Helpers

'Often stray cats become strays through no fault of their own,' says Furry Friends Animal Shelter's Nicole Swyers

'Leaving your own home can be difficult, but the community here makes the transition much easier,' says Dorothy Parnell, who runs the Last Minute Store

Program at Amica Little Lake in Barrie has helped one woman overcome shyness and also assisted others in managing dementia symptoms

'If you are passionate about social justice and change, volunteering is a great way to participate on the front line of care and action in the community,' says Emily Parker

Program currently sells and delivers more than 300 boxes per month, and organizers hope to double that in 2023

'If you have stand in the reception area, you may hear the laughter coming from the kitchen, especially when the ladies are baking,' says Patricia Gilbert, who helped spearhead the Barrie project in 1998

'Our mission is to enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people,' says executive director

'Knowing that we provide others with some gentle guidance and support is the ultimate gratification for us,' says Mathew Morrison, who, along with his wife Theresa, created Bridget’s Bunnies in their late daughter's memory

'My husband Tom and I wanted to use Ryan's lived experience to make a difference. We wanted what he went through to be used for good,' says Barrie woman behind Ryan's Hope

'Caring for an animal can help children grow up more secure and active,' says COPE Service Dogs official