Winter Coat Collection For United Way Peterborough's Coats For Kids Program Starting May 8th

United Way of Peterborough & District’s Coats for Kids and Grown-Ups Too program strives to ensure that children and their families will be warm during the winter by providing clean, gently-used winter wear to children, youth, and adults in Peterborough City and County.

This program provides much needed relief to local families as one in six children in Peterborough lives in poverty. Families continue to deal with sharply rising costs of living and simply don’t have the means to purchase clothing to stay warm during the harsh winter months.

United Way Peterborough file photo

Coats for Kids is possible due to the generous support of Peterborough residents, community organizations, and program partners.

Since 1986, individuals and families have donated gently worn winter wear which is then cleaned at no cost to the program by local dry cleaning providers. Grainger Cleaners, Kent Cleaners, Lakefield Cleaners, and Windsor’s Dry Cleaning Centre have been active and committed program partners since the program began 29 years ago.

United Way Peterborough file photo

This year, winter coat collection will take place Monday, May 8th to Saturday, May 13th at the following locations:

-> Kent Cleaners – 183 Lansdowne St E
-> Grainger Cleaners – 885 Lansdowne Street W
-> LakefieldCleaners – Moody Plaza, Lakefield
-> Windsor’s Cleaners – Parkhill Plaza, Monaghan Rd
-> Windsor’s Cleaners – Kawartha Hts Plaza,1600 Lansdowne St
-> Windsor’s Cleaners – Riverview Plaza, Water St & Marina Blvd

United Way Peterborough file photo

Other community partners such as Global Point Logistics and McWilliams Moving & Storage have ensured that cleaned coats can be stored.

United Way Peterborough & District invests in a network of essential services to help children and families in need, seniors, and individuals struggling with life’s challenges. The Coats for Kids program is just one of many ways UW helps those in need in the community.

To learn more about the United Way, follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Help A Peterborough Woman's Little Brother With His Spinal Surgery Fund

Sean is an 11-year-old who was born with a severe chromosome disorder, as well as autism...

Sean

Sean has gone through countless surgeries and procedures each year of his life to help his health. He is currently recovering at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto from his latest and most serious surgical procedure—unteathering his spinal cords.

Despite his serious condition, Sean remains positive—full of strength and hope.

His older sister Jordan Slavik—who lives in Peterborough and is married to friend of PTBOCanada Brandon Slavik—is trying to get the word out about a GoFundMe campaign that has been started to help with the expensive cost of Sean's home care in Newmarket that will be needed for months after he gets home from the hospital.

My wife's lil bro had spinal surgery yesterday & we're looking for help going on-http://t.co/VBtRkwVwDR Your help is beyond appreciated!

— Brandon Slavik (@slavikPTBO) May 16, 2015

The money raised will go towards assisting with hospital bills, medication costs, and nurses that will be required nearly around the clock when Sean returns home.

Spread the word on your social media channels, and give what you can here. The campaign is attempting to raise $5,000, and almost $1,000 has been raised so far.

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Best Thing Ever: Peterborough Girl Sarah Edge Celebrating Her 10th Anniversary With New Heart By Hosting Blood Clinic

Sarah Edge was only six weeks old when she first begin experiencing heart problems. By the time she was 15 months, and her health in severe decline, she was placed on a heart transplant waiting list. Her family was afraid Sarah would not make it, and she was down to only 15 pounds. After weeks on the waiting list, Sarah’s mother received the miracle call that the family had been waiting for: A heart had been found!

At 18 months old, Sarah received the heart transplant she so desperately needed. Throughout her treatment, she also needed 66 units of blood products to help beat the odds that were not in her favour.

Ten years later after her miracle heart transplant and the generosity of blood donors, Sarah is giving back. In celebration of her post-transplant anniversary, the 11-year-old from Peterborough hopes that the blood donor clinic she and her family are organizing will bring out donors willing to help save the lives of children like her.

Sarah’s Celebratory Clinic is Tuesday, November 5th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at  Peterborough Blood Donor Clinic (55 George St. at the corner of George and Perry St.). Members of the community are encouraged to come out and support Sarah and other children in need of blood and blood products, as well as organs. Call 1 888 2 Donate (1-888-236-283) or go online to Blood.ca to book an appointment to donate blood. In addition, it takes only minutes to register to be an organ or tissue donor. Visit Beadonor.ca to find out how.

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Riverview Zoo Holding Sloth Mania Fundraiser For Calgary Zoo

Riverview Park and Zoo is proud to announce a fundraising event in support of the Calgary Zoo’s 2 By 2 Rebuild the Zoo campaign. In June, Calgary Zoo suffered an estimated $50 million in damage due to a devastating flood when the Bow River overflowed its banks. The flood caused severe damage to most of the zoo and forced 34 animals out of their permanent exhibits. Within days after the flood, a call for help to CAZA (Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums) went out. Riverview Park and Zoo was selected to take Calgary’s two-toed sloths, Porsche and Ferrari.

“Sloth Mania” will be held on Saturday, October 19 from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm and will feature an afternoon schedule of special "Meet the Keeper" activities (including two sessions with the sloths), a barbeque, face painting, etc. There will also be raffles that  include opportunities to win a behind-the-scenes tour of the Park and Zoo as well as an up close and personal feeding encounter with Porsche and Ferrari. Donate online at here.

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