North Bay Police Donates $5,000 to Local Charities

The North Bay Police Service Board has announced the recipients of its annual Christmas donation campaign.

At the December 17, 2024, meeting of the North Bay Police Service Board, members voted to donate $5,000 in funding to local charitable organizations. Five charities received $1,000 each. The recipients are:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Bay and District
• Nipissing First Nation - True Self Debwewendizwin Program
• L.I.P.I - Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing
• VON Canada – Meals on Wheels Program (North Bay)
• North Bay Santa Fund

The donations come from the North Bay Police Service Board’s contingency fund, which is funded through the North Bay Police Service Auction. Funds can be distributed by the Board to support causes in the public interest.

“I am very happy to announce the donation of $5,000 to five very deserving charities in our community,” said Richard Stivrins, Chair of the North Bay Police Service Board. “Each one of these organizations provides significant support to those in need in North Bay. The holidays are a time of giving – not just gifts, but time, energy, and funds to those in need. I am glad we as a Board are able to do our small part and provide a helping hand.”

Background

Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Bay and District provides 6 distinct services for children and youth who are living in single parent homes, or societal care.

These programs include: Traditional one to one Big Brothers, Big Sisters mentoring; Big Steps to Success Indigenous mentoring; Go Girls and Game On School based mentoring; Youth In Transition program; Housing Support program and RBC Big Possibilities Post Secondary and Career mentoring program.

All of our services are free and accessible. We recruit, screen, train and supervise volunteers to fulfill our mission to “ignite the power and potential of young people”.

Nipissing First Nation - True Self Debwewendizwin Program operates the Mental Health and Addiction Peer Support (MAPS) program, which provides reintegration and recovery supports in one-on-one and/or group peer support; establishes rapport, trust and mutual understanding with individuals based on shared lived experience; explores individual’s recovery goals and identify ways to help them feel more connected with supports; shares with the individual experiences related to them, emphasizes an educational component and/or provides creative experiences that foster healing and recovery.

L.I.P.I - Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing operates the LIPI Santa Needs Help Program. For 30 years, LIPI has been delivering gifts for children and youth to ensure that all families have an amazing holiday. LIPI has supported thousands of low‐income families. Annually they average 460 families with more than 1,200 children.

VON Canada – Meals on Wheels Program (North Bay) has been pioneering care at home for over 120 years. Today, we are a highly-trusted non-profit organization that works with our clients, employees, volunteers and partners to provide innovative clinical, personal and social support to people who want the comfort and peace of mind of living in their own homes and communities.

“Making meaningful change in home and community care” is the focus of their forward-thinking Strategic Plan and goals toward 2025. VON has a unique and valued impact on the people they serve in the home and community care sector, and on the healthcare sector as a whole.

North Bay Santa Fund collects donations to help those in need during the holiday season. Their volunteers assemble over 375 baskets of groceries and over 1,500 toys to be delivered to families and children in North Bay. Operating for 77 years, the Santa Fund is the city’s largest and longest-running fundraising effort. Each year, individuals and groups in the community come up with creative ways to help support the cause. The packing and delivery of hampers is a Christmas tradition for many residents. Many volunteers braving the weather to help ensure that families don’t go without during the holidays.