ABOUT US:

The Waupoos Family Farm provides a space for families with lower incomes to take a break and enjoy a vacation. The camp like atmosphere of the farm means there’s something for everyone. While the children swim in the pool or explore the farm – parents are able to relax and enjoy time with their family without the stresses of everyday life. As a non-profit organization the farm has always relied on community support and we're asking for your support now. Maintaining older infrastructure means we don't always have the funds for improvement projects that we want to tackle in an effort to serve our families better.

THE CAMPAIGN:

The Lodge is the hub of activity for the cottagers and the basement of the lodge is a recreational space for children and the whole family to kick back and play games. The problem is that space is truly a basement and isn't suitable for use during the winter or any colder times of the year. Heading into The Waupoos Foundation’s 40th year we want to upgrade that space so it's accessible and usable for all our guests year round and we need your help to do that. You can help by donating to our renovation fund for the basement repairs. Like so many things, on the farm it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease and that means other projects have been left on the back burner. We want to outfit the Lodge basement so that along with the cottages families stay in they also have a place to play, meet new friends, and connect with the community.

A-Squared Home Improvements has signed on to help us with the renovation and have agreed to donate some of the labour for the project, but we still need to pay for the rest. To make the basement safe and welcoming we’ll be damp-proofing the area and putting in a raised floor to get our guests off the concreate. The second stage is properly insulating the walls, replacing some missing drywall and adding a new coat of paint. Lastly, if we reach our fundraising goal we plan to add storage to one of the walls which will mean more room for people instead of stuff. Here’s a breakdown of how the money we raise will be used:

BUDGET:   (numbers are rounded to the nearest dollar)

Install subfloor & laminate:

• Damp proof raised floor underlayment   
• Misc supplies
• Laminate foam underlay
• Laminate maple finish
• Laminate installation               
• 8 Hours of Labour                               = 5,683.00

Insulate, replace missing drywall, patch/repair and paint walls:

• Insulation
• Vapour Barrier
• Drywall
• Baseboard
• Paint
•  28 Hours of Labour                             = 2,055.00

Build/Install "Custom Built Shelves

• MDF (Painted, with adjustable shelves)
• 20 Hours of Labour                              = 1,452.00

GRAND TOTAL                                            =  9,190.00

Our fundraising goal of $10,000 means we'll have hopefully have some extra cash on hand to take care of any unexpected costs and/or buy additional furniture or games for the space.

OUR STORY:

The Waupoos Foundation was founded in 1975 by Father Fred Magee and friends when they took over the Oblate family farm on Waupoos Island, near Picton Ontario. Facilities were later expanded to include a farm located just outside of Ottawa on Rideau Road. Over 7000 families have enjoyed a respite with us, and over 25,000 people have used our facilities. Waupoos' motto is "Pray, Work and Play" and we welcome everyone who wants to participate in any, or all of these activities. The families that visit us arrive via many channels including social services, schools and parishes. Waupoos Family Farm continues to provide vacations to families in need through the gifts of time and talents of many individuals that support the Waupoos ministry. Their efforts and commitment have enabled Waupoos to fulfill its mission and serve the community in unique and valuable ways.

Find out more about Waupoos Family Farm and The Waupoos Foundation at http://www.waupoos.com/

- Are you looking for a vacation getaway?

Waupoos offers vacation opportunities for families meeting low-income cut-off criteria. We offer full week summer vacations as well as year-round weekend getaways for you and your family. Just a 10 minute drive south the Ottawa airport our beautiful 200 acre farm has everything you’ll need to have a memorable family holiday, from a gorgeous landscape ready to explore in any season to fun-filled activities planned for all members of your family. Waupoos has a wheelchair accessible lodge, cottage and chapel.

More info on our how to apply here - http://www.waupoos.com/vacations

- Looking to volunteer?

The work of the Farm is undertaken almost exclusively by volunteers, and contributing your time, network and capacity is just as valuable as a financial contribution. If you are interested in serving those in your community in need, Waupoos Family Farm is an excellent opportunity to do so. For more information on how you can get involved, please write to contact@waupoos.com