‘St. Lawrence Beach Trip’ wins Awesome Kingston’s July 2024 grant

At the last Pitch Party of the summer, Awesome Kingston awarded its $1,000 microgrant to a project called St. Lawrence Beach Trip, which was presented by Steph Wheeler, a community development worker at Kingston Community Health Centre (KCHC) who supports the Special Events Committee. Each month, Awesome Kingston awards the microgrant to a project that the trustees think will “keep Kingston awesome,” and this month, July 2024, is no exception.

The Special Events Committee at KCHC is made up of community volunteers, and every year it plans and implements four free community events, three affordable trips, and Operation Warm Feet, which provides winter boots for school-age children to alleviate hardships for Kingston families.

According to Wheeler, the committee has been organizing the affordable beach trip and barbecue every year for about 15 years (minus a COVID hiatus) at nearby beaches. This year’s trip will take place on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.

“All community members are welcome to attend to enjoy a relaxing day under the trees watching the Lakers pass by and swim and paddle in the crescent beach area,” she shared with Kingstonist. “The community comes together in fun; it really is a wonderful day.”

Wheeler detailed that, in the past, they have struggled to secure lifeguards and the funding to pay them, but the City of Brockville “has been wonderful” and has supported recent trips with additional lifeguards for the day at St. Lawrence Park Beach.

This is the fifth or sixth trip to this particular beach, Wheeler noted. Last year they filled three school buses, one of which is an accessible bus for those that use a wheelchair for mobility.

“The only cost we have are the buses. The barbecue is provided for us by Lakeshore West Lions Club who come for the day to support our activities,” she expressed.

That cost is supported by the small fee participants pay to enjoy a day at the beach. Wheeler said the cost to the participants for these trips is usually $3 to $5.

“We are not funded for out-of-town transportation for our trips and annually I am scrambling to secure bus sponsors for both the Zoo and the Beach. Making memorable life experiences is really important for folks,” Wheeler explained.

“Last year, we took 5 buses to the Toronto Zoo, and we depleted our Special Events funds to ensure no one missed the opportunity to make those memories… and we still had a wait list. So, this year we are charging $5 a person, maximum $25 for a household, ensuring large families are still paying the maximum of $25.”

The Awesome Kingston grant money will pay for one bus to the beach, which is on Highway 2, about an hour from Kingston.

When asked how they fund this trip without the Awesome Kingston grant money, Wheeler shared that a community business, Sunshine Variety, sponsored one bus this year, and that the ticket cost would cover half of a second bus.

“I would ask other community agencies and businesses and hope for the best,” she said of what planning would look like without the grant. “We would only have taken 2 buses, this way we can fully afford 3.”

Wheeler described the trip, based on her past experiences:

“Folks choose a pick-up location closest to them and when they get on the bus their names are on their seats ensuring families sit together, even the last ones on,” she detailed.

When they get there, they spread out and choose a spot for the day on the lawn or next to the beach. There is plenty of room, in both shade and sun to sit, as well as play structures, and, of course, the St. Lawrence River, she explained to Kingstonist.

“The children usually head straight to the water. We have several staff that attend to support the families and have fun with the children, I rarely get out of the water,” she smiled.

“The park is large enough that folks can explore and small enough that we can find them at the end of the day to return home. We gather folks when the barbecue is ready and they have a choice of a burger or hot dog (meat or veggie), watermelon chips and water.  We head home around 4 p.m. and drive along the parkway so folks have the beautiful scenic drive to end their day. It is by far the best day of the summer for staff and participants, seeing our community friends relaxed and carefree for a day is magic.”

The Special Events Committee is always open to donations to help fund these trips. Donations are accepted in person or by mail at Kingston Community Health Centres, 263 Weller Avenue, Unit 4, K7K 2V4. Wheeler asks donors to write Special Events Committee buses in the memo line.

“No amount is too small — we will provide charitable donation slips for income tax for amounts over $25 upon request,” Wheeler said.

“We will need $6,000 for buses for next year’s Toronto Zoo trip, and $2,400 for the beach trip 2025. When we don’t have enough buses, community members are left behind and report feeling left out, and that breaks my heart that any person would feel left out.”

For more details, see KCHC’s Facebook post, which includes ticket sale dates, and contact Steph at 613-449-2652 or [email protected].