CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION FUND – The Table Fund Downtown Thorold
Ask Terence Schilstra, and he’ll tell you that downtown Thorold is an amazing place to live and work. The pastor at The Table, a Christian missional community serving Thorold’s core, will also tell you the city centre has some hard realities.
There are more than 1,000 people with core housing needs, for example. As many as one in four children also live in poverty and experience food, housing, and clothing insecurity.
To give children in the area a hand up, Schilstra and The Table started The Table Fund Downtown Thorold, a charitable organization fund under the umbrella of Niagara Community Foundation to provide scholarships to students attending Prince of Wales School in downtown Thorold.
The scholarships are awarded to students in grades 7 and 8 based on character, achievement, financial need, and expressed interest in participating in community sports and activities.
So far, The Table Fund Downtown Thorold has awarded three scholarships worth $350 each since launching in 2022, after Schilstra learned from Executive Director Bryan Rose what NCF could do to turn the organization’s intent into impact.
“It was great to deal with Bryan and the team there,” Schilstra said. “It was very simple in terms of the process for setting up the fund and they were very efficient in bringing the fund to fruition and helping it function.”
The Table Fund Downtown Thorold is sustained by donations from The Table and community members, businesses, and teachers and staff at Prince of Wales School. Rather than simply provide one-time support for a student in need, The Table Fund scholarship team will strive to maintain a relationship with recipients and assist with practical needs, such as rides to practice.
They’ll also support students should they choose to continue their involvement in a sport or activity going forward.
“By the time the student is Grade 12, we hope to still have a connection with them and help further their involvement and success,” Schilstra said.
