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GREEN WOOD COALITION 

Historical Blog Archive


To donate a clean, gently used coat to our One Warm Coat campaign, drop it off during the month of December at the following times at our two designated locations:


FRANK'S PASTA & GRILL

426 King St. E.

Cobourg, ON

Daily, noon to 8 PM

93 WALTON ST.

Port Hope, ON

Tuesdays 11 am-2 pm

Thursdays 5-8 pm

Saturdays 11 am-2 pm


To make a cash donation to Green Wood's community program fund, use the DONATE NOW button on this site, or mail to P.O. Box 61, Port Hope, ON L1A 2Z2.




Green Wood Coalition and One Warm Coat® warming our community…one coat at a time. While the need for warm coats has never been greater, it has also never been easier to meet this vital need in our community. Green Wood Coalition invites area residents to join them in an effort to ensure that no one goes without a warm coat this winter. Green Wood Coalition is holding a One Warm Coat drive and will be collecting clean, gently used warm coats. One Warm Coat is dedicated to collecting and distributing gently used warm coats--free of charge and without discrimination—directly to children and adults in the local area. The coat drive program provides an easy way for individuals and families to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors by simply passing along winter coats that are no longer needed. When she heard that a winter clothing program for people living in poverty was not available this year, Nicole Whitmore knew she needed to do something to help. “I’ve been there, I know what it means to be cold and not have the resources to buy warm clothing.” For one in ten Northumberland County residents who live in poverty, purchasing a winter coat is an unaffordable luxury. Nicole is hoping that there are others in the community who will also help those who are in need of winter clothing. Nicole is a part-time Outreach Worker with Green Wood Coalition, a grassroots charity that connects struggling individuals and families with services that can help them. After getting the support of the Coalition, she then approached two local businesses about becoming partners in a local One Warm Coat drive through the month of December. Frank’s Pasta & Grill (462 King St. E., Cobourg) will launch the One Warm Coat campaign with a December 4 (6-11 PM) event that will feature live music and great food. They will be accepting coat donations that evening, and will be the Cobourg drop-off location throughout the month. Oliver Steins of Ganaraska Art & Framing in Port Hope has offered the use of his new store space that would otherwise be empty until he moves his business there in January. Green Wood Coalition invites you to bring your clean, new or gently used, coats and jackets to either location during the month of December. The process is simple: you drop off your extra coat and Green Wood Coalition takes care of the rest, distributing coats to local people in need. If you do not have a coat to donate, you can help to meet individual needs by donating to Green Wood’s community program fund (eligible for charitable tax receipt).


IT'S ALL ABOUT CRACK 11/15/2013 Crack cocaine has been receiving a lot of press lately, but very little of the talk has helped us to understand the nature of the drug and its place in our communities. An op-ed piece in The Ottawa Citizen by Dr. Mark Tyndall, a professor of medicine at the University of Ottawa, probes our popular understanding of crack, which may stand in the way of helping those with addictions. "We have been conditioned through the media and by the spread of popular misconceptions that crack is untreatable and a serious threat to our cities. That crack users are a menace to society and that criminal punishment is the only way to curb the problem. The response has been to use the criminal justice system to seek out the dealers and the users and to round them up and put them in jail. All this at the expense of any reasonable dialogue, research, or even interest in prevention, treatment or the social and mental health challenges that got people started in the first place." -Dr. Mark Tyndall Read the full article here


MAKING IT BRIGHTER 11/4/2013 Last Saturday night's fundraising concert 'Till Things Are Brighter' was a remarkable event in many of the ways that matter most. A lively, appreciative audience that represented the full spectrum of our community heard some outstanding interpretations of the Johnny Cash songbook, from 'Hey Porter!' to 'Hurt', performed by a generous slate of musicians who had traveled many miles to be with us. Of special note was Linda McRae, a veteran of several performances at Folsom Prison, who drove from Tennessee and back again, just to support the work of Green Wood Coalition. We are thankful to everyone who supported our major fundraiser in a variety of ways. We especially appreciate the financial support of our corporate sponsors whose generosity allowed us to give a block of free tickets to people living on a low income, assuring that no one was excluded. They include: Acme Electric, Port Hope Comfort Inn, Port Hope Ross Funeral Chapel, Port Hope Adventure Canada, Toronto Cobourg Honda, Cobourg The Waddell, Port Hope Summerhill Bed & Breakfast, Port Hope We owe a debt of gratitude to David Newland for his work as Artistic Director, building an outstanding program for us to enjoy. Thanks to Deborah Hackett for shooting these great photos of the event.



FINDING GOOD LIGHT 11/1/2013 The month of October was a brilliant time for our Creative Arts Group as we enjoyed the privilege of spending time in the studios of several working artists in our community. Huge thanks to Katie Flindall, Jo Murphy and Helen Kennedy for generously welcoming us into their creative spaces.



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TODAY'S HEADLINE 10/29/2013

Musicians Graydon James and Laura Spink will perform at the 'Till Things Are Brighter: The Songs of Johnny Cash’ fundraiser for the Greenwood Coalition on Nov. 2 at the Cameco Capitol Theatre in Port Hope.

PORT HOPE -- Sit back and enjoy the songs of music legend Johnny Cash in an annual fundraiser.


Johnny Cash -- the musician, family man, recovered addict and spokesman for the downtrodden -- continues to inspire Till Things Are Brighter: The Songs of Johnny Cash, the third annual fundraiser for the Green Wood Coalition. The concert is set for Nov. 2 at the Cameco Capitol Theatre in Port Hope.


Read the rest of the Northumberland News article here.


THE WINNER IS... 10/26/2013


The winning ticket for our Gourmet Dinner Raffle was drawn at this afternoon's Open House by Fundraising Chair, Loretta Fraser, ably assisted by Kaye Torrie. And the winner is...Bobbye Thorn of Port Hope. Congratulations, Bobbye!


Thanks to each person who purchased a ticket, helping us to raise over $1,700. Our thanks also to the sponsors of our special prize package:



Chef Gary Cole


Our neighbour on John Street in Port Hope, The Beamish House, is offering a 'Johnny Cash' pre-show, Southern-style menu for Saturday, November 2. Make a reservation and start your evening there, before enjoying the show at The Capitol Theatre.





Much has been written and said about the life and times of the charismatic, sometimes volatile, always thought-provoking musician, Johnny Cash. Green Wood's annual


fundraising concert, 'Till Things Are Brighter: The Songs of Johnny Cash, connects the dots between Johnny Cash, the artist, and Johnny Cash, the humanitarian whose songs addressed racism, injustice, addiction and poverty. Columnist David Hughes tells a story that places the heartbeat of Cash in our local context. Tickets for next week's show are on sale at Ganaraska Art & Framing in downtown Port Hope, or by calling 905-269-7610. Here's a clip from last year's 'Till Things Are Brighter' concert, featuring a moving performance of Cash's song 'Unchained' by legendary Canadian singer/songwriter, Melwood Cutlery.





Tickets for this year's fundraising concert, "Till Things Are Brighter: The Songs of Johnny Cash', go on sale Monday, October 7, in Port Hope. The legend of Johnny Cash - musician, family man, recovered addict, and spokesman for the downtrodden - continues to inspire this annual musical revue, set for Saturday, November 2 at the Cameco Capitol Theatre in Port Hope.


Two previous shows, featuring a stellar roster of roots artists performing Cash’s repertoire, have been a hit with the audience.This year's concert is expected to be a sell out, with this fantastic performer lineup, just released by Artistic Director/Host, David Newland:



Tickets ($30/$25 in advance) are available at Ganaraska Art & Framing, in downtown Port Hope.




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COUNTING DOWN 9/30/2013


We're countingdown to the annual Green Wood fundraising concert, Till Things Are Brighter: The Songs of Johnny Cash, on Saturday, November 2 at Port Hope's historic Capitol Theatre. Tickets ($25 in advance) are available at Ganaraska Art & Framing on Walton St. in Port Hope. Here's a highlight from last year's concert that features The Maple Leaf Jug Band with their take on Cash tune from the 1970s.








As social events move indoors for the cooler season,

we've got a perfect way to celebrate with friends.


We've just launched a fundraising raffle for Green Wood Coalition.

The lucky ticket holder will win:


A complete gourmet dinner party

catered by a professional chef!


The prize package:


Chef Gary Cole will prepare a dinner for 4 in your home.


Menu and date (before Feb 2014)

to be mutually agreed upon.


Wine supplied by Sandbanks Estate Winery

Flowers supplied by Holton Flowers

Chocolates supplied by Harden & Huyse

Coffee supplied by Atomic Roasters


Tickets $10 each or 3 for $25


To be drawn Oct 26, 2013 at 17 John St. Port Hope



Today was a day of vision and planning for our board and committee members, at Port Hope's Community Health Centre. More good things to come. Thanks to everyone (more than 80 individuals) who participated in our 4 X 4 survey!


(L-R: Jeff Knott, Jason Orchard, Pam MacDougall, Jackie Brimblecombe, Kim Orchard, Linda Hopley, Loretta Fraser, Beth Sheffield, Nicole Whitmore, Kaye Torrie, Janet Marchand, Kelly Ambrose).



SMALL ARTS 9/24/2013


Our Creative Arts group, that meets weekly at our space in downtown Port Hope, has been scaling down and working on small art projects. Marble painted, hand stitched journals and zentangle doodle-art explorations resulted in some beautiful, if tiny, objects of beauty.



On September 18, 2013, Northumberland County Council approved a 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan for the County and its seven area municipalities.


Green Wood Coalition members were pleased to be consulted on the development of this Plan, as well as to participate in both public events.


"The Ten-Year Plan is an opportunity to take stock of existing services and needs, and to set broad directions that reflect local priorities. These can help guide specific program and budget decisions from year to year. As a document that will be reviewed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, it is a vehicle to articulate Northumberland’s plans, challenges and needs to the provincial government."


With our input, and that from other parts of the community, this Plan outlines a long-term vision and strategic plan for affordable housing and homeless-related programs and services, and identifies objectives that reflect the unique issues and needs of our area. We particularly spoke to the need for housing alternatives that will provide shelter to the homeless in our community, and to those who require additional supports in order to be successful in keeping a roof over their head.






We're happy to announce that our annual benefit concert 'Till Things Are Brighter' will return to Port Hope's Capitol Theatre on Saturday, November 2 with a full line-up of talented Roots & Blues musicians from across Ontario, coming in to present the songs of Johnny Cash.


This is always an amazing evening in so many ways, so you'll want to get a ticket early (they go on sale October 1) and write this one on the calendar. Advance tickets are only $25.


For a taste of what you might expect, here's a video from last year's concert featuring the aboriginal blues band, Digging Roots. Thanks to our friend, Andy Frank, for capturing this moment so well.




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