IODE Ontario

Our Bestowal of Charter Ceremony was held on March 27th, 1985 in Orangeville, the same year the tornado hit Grand Valley and continued on to Barrie. Our first fundraiser earned us enough to donate $200 to the local Disaster Relief Fund.

In June 1985, we undertook an education project: presenting Grade Six General Proficiency Awards at all publicly funded elementary schools in the Orangeville area. Subsequently, schools in Grand Valley, Marsville and Laurel were included for these awards.

We kicked off “Operation Furry Friend” in 1990 so that children could have a stuffed toy for comfort after they had surgery, which can be a very emotional situation for them. To date, we have given well over 3,000 Furry Friends to children at the Dufferin Area Hospital, now known as the Headwaters Health Care Centre.

We regularly contribute to the Westminster United Church “Milk Program”. This program is an emergency temporary assistance for families experiencing difficulties. Milk or formula coupons are given monthly for a maximum of 6 months.

Since our first year, we have tried to make Christmas a little brighter for Dufferin County families in need. Since 1994, IODE Yellow Briar has supported the Dufferin Child and Family Services during Christmas. Families in need are chosen from the Infant Child Development Program to receive gifts, along with food vouchers and little something for the parents. ICDP worker Nina Little said, “It is remarkable after all these years that this group of ladies continues to assist our families!”

In September 2000 we launched the Baby Think it Over program at Orangeville District Secondary and Westside Secondary Schools. The Baby Think it Over program is responsible parenting program that uses a life-like doll whose crying is electronically programmed to mimic the needs of a newborn infant. We recently purchased an Empathy Belly for the Family Studies class at the Westside Secondary School.