Instructor Caroline Gardiner (right) swims with her student Sarah (left).
Making Waves Ottawa is preparing for the winter swimming season after receiving a $1,110 community grant in November.
Starting Jan. 25, the program offers nine weeks of one-on-one swimming lessons for children with disabilities at the Jack Purcell Community Centre.
The volunteer-run initiative received the funds through an event organized by the charitable organization Soup Ottawa. Supporters pay $10 for a soup dinner and vote on which community project receives the latest grant.
At the November gathering held at a downtown Bridgehead, Making Waves Ottawa got the nod.
“I think it’s something that resonated with a lot of people,” says Soup Ottawa volunteer Tania Steyn.
“It was tangible and easy to see the benefit. This is going to have a very real impact. This is going to save someone’s life.”
Monique Marguerie, president of Making Waves Ottawa, says the funding is more than just money. She says it was a great opportunity to interact with others in the community.
According to Marguerie, the swimming lessons target children with special needs because they are at the highest risk of drowning. She says the city offers similar programs, but a lot of families find them expensive.
“Making Waves was founded with the intention of filling that demand for families who may not be able to afford it,” Marguerie says.
“If a family cannot pay our fee, we will waive it because the most important thing is that these children get swim instruction.”
The $20 program started in 2009 with 12 students, says Marguerie. She says they now have more than 80 students and are hoping the grant will help them expand.
“We do have a wait list and we do have to unfortunately turn families away,” Marguerie says. “It’s very comforting to know the community also thinks it’s such an important program.”
Soup Ottawa will host its next dinner at the end of February. Steyn says the theme will be Giving Voice to help people get heard.
“It’s 50 per cent helping groups get money, but 50 per cent getting people engaged,” Steyn says. “It’s giving them a way to feel empowered.”
The project exists as a local branch of the global food-based grant system, The Soup Network, says Steyn. She says the volunteer-run group relies heavily on Ottawa partners.
Centretown businesses have been keen to offer a helping hand, says Steyn. She says they tend to be community-minded and quick to donate what they can.
Some previous partners include Art-Is-In Bakery, Reachology and HUB Ottawa.
“We were happy to support the project as it aligned with our mission and values,” says Katie Miller, director of operations at HUB Ottawa at Bank and Queen.
“It’s a great initiative to support creative projects in our community with a positive social impact.”
Partners provide the soup, venue and any additional services they have to offer.
Steyn says this guarantees ticket sales go towards the winning project.
Reachology co-founder Arianne Mulaire says she was excited when she heard about Soup Ottawa through Facebook.
“I thought the project was such a great idea that I contacted my business partner and we offered to live tweet the event for them,” Mulaire says.
The Ottawa-based organization helps businesses reach their audience online. Mulaire says she was attracted to the community-oriented dinner because there is no bureaucracy behind the grant.
“It’s just people wanting to help people, it’s that simple,” she says.
“The money allows for a small group to better their lives which to me inevitably improves the lives of people around them.”
Steyn says they will post submissions online for voting before the February event. She says the project with the most votes will present along with five others of Soup Ottawa’s choice.