HOME BUILDERS RAISE $80,000 FOR COVID-19 EFFORTS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — Construction companies scrambled this week to make sure Easter eggs are available this weekend for those affected by the coronavirus.
In just five days the Muskoka Home Builders Association (MBA) raised more than $80,000 to help.
The Relief Effort delivered $24,000 to four local food banks Wednesday to help them re-stock shelves for the long weekend’s anticipated rush.
Next week they are donating $20,000 each to the hospital foundations in Parry Sound, Huntsville and Bracebridge.
They also plan to support two local women’s shelters that are part of the Muskoka Women’s Advocacy Group.
The money raised is part of a $100,000 goal, says MBA vp Thomas Cowden (Cowden Construction).
He and fellow directors Kurt Browne (North Star Exteriors and Mike Archambault (Tamarack North) delivered $6,000 cheques each to the Manna Food Bank, Table Soup Kitchen Foundation, Harvest Share Community Food Program, and the West Muskoka Food Bank.
“For all of us, even as competitors, this is the right thing to do, making an immediate impact,” Archambault said in an earlier release.
Cowden said the three friends and industry associates anticipated the need months ago.
Today, he told MuskokaTODAY.com in a phone call that back in January they had loose discussions about what could be ahead and thought about how they might help.
It was after returning from a trip to Florida just before the March Break that the fund idea crystallized when restrictions and shutdowns emerged daily.
The casual conversations “switched quickly then.”
He said they “realized” that “if there was anything we could do, they’re “rather do it and make difference.”
So began the fundraising to “relieve the pressure.”
As MBA board members the sought an “emergency” meeting and got instant support from the board for this “quick call for action.”
The board authorized a $10,000 donation to kick-start the ambitious initiative.
Cowden said it’s in-keeping with other charitable endeavours the organization undertakes each year in the communities they serve.
One of them is the Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“Once we got that, we did an instant e-Blast to members” and the “three Amigos” began calling other professionals and co-workers in the area.
The response was instantaneous, overwhelming and generous.
While the pandemic has also affected the construction industry, some of them are able to keep working with restrictions.
“A lot of us are able to work,” Cowden said.
But the timing was a major hurdle.
Spring is a time when there are a lot of conversations about summer building plans and projects.
“The community as a whole is in desperate need,” said Cowden, adding it’s not meant to help those working in the industry.
“It’s going to have a ripple effect.”
But it’s not one-and-done fundraiser.
Cowden said the need is going to be there for months if not more.
The small committee has already talked about upping the goal to $250,000.
Ideally, they’d like to see 2,000 donations of $100.
But that could all change as COVID-19 spreads.
He said there’s “a ton of people” in the construction-related fields with “rainy day funds” to help.
“Any help is appreciated.”
They have three levels of donation: bronze, silver and the highest gold, which represents donations of $5,000 or more.
If you are a contractor or builder you can donate through the MBA website or a special
Muskoka Parry Sound Relief Fund – GoFundMe account. #YourConstructionIndustryCares
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Cowden 705 571 3440 thomas@cowdensgc.com
Kurt Browne 705 645 8404 kurtbrowne@norstarexteriors.com
Mike Archambault 705 765 1364 mike@tamaracknorth.com
www.muskokabuilders.com or search: gofundme-muskokaparrysoundrelieffund
Kurt Browne & manna food bank representative.
Email Mark Clairmont at mark@muskokatoday.com
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