Circle of Friends choir performing at the Roblin Wesleyan Church. Like many community fundraising events, Monika Cook admits the goal-setting seemed, “so easy at the beginning!” This year, for the first time, Cook is leading Circle of Friends, a 13-member team of walkers participating in Napanee’s Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) event in support of Morningstar Relief Mission.
“Morningstar has given us a home for our weekly choir practices,” says Cook, who is the Spiritual Care Coordinator for Ongwanada, a community agency dedicated to supporting people with developmental disabilities. Circle of Friends is also the name of her choir, recruited from among musically-minded people with developmental disabilities in our community. “Music has been a great thing for us,” she says, “It has helped us grow the bonds of community and foster a real sense of belonging.”
In addition to giving Circle of Friends a great practice venue, Cook says many of their people, who have complex needs, benefit from Morningstar in a variety of ways. “Whether they come to Morningstar for friendship, to volunteer, or for meal support our Circle of Friends group and their families can lead fuller lives with the kind of community support they find here.”
In addition to her work at Ongwanada, Cook serves as the Community Liaison for Lionhearts Inc., a volunteer group that rescues food from restaurants and retailers in Kingston and surrounding area. Lionhearts delivers the lion’s share of Morningstar’s donated food each week so Cook appreciates, more than most, the impact the funds this year’s CNOY will have on operations at Morningstar: helping to make much-needed repairs to the kitchen and bring it up to code.
Cook says fundraising for CNOY is new for her team, and many of them have struggled with pledges as they don’t have the social media networks that more easily support person-to-person fundraising. She remains hopeful, though, that with a boost from a wider circle of friends in the community, each of her team members will still be able to achieve their $75 goal. “They really are very excited for this opportunity to give back to Morningstar.”
Cook says the Beatles “A Little Help” is one of the choir’s favorite songs to perform. “’I get by with a little help from my friends’ is pretty much our fundraising theme for this event!”
If you haven’t made a donation to CNOY yet there’s still plenty of time to support the event. And why not consider joining Ongwanada’s Circle of Friends to help the members of Monika’s team achieve their individual goals. Click on the link below to sponsor an Ongwanada walker who has not yet reached the $75 level:
Ongwanada’s Circle of Friends CNOY Fundraising Page
To book, or for more information about Circle of Friends contact:
Monika Cook: mcook@ongwanada.com
“Morningstar has given us a home for our weekly choir practices,” says Cook, who is the Spiritual Care Coordinator for Ongwanada, a community agency dedicated to supporting people with developmental disabilities. Circle of Friends is also the name of her choir, recruited from among musically-minded people with developmental disabilities in our community. “Music has been a great thing for us,” she says, “It has helped us grow the bonds of community and foster a real sense of belonging.”
In addition to giving Circle of Friends a great practice venue, Cook says many of their people, who have complex needs, benefit from Morningstar in a variety of ways. “Whether they come to Morningstar for friendship, to volunteer, or for meal support our Circle of Friends group and their families can lead fuller lives with the kind of community support they find here.”
In addition to her work at Ongwanada, Cook serves as the Community Liaison for Lionhearts Inc., a volunteer group that rescues food from restaurants and retailers in Kingston and surrounding area. Lionhearts delivers the lion’s share of Morningstar’s donated food each week so Cook appreciates, more than most, the impact the funds this year’s CNOY will have on operations at Morningstar: helping to make much-needed repairs to the kitchen and bring it up to code.
Cook says fundraising for CNOY is new for her team, and many of them have struggled with pledges as they don’t have the social media networks that more easily support person-to-person fundraising. She remains hopeful, though, that with a boost from a wider circle of friends in the community, each of her team members will still be able to achieve their $75 goal. “They really are very excited for this opportunity to give back to Morningstar.”
Cook says the Beatles “A Little Help” is one of the choir’s favorite songs to perform. “’I get by with a little help from my friends’ is pretty much our fundraising theme for this event!”
If you haven’t made a donation to CNOY yet there’s still plenty of time to support the event. And why not consider joining Ongwanada’s Circle of Friends to help the members of Monika’s team achieve their individual goals. Click on the link below to sponsor an Ongwanada walker who has not yet reached the $75 level:
Ongwanada’s Circle of Friends CNOY Fundraising Page
To book, or for more information about Circle of Friends contact:
Monika Cook: mcook@ongwanada.com
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