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Pancake breakfast and scavenger hunt coming to Kay Cee Gardens

May 5, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Sam Odrowski

A newly established standalone volunteer foundation that’s looking to grow and grant funds for children and families in need of support is running an event next weekend to get better acquainted with the community.

The Dufferin Child and Family Foundation (DCAFF) in partnership with the Orangeville Optimist Club are holding a free family event at Kay Cee Gardens on May 14 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., featuring an Around the World Scavenger Hunt and Pancake Breakfast.

The purpose of the event is to introduce DCAFF to Orangeville residents, considering it’s a newly formed foundation, that will directly support clients of Dufferin Child and Family Services (DCFS). It is continuing the work of the Dufferin Children’s Fund, which helps children, adults, and families with developmental needs who require extra support to meet their full potential. The fund has been around for over 20 years.

Chair of DCAFF Steve Scott, along with DCAFS executive director Jennifer Moore and Ian McGugan of the Optimist Club, delivered a presentation to Orangeville Council on April 25 about the family event and requested $2,000 to help offset costs associated with putting it on.

The request was unanimously approved during Council’s meeting, as well as a request to use the Town’s available picnic tables to provide seating for attendees on the day of the event.

“We were really wanting to launch the foundation in a in a family friendly type of way, especially in recognition of the last couple of years with COVID, and people not having as many opportunities to get out there, socialize and do some things as a family,” noted Moore, during the presentation to Council.

“We weren’t anticipating using this as a large fundraising event, we’re really using it as an opportunity to have kids go out and participate in a healthy educational event with their families. And also have the community become more aware of the priority areas of what the foundation does to support children and youth in our community.”

During the presentation to Council, Scott explained that DCAFF is the new fundraising arm for DCAFS, which supports children, and their families in Dufferin in three priority areas, the first being health and wellness. 

“That’s covering costs and things that wouldn’t otherwise be picked up through a ministry or through other local supports,” he explained.

The second area of focus is social development.

“That includes assisting with the cost to enroll in sports, hockey equipment, etc., to take swimming lessons, or to help kids attend camp in the summer – to support the costs associated with that,” Scott noted.

The third priority area is on youth futures, which mean supporting children with the costs associated with post-secondary education, apprenticeship programs, or other forms of job training.

Meanwhile, Ian McGugan of the Optimist Club said his organization is excited to help put on the pancake breakfast and scavenger hunt for May 14 to support DCAFF.

“We’re thrilled to be part of this event. We are ready to make some pancakes and work together with the other organizations in town. I think when we do we multiply the results,” he enthused. “The Optimists are ready to help in any kind of way that we can to make this a success and get this organization up and rolling.” 

Coun. Debbie Sherwood also shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming event.

“I’m excited about this. It sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun, and I think our little kiddies will just really love this too,” she said.

Registration is available at the Optimist Club and DCAFF Facebook pages but is not required to attend the event.

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