Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp and Retreat Center is getting a $63,000 grant to ensure the community has safe and ready access to critical programming, activities and spaces, Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced Tuesday.
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This funding, through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund, will provide Hidden Acres with the resources to develop a one-week summer life skills program, and a spring and fall respite retreat, while adding an additional day to its weekly day program that runs throughout the year.
“Hidden Acres has been a cherished local community organization providing valuable programming for over half a century,” Rae said. “This is well-deserved funding that has gone a long way in supporting the most vulnerable in our society and their families.”
These new and expanded programs, called LINC (Learning IN Community), will increase Hidden Acres’ capacity to support young adults and their families while increasing its resiliency and sustainability.
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“Whether it’s helping people learn new things, connect with their community or simply have fun, organizations like Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp and Retreat Center deliver experiences that make a difference,” said Stan Cho, the provincial minister of tourism, culture and gaming. “That’s why grant support through the Ontario Trillium Foundation is so important. This funding will help ensure it remains at the heart of the community for decades to come.”
A private association of Christians affiliated with the Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada operates the almost nine-hectare camp and retreat center between Shakespeare and New Hamburg. It celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2022.
Chris Pot, Hidden Acres’ executive director, said the funding “was key to increasing our impact on the many young adults with special needs and their families in our community. This grant allows us to welcome more young adults, support more families and develop new programs that create safe and welcoming spaces where friendships can flourish, life-skills will be developed, and a lot of fun can be had.”
Last year, the Ontario Trillium Foundation invested more than $110 million into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment.
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