NHCT is moving and growing

March 22, 2018

North Hastings Community Trust program co-ordinator Jane Kali, left, and board members Rebecca Malloy and Jay Gizuk stand behind what will be the front counter of the Trust. / SARAH SOBANSKI Staff

By Sarah Sobanski

North Hastings Community Trust is moving down Bridge Street to a larger location and it’s hoping the community can help.

The Trust has announced it will be expanding to support its continuing growth in “programming, advocacy and community work.”

The Trust provides emergency financial support to those who need it and develops community-based initiatives to help end poverty in North Hastings.

“We are moving because we are growing,” Trust program co-ordinator Jane Kali told Bancroft This Week via email. “The support and engagement from the community is awesome and is part of strengthening a community network of support.”

Kali said the Trust is trying to keep costs for renovations under $2,000. Already underway, she said work on the new space will be completed “very inexpensively” through community donations including labour and materials.

While some donations have already come in, Kali said the Trust is still seeking support for the move which “moves [NHCT] closer to a truly community-owned organization.”

Kali provided a list of needs including financial donations for construction and/or construction materials such as dry wall, paint and barn wood. Furniture donations are needed as well, “specifically …couches, chairs, lamps, desks [and a] kitchen table.”

That’s not to mention the costs of future operations where the Trust needs office supplies, cleaning supplies and heat and hydro costs donated. Of course, supporters can offer to help run Trust programming or be a part of the renovations work crew.

“We imagine the space full of people working creatively on solutions to poverty and injustice, enhancing our Wood Share project and Harvest the North Community Gardens, plus developing other collective responses as we continue to create a healthy, safe and equitable community,” said Kali. “We imagine all ages coming together to problem solve our local issues and celebrate our connections and positive work together.”

Financial donations can be mailed to NHCT P.O. Box 1615 Bancroft, ON, K0L 1C0 or can be directed to Canada Helps on on its website, www.northhastingscommunitytrust.org. The announcement also encouraged those looking to help to drop-in at the renovation site 23 Bridge St. or call the Trust at 613-339-1100 for further details on needs donations.

“We are extremely excited about this move. We will be located between A Place for The Arts and Life House, creating a real community hub here,” said Kali.

The new location will open in April followed by a celebration, she said. The date will be announced shortly.