Lionhearts Hometown Heroes campaign raises over $141k in a month

Lionhearts Inc. was the beneficiary of a recent fundraising campaign called “Hometown Heroes” which ran throughout the month of June. This successful $140,000 campaign was boldly led by matching donations from the Department of Emergency Medicine at Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Center (KHSC), and the Springer Group of Companies in the amount of $35,000 each.

These Heroes have come through in a big way for those in need in Kingston and the surrounding area.

“All of us in Emergency Medicine are thrilled that the community has gotten behind the Hometown Heroes challenge in such a phenomenal way,” said Dr. David Messenger, Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Queen’s University and KHSC and SEAMO physician. “To see our donation matched three times over, in support of those in need within our community, has been so exciting! We are thrilled by the impact our support, and that of the community, will have in the weeks to come.”

“We are extremely grateful to the incredible folks at Lionhearts for providing meals for vulnerable members of our community,” Bryon and Doug Springer added. “We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the individuals who supported the Hometown Hero Challenge, as well as the Emergency Healthcare Teams of Queen’s and KHSC and Jayna Hefford for supporting and achieving the funding goal for this most worthwhile program. Congratulations Lionhearts for achieving your goal and please keep up your fantastic work in our community.”

The funds raised through this campaign will purchase meal packages for local families and individuals in need, which are distributed through Lionhearts Inc.’s volunteer-led COVID-19 Street Project.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this new initiative was launched in mid-March, and Lionhearts Inc., a registered not-for-profit, has served over 60,000 meal packages across three locations in Kingston and in partnership with Morningstar Mission in Napanee.

The packages include a nutritious meal prepared by a team of local chefs led by Will Arnaud, and necessary supplies such as bottled water, hygiene products, and snacks to help recipients make it through the day.

Each package costs approximately $5.

“We are tremendously appreciative of the Emergency Medicine team, the Springer Group of Companies, and all donors and volunteers for their work during this difficult time to care for the less fortunate in our communities,” said Travis Blackmore, Lionhearts Inc. Executive Director. “The COVID-19 Street Project, like all of our work, is borne out of our philosophy of bridging the gap between those who need help and those who have the skills and resources to do so. We are proud to be uniting our community in this way during this pandemic.”

Lionhearts Inc. also wishes to acknowledge volunteer Chef Will Arnaud for his recent First Capital Honourable Achievement award from the City of Kingston in recognition of his work with Lionhearts Inc.

Our community’s need is still great, and anyone who wishes to contribute to the Street Project should visit Lionhearts Donation page: https://lionhearts.ca/donate-now/.

About Lionhearts Inc.:

Driven by a deep desire to see all people living with human dignity, Lionhearts Inc. has been uniting people with practical acts of love since their founding in Kingston in 2014.

The cornerstone of this operation is to collect large donations of food from very generous businesses. They then deliver manageable quantities regularly, through the help of volunteers, to reinforce front-line organizations who are already doing amazing work in our cities.

Poverty knows no social boundaries. These organizations serve every demographic including senior citizens, single parents, children, families, and people living with mental illness. Lionhearts Inc. simply connects those who want to help with those who already know how to do it.

They also host The Embassy Live Music Café, a space that provides “diplomatic immunity” from any worries and troubles for the night. This is an intimate stage for live music and it creates community for every guest.

Lionhearts Inc. a registered charity and donations may be made via their website or through Canada Helps. Visit their website for more details: https://lionhearts.ca/