From Vision to Blessing

Kathryn was an educator and well-respected columnist at a local paper. Her column, Country Roads, was well-loved and a go-to read by many. She turned her celebrated status in the community to CCS’s advantage. An influencer before social media influencers were a thing. In 1982, she came up with CCS’s thrift store name – Chez Thrift, by responding to a contest in her column. She fondly looks back at being invited to cut the red ribbon at the store’s grand opening. She wrote about how happy she was to ride Caledon’s first ever community transportation in the early 1990s and its impact on residents, something her mom would benefit from decades later. She was stunned when the food program in a small utility closet grew to the Exchange, additionally offering fresh produce, dairy items and overall holistic community nourishment. For 30+ years, Kathryn championed CCS in her community personally and through her work because it naturally aligned with her column’s purpose - to inform and make the world a better place.

While she was always grateful for the work of CCS, it wasn’t until her mother used their respite services that she really felt the impact. For her, her mother’s care was worth its weight in gold, because of Kathryn’s initiative to help the community, she was also able to see the impact of her actions and benefit from them. For Kathryn, volunteering was a way of life. Even though she had no idea what CCS would grow into back then, she believed in the work and wanted to do her part to make a difference.

To stay inspired and up-to-date with Kathryn, follow her uplifting blog, The Open Press.