Cobourg-initiated ‘10 for 10’ campaign raises $11K

Mayor Lucas Cleveland says a Cobourg-initiated fundraising campaign has raised $11,195 to support people impacted by wildfires in northwestern Ontario. /Town of Cobourg photo

By reporter Natalie Hamilton

Residents, businesses and organizations in Northumberland have stepped up to help people displaced by the ongoing wildfires in northwestern Ontario to the tune of $11,195.

Town of Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland has announced that the fundraising campaign – endorsed by Cobourg council during a recent summer council meeting – has been a Northumberland County-wide success.

“Thanks to the generosity of our community members from across the county … businesses, service clubs, and community organizations, the ‘10 for 10’ campaign raised a total of $10,500 in just 10 days,” Cleveland told his fellow county council members during Northumberland County council’s August meeting.

“On behalf of the Town of Cobourg, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to every single individual who donated,” he said.

Previously, Cobourg council passed a motion at its July 22 council meeting to endorse the campaign called ‘10 for 10’ to support residents of both Whitesand First Nation and the community of Armstrong, which is 250 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.

Men, women and families were evacuated in July because of the forest fires and placed in hotels in Thunder Bay with only what they could carry, noted the town, in a press release. The full impact on their homes and community remains unknown.

Cleveland said the news about the total money raised is appreciated by the chief of Whitesand First Nation, and residents of Armstrong are also thankful.

He originally introduced the concept to Cobourg council as a tangible way the town could help its neighbours in need.

“You call 10 people over 10 days and you ask for $10,” he explained.

“It’s a real simple campaign because if everyone does it – if you have 500 people each call someone for 10 days and ask for $10 – that’s $50,000.”

The mayor said the response from the community after Cobourg passed the motion in support of the campaign was “outstanding.”

“This is exactly what 10 for 10 is about – small, manageable acts of generosity that add up to real support for families from Whitesand First Nation and neighbouring communities.”

The campaign officially ran from July 24 until Aug. 7.

All donations were collected through the Town of Cobourg and will be forwarded to an agency assisting the families and individuals in need. Since Cleveland’s announcement at council, an additional $695 was raised, bringing the total to $11,195, the town recently noted.