Tour de Guelph supports Guelph General Hospital and many other local charities through the Rotary Clubs of Guelph South and Guelph Trillium. Many local charities are supported through Rotary Clubs of Guelph South and Guelph Trillium. Below you will find some of the organizations that have benefitted from Tour de Guelph funds in the past.
Expecting your first baby is a life-changing moment, and when you are on your own, a scary time. Fortunately for young mothers in Guelph, Michael House is there to support them through this chapter in their lives.
For 22 years now, Michael House has provided residential services to over 500 families through its two shelters, the first offering living accommodation to five families, as well as individual apartments to eight families where they can stay for two years.
But it is more than a roof over their heads. Classes are offered on parenting, financial management and life skills, as well as group and one-on-one counselling.
Meals are often prepared as a collective, with residents taking turns in cooking dinner, which is when staff realized that the mothers could benefit from some cooking classes. Not only do they participate in classes, but receive a recipe book, so when they leave Michael House, they can continue preparing healthy meals for their families.
This year the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium zeroed in on the request for kitchen equipment and through their donation, Michael House purchased slow cookers and blenders for each of the residents.
This way they were able to cook cheaper cuts of meat, and with the blenders toss in a few vegetables, so the children who won’t eat vegetables, actually got them in their diets.
When the mothers leave the residence, they get to keep the equipment so they can continue to provide healthy meals for their children and themselves.
With no government funding, the charity relies on donations, grants and their own fundraising efforts. And it is through the money raised through Tour de Guelph, that the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium was able to provide a grant to support these young families in providing a healthy lifestyle.
The Rotary Clubs of Guelph South and Guelph Trillium have been valued partners in Tour de Guelph since its beginning. The Rotary Clubs share of the proceeds are distributed to a variety of not- for- profit organizations in our area. They can support maternal and child health, poverty initiatives, programs fighting food insecurity as well as youth development, family support and community building.
