This fall, over $100,000 was distributed among 19 Sarnia-Lambton organizations through the community impact program of the Sarnia Community Foundation.
Since 1983, this foundation has been raising funds for local initiatives and currently manages assets totaling around $18 million. Each year, it grants money to charities and agencies focused on enhancing education, health care, equality, safety in communities, industrial innovation, and workforce development.
Recently awarded at the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario Jerry Mc Caw Family Centre, this year’s grant recipients include:
Aamjiwnaang Athletic Club Mastermind Youth Foundation Literacy Lambton Women’s Interval Home of Sarnia-Lambton Sarnia Concert Association Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton Inn of the Good Shepherd Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton Harmony for Youth Lambton College Pathways Health Centre for Children St. Clair Child and Youth Services St. Vincent de Paul Sarnia-Lambton YMCA of Southwestern Ontario Sarnia-Lambton Rebound Indwell Junior Achievement South Western Ontario Family Counselling Centre Sarnia-Lambton Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent Fall recipients of the community impact grants from the Sarnia Community Foundation. (Handout)
Mike Barron, executive director of the foundation, mentioned how crucial these grants are due to ongoing mental health and housing challenges faced by people in the community.
“Affordability within the community, it’s not just here,” he stated. “It’s across the province. It’s across the country.
“And so organizations see that as well, so the need to be able to grant to them is highly important.”
Celebrating its 43rd anniversary this year and having given back over $15 million to charitable groups thus far, the foundation divided its community impact awards into two rounds: spring and fall.
In springtime, six recipients received more than $30,000 altogether according to Barron; this brings total recipients for this year to 25.
In both 2024 and 2025 there were only 16 recipients.
Barron noted that applications have increased recently with around 35 submitted this year and last year compared to about 25 in 2024.
At the recent award ceremony, attendees shared stories highlighting how these funds are making a positive impact.
For instance at the YMCA, funding helps subsidize memberships. Officials recounted a story about a man who benefited from assistance then chose to give back later with his own donation after experiencing help himself.
“It was such a great story to kind of talk about that full circle,” he remarked.
Plans are underway for a Giving Tuesday campaign soon that will help support next year’s spring grants as well.
Tyler Kula joined The Observer in 2008 and covers Sarnia city hall. A southwestern Ontario native and Western University graduate; he has also reported on health care and education.
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