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Our Kids Count

745 Simpson Street

Local charity requests city funds for new community kitchen

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Thunder Bay charity Our Kids Count went before the city’s Finance and Administration Standing Committee on Tuesday to request a $450,000 grant.

The charity is hoping to use the sum, which would be taken from the city’s Community Partnership Reserve Fund, to cover the purchase of a building at 745 Simpson Street that used to be a Circle K.

The effort to renovate the old Circle K is already underway, but if the city approves the charity’s request, it will be able to purchase the building.

“It will allow us not to carry a lease or a mortgage, and be able to allocate the money towards programming instead of those leased costs,” says Our Kids Count Executive Director Jackie Knough.

Knough says that the organization has been fundraising for the project for some time and has already raised $2 million of its $2.7 million goal to convert the property into a community kitchen and hub.

Our Kids Count offers free programming at their locations to allow families to cook, share in a communal space, and access resources, such as budgeting education.

The organization is family-focused and offers children a chance to learn how to cook.

“It is a little bit different than some of the other programs that are also available in our community,” Knough says.

But she explains that demand for the charity’s services has increased over the years to the point that they require more space.

“With our breakfasts, families were lined up out the door, and it was more like takeout because our space didn’t hold enough people,” Knough says. “With this new space, we’re hoping to bring more people to be able to come back, sit inside, and connect with our team to learn about all of the resources and services that are available.”

With rising rates of food insecurity across the country, the mission of organizations like Our Kids Count seems more relevant than ever.

“It’s hard to see the number of families that are in financial need, but we are happy to be of some small relief,” Knough adds.

The Finance and Administration Standing Committee recommended the approval of Our Kids Count’s request at Tuesday’s meeting.

The proposal will now come before a full City Council meeting for the final decision.

Our Kids Count Logo on White Background

Our Kids Count hosting community event to showcase new spaces, future plans

Our Kids Count (OKC) is inviting the Thunder Bay community down to their facilities on McKenzie Street to kick off a fundraising campaign and showcase their new spaces.

During the event, the organization is launching its Building Block Campaign, which aims to raise roughly $2.7 million to grow and expand some of its programs.

“With the rising costs in our community around food and other basic needs, OKC programming is needed more than ever, and Our Kids Count is responding to the need by developing new spaces that allow for more families to be able to access and participate,” explained Executive Director Jackie Knough.

“The event this weekend is really about bringing families together, community partners and everyone to come and see what we’re doing. We are going to be giving tours of the new spaces. We’re going to have a free BBQ thanks to sponsors, face painting, crafts and all kinds of things for the children and families to do.”

The event is taking place on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 704 McKenzie Street and along the block.

Part of the event will be showcasing the organization’s vision for its properties on McKenzie.

“It’s close to the whole block from 704, where we currently are, all the way down to the corner where it used to be the old Circle K that is going to be developed into a new community hub,” added Knough.

“That’s going to have a kitchen and our food cupboard, where families can come and learn how to cook and attend our community breakfast and dinners.

In July, OKC opened its early learning centre in the basement of its initial home location.

This necessitated the acquisition of the old Circle K, which is now going to house OKC’s food security programs, which were displaced by the centre’s opening.

“We’re really making that space accessible and inclusive of everyone in the community,” said Knough.

OKC has also purchased a house between their initial location at 704 McKenzie Street and the old Circle K.

The plan is to develop the house’s backyard into a green space for the children attending the Early Learning Centre.

The inside of the house is going to be used as a training facility for OKC’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Program and some of its admin offices.

The upstairs of the original location is going to be developed into a larger space where OKC can provide education and training to families, and community partners will also be able to access this space.

“It’s really exciting,” added Knough. “It’s kind of all coming together, as the renovations of the hub will start in November, and then in 2026, we will focus more on the training facility.”

The organization’s fundraising campaign is expected to be a five-year effort.

They have already received contributions from the province that will be announced at the event.

Local organizations like the Fort William Rotary have also stepped up to lend a helping hand.

Knough noted that despite the five-year campaign, they are over halfway to their fundraising goal.