Grey Bruce CAN founder Alicia Sylvest (left) and Administrator Gelja Sheardown April 6 with some Easter goodies that were being distributed to families in the area.
Kiera Merriam
Grey Bruce Community Aid Network (CAN) was founded by Alicia Sylvest who began the initiative under a different name when she moved to the area from Waterloo in 2019.
"I had run something similar there so I wanted to start something here," she said in an email to Saugeen Shores Hub.
Grey Bruce CAN runs as a mutual aid organization in which a collaborative sharing of resources aims to meet the needs of the growing number of community members who are struggling to makes ends meet.
The areas where mutual aid and indeed many charities and non profits are needed highlight systemic failures and areas in our society where people find it hard to have enough resources to be able to meet their needs.
Sylvest herself has been a single mom living in a shelter having escaped domestic violence. "I know where gaps in community programs existed and I had a strong desire to fill those gaps for folks who are living the same experiences I have endured," she said.
Sylvest said that she saw a significant increase in requests during the pandemic. "To better encompass the growth we experienced and the work we are doing, we changed our name," she said. Originally named Kenny's Kidz Grey Bruce, the organization became Grey Bruce Community Aid Network (Grey Bruce CAN) in 2023.
Grey Bruce CAN runs with a team of seven administrators plus a large group of team reps operating in a total of 17 communities across Grey and Bruce counties. The organization's home base is at Sylvest's home just outside of Chesley.
In addition, they have volunteer drivers as well as volunteers for their various committees including their Basic Needs Program, Event Planning, Auction Planning, and their Fundraising and Sponsor Program.
It's now their sixth year serving community members across Grey Bruce and Sylvest said that when they started they were only receiving a handful of requests for support. Now their Basic Needs Program, which offers food support, is seeing upwards of 80 or more requests per month.
"January saw 105 families served," Sylvest said, adding that the highest rates of need are coming from Owen Sound, Meaford, and Arran Elderslie.
In addition to food, Grey Bruce CAN supplies menstrual products, diapers, bras, and infant formula.
"We also have a gently used clothing and housewares program," Sylvest said. "These items are donated by the community and stored at our home base where people can access them free of charge," she said.
The organization also helps families with Easter, back to school, birthdays, and Christmas. "These are done through a sponsor," Sylvest said. "Recipient families are anonymously paired with folks in the community who shop for children they are paired with," she said, adding that if there is something they are unable to assist with, they either provide community resources, such as 211 Ontario, or post to their online platforms for community assistance.
They work with women's shelters in the area and local schools. "For Easter we got a referral from a school principal," said Sylvest. "We had already closed the program but when we get a direct referral we want to accommodate that," she said.
"Our donor base is remarkable," added Sylvest, saying that of the 105 requests they received in January, 70 of them were fulfilled by community donors. "We are always on alert of the possibility that as our numbers increase, donors may also decrease," she said.
Grey Bruce CAN is holding their fifth annual Spring Fundraising Auction from now until April 29, 2025 through their Facebook page.
There are several items on offer including tattoo, massage and day spa sessions, books by local author Jenny Lee Learn, gift baskets, signed Owen Sound Attack hockey sticks, a gift certificate from Boon Bakery, a Taste and Tour for Two from Neustadt Brewery, a mid-week one night stay for two at Back Forth Glamping, cleaning services, photography services, hand made children's clothing, a Henna session, and much more.
There is a starting bid posted on each item and bidding closes April 29. The person who placed the highest bid with the latest time stamp will be tagged and notified via direct message.
All rules and conditions for the auction are available at www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=718667310724219&set=oa.1176362413765498.
Grey Bruce CAN is not a registered charity. "We are considered a grassroots, unincorporated organization," Sylvest said. As such they cannot issue tax receipts. "We have zero overhead so all funds raised or donated go directly back to the community," she added.
"We believe that kindness cannot coexist with judgement," said Sylvest. "We pride ourselves on being non-judgemental. Lead with kindness," she said, adding that they are diligent in addressing situations where their policies are not being adhered to.
"We value our donors and we aim to ensure their generosity is being used in an honest manner," Sylvest said.
They also respect discretion and when the need is there will delete texts or emails after requests have been fulfilled.
To access the services of Grey Bruce Community Aid Network or to become a donor, you can find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GreyBruceCAN or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/grey_bruce_can.
You can also email greybruceCAN@gmail.com or call or text 519-379-0982.
Sylvest's home outside Chesley is often used as a drop off and pick up depot for donations. Grey Bruce CAN has depots in 17 communities across Grey Bruce.
