the relationship, and the life of the person grieving. Still, it can be deeply painful, and many people benefit from professional support to help their grief move forward again.
Why Grief Becomes Complicated
Grief may be complicated by many factors, including societal discomfort with mourning, sudden or violent deaths, ambiguous or “out-of-order” losses, limited support, prior losses, other life stressors, cultural or spiritual beliefs, family dynamics, or the quality of funeral and counseling experiences. These factors provide context, not blame.
Common Symptoms
People experiencing complicated grief may notice prolonged shock or numbness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, intense yearning, anxiety or fear, explosive emotions such as anger or rage, persistent guilt or self-blame, and deep or prolonged sadness or depression. These experiences are part of grief—but in complicated grief they tend to be more intense, longer lasting, or more disruptive.
Mourning as the Path to Healing
The healing response to complicated grief is not to eliminate grief, but to engage in mourning—the active process of helping grief move again. Mourning involves:
- Acknowledging the reality of the death
- Allowing and expressing the pain of the loss
- Remembering the person who died
- Developing a new sense of self
- Searching for meaning and purpose
- Receiving and accepting ongoing support from others
A Final Word from a Complex Grief Counsellor
Complicated grief does not mean you are grieving wrong. It means your grief makes sense. With time, compassion, and often professional support, grief can begin to move again—at its own pace.
| | | New Program: Tai Chi Fundamentals | | | | |
We’re pleased to introduce Tai Chi Fundamentals, offered in partnership with the Lindsay Tai Chi Club. This gentle class focuses on basic Tai Chi movements, with an emphasis on posture, balance, coordination, and controlled breathing.
Tai Chi is known for supporting flexibility, relaxation, and overall well-being, making it a wonderful option for those looking to stay active in a calm and supportive environment. Classes are held at 21 Angeline St. N., and full details, including dates and times, can be found on our program calendar below!
Pre-registration is required. Call us at 705-324-7323 ext. 181 or email wellness@ccckl.ca to get started.
| | Check out all our upcoming wellness programs this March! Click the calendar below for a larger PDF version that you can view and download. | | | | |
Just a reminder for Good Food Box participants that pick-up continues on the third Tuesday of each month at 21 Angeline St. N., Lindsay, with an extended pick-up window from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Please note that payment and pre-payment are now managed by Kawartha Lakes Food Source, and pre-payment is no longer accepted at the pick-up location. To pre-pay or learn more about the program, visit their website or call 705-324-0707.
If you have any questions about the program, Kawartha Lakes Food Source is now the main point of contact. We look forward to seeing you at the next pick-up!
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We are still in need of volunteers to deliver Good Food Boxes!
Good Food Box Delivery Drivers help make healthy, affordable food accessible to everyone in our community. By delivering food boxes to participants’ homes or community pick-up sites, volunteers play a vital role in reducing barriers to healthy eating and supporting community connection. The time commitment is just 1-2 hours on the third Tuesday of every month.
We'd love to hear from you! Visit www.ccckl.ca/volunteer to learn more and apply!
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Let's Do Lunch!
Join us at our Diners Club for some warm and tasty meals, all freshly prepared by our team.
| | 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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