By Kevin Alkenbrack

We’re doing something a little different this month, folks. Morningstar Relief Mission is celebrating #nutritionmonth 2021 with Making Ends Meat, a social media education and awareness campaign to share budget-minded tips and resources to benefit individuals and families struggling with the increasing cost of food.
 
The economic impact of the pandemic continues to put people in our community at heightened risk of food insecurity. And while there is nothing Morningstar can do about the rising cost of food, we can showcase the experience of our cooking team, and the skills they use every day, to kickstart a hopeful, practical, conversation with our community about healthy eating on a budget.

The kitchen table means different things to different people. And for an increasing number it is a stressful place that symbolizes the struggle to make ends meet. As we continue to hope and pray for better social conditions, and more livable wages, Morningstar’s focus is on compassionate response in the present.

Every week we feed hundreds of people across Lennox & Addington County. This month we are putting the knowledge and expertise that helps us do that on the social media menu to benefit hundreds more.
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So, stay tuned!  

On Saturday, February 20, 142 registered walkers, with the support of more than 1,100 donors, took to the streets of Napanee for the third annual Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) walk, raising more than $61,000, well beyond this year’s $50,000 goal.
 
“Our community always stands behind Morningstar,” says Lynda Carney, CNOY’s event chair for the second year in a row, “Even with so many changes to the event due to COVID-19 our walkers just crushed it!”

A rush of images from social media this past Saturday revealed a sea of smiling faces and people wearing colourful toques, their enthusiasm for the event undampened. Teams gathered in COVID-safe bubbles to self-organize walks and routes across Greater Napanee.

Lynda Carney says this year’s event went from one milestone to the next, benefiting from a groundswell of support from local businesses who offered prizes and incentives for the fundraising teams. “On February 8 we had to raise the goal from $30,000 to $50,000,” explains Carney, “and we surpassed our 2020 total of $43,030, on February 14. By February 17, with three more days to go, the $50,000 goal was reached. And by the weekend we were just blown away that we’d gone past $60,000.”
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In three years CNOY has raised more than $140,000 in support of Morningstar Relief Mission, enabling the grassroots charity to purchase its building and to help fund the installation of a commercial kitchen. “This outpouring of generosity will do so much to help Morningstar strengthen services to those on the margins,” says Kevin Alkenbrack, Executive Director, “As needs have risen in the community, so has the size of our operation which is now countywide. As we explore new programs, the incredible support of the community brings us that much closer to making them a reality.”
 
Steve Martin, Morningstar's Board Chair, is particularly grateful to the business community who rallied behind CNOY. “Our business leaders have been so generous during one of the most economically challenging times in modern history,” says Martin, “as a local service provider our task will be to seek new ways to meet the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of people who are hungry, homeless and hurting."
 
CNOY is a family-friendly walk-a-thon, national in scope but local in impact. Residents in Napanee were joined by nearly 25,000 people, nationwide, and the coast-to-coast effort raised more than $9.3 million in support of charities that serve people in need in communities across Canada. With many donations and sponsorships still being counted, the event has well surpassed its $8 Million goal.
 
Donations to CNOY will continue to be accepted until March 31. Visit www.morningstarmission.ca for more information or to give online. 
 
Morningstar Mission is particularly grateful to the following event sponsors and local business who helped to make this year’s CNOY such an overwhelming success:
 
Event Sponsors
Country Butcher Shop
Ryan Satnik – Morgtgage Agent
Jonathan McDonald, Mortgage Intelligence
All-Risks Insurance Brokers Napanee
 
Business Sponsors
Marie’s Place Music Emporium
Kerr Kreations
Ellena’s
The Good Home Co.
Mamma Mia Pizza
The Spa Company
Napanee Blooms
Lumberjacq
Against the Grain
Milady’s Lace
Carole & Jane Wooden Toys
Touch of Wellness
Critter Comforts
Starlet 

By Natalie Martin

Wondering why to walk virtually with Morningstar Relief Mission in this year's Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) event on February 20? Here is the story of one of our team captains... and why she walks for Morningstar:

In the wintertime I have what I need to stay warm. I look out the window and see the wind blowing and snow and know there are people who are living outside. It creates an anxiety in me. I am not rich, but I can collect money from others to help those who need it. 

Susan Gustavel

Susan has been volunteering for Morningstar for five years: baking deserts for meals and helping with food drives and baskets through her church. Currently Susan helps with meal packing and preparation teams. Last year Susan was the top fundraiser for CNOY locally and is well on her way to being No. 1 again this year!

Thank you Susan, for your hard work. We appreciate your dedication to Morningstar Mission.

Sponsor Susan or visit our CNOY page to register or sponsor another team or walker.

Have you thought about volunteering with Morningstar Relief Mission but aren’t sure if it is safe? Have you wondered why Morningstar is able to operate while many other organizations have needed to close?
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Firstly, vulnerable people from across Lennox and Addington County now rely on Morningstar for about 1,200 meals per week. Like all organizations that are on the front lines of the pandemic addressing food insecurity, we are considered an essential service. Except for a small team of paid staff, our core operation relies almost entirely on mobilizing volunteers to channel a compassionate response to people in need.

Our volunteers also become part of the Morningstar family and keeping them safe, while they continue to serve our community, is our top priority. To do that, we follow the public health guidelines around the use of Personal Protective Equipment, we adhere to sanitizing protocols, and screen daily and track sign-ins to allow for contact tracing.

Having use of the Lion’s hall to prepare, cook, and package meals allows our volunteers to spread out and work safely together but without having contact with the public. Marjorie Murphy, who frequently volunteers at the Lion’s Hall said she debated staying home during the Province’s most recent stay-at-home order. Ultimately, she decided to keep coming, “volunteering gets me out of the house, and I have so much fun.” Marjorie says that since she cannot host visitors at home, volunteering for Morningstar enables her to see other people, “I feel quite safe doing it, and we all wear masks and social distance; it is very therapeutic.”

Morningstar’s delivery drivers and Water Street meal hospitality teams do have contact with the broader public and we seek to make those activities as safe as possible, as well. Jim Bell who volunteers from behind a PPE barrier on Fridays during our meal hospitality really looks forward to seeing the patrons that come in to pick up their meals. “I do feel safe,” says Jim, “we all wear protection. It is rewarding to help them.” Jim looks forward to having a short chat and feels good about the help the meal program is providing to our community.
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At Morningstar, our volunteers are like a big family that cares for and encourages each other. If you think you or your family might be interested in volunteering, please visit our website at www.morningstarmission.ca/volunteer, email us at morningstar@cogeco.net, or call our office at 613-354-6355. We encourage you to find out for yourself the variety of ways you can have some fun, do some good, and join our family of volunteers!