Community Outreach Initiatives at Lakehead Orillia

What is Community Outreach?

We are a student-led committee dedicated to making Lakehead a more unified community where we can assimilate our values and passions in initiatives to help the city of Orillia. Our initiative's objectives are to raise money by gathering donations from Lakehead students.

When Do Your Meetings Usually Take Place?

We have meetings once a month, and they are usually half an hour long. They commonly take place during the evening, and you can find the dates plastered all over the residence building.

What Do Your Meetings Usually Look Like?

We discuss and evaluate possible initiatives and their logistics, which we want to see unfold. When we have settled on something, we decipher the location, prices, dates, jobs, volunteers, and other essentials. We will usually separate the tasks among our members; therefore, everyone can be involved because Community Outreach is an inclusive space where everyone’s voice is equally valued. On a side note, if anyone has any ideas for a fundraiser they are passionate about, do not be reluctant to reach out to me! I would love to fit in another initiative before the end of the year.

What are The Upcoming Initiatives?

Bottle Drive for the Comfie Cat Shelter: We are currently attempting to raise money for the Comfie Cat Shelter by collecting empty wine, beer, or liquor bottles, glass or aluminum until February 28th. Each floor is competing, and the prize is a pizza party. The Comfie Cat Shelter is not funded by the government and operates solely based on donations and charity; therefore, it is imperative we contribute! (Note: please drop off all your bottles in your common rooms.)

Artisan Market: We are still getting the details situated; however, we know it is happening around the end of March. We are thinking of getting student artists to set up tables where they can sell their creative pieces, such as baked goods, trinkets, paintings, crochet, etc. We are generally open to anything. The money collected will be going to a foundation or organization that is to be determined. If anyone has a small business they would like to promote, they are welcomed to join the Artisan Market. 

Can Students Who Are Not in Residence Contribute?

For Community Outreach events, there is a fee that non-residence students have to pay because we are using residence money. However, if they would like to donate their bottles to the Comfie Cat Shelter fundraiser, they are totally welcome.

Why Do You Think People Should Join The Community Outreach Committee?

Community Outreach is the perfect place for students who want to feel heard. University is an outlet to access a broad array of chances to explore yourself and delineate the person you want to become. Therefore, Community Outreach offers you to take an activist role in the City of Orillia while having the liberty of balance between school work and extracurriculars. 

Have any questions? Email: ssmackin@lakeheadu.ca