An effort from Windsor to help an isolated indigenous community in northern Ontario is being hailed a success.
CTV Windsor first brought you the story at the end of August.
The Anglican Church Women at St. Mary’s Church in Walkerville has shipped donations of clothes and food to the far north for years.
This time however, it was too expensive to mail it all to Kingfisher Lake. But the church group found a willing partner with the Windsor Flying Club.
Church member Ruth Kivinen says they ended up sending 630 pounds of material – from school books, paper and pencils to food and clothing.
Russ Airey and six other pilots made the seven hour, two thousand kilometre flight with members of the church group and are proud of their work.
Airey tells CTV Windsor people gave the volunteers “hugs and handshakes, and that was a lot of satisfaction.”
Pilot Fred Tonge says their fruits and vegetables were the first to go, because there is hardly any fresh produce available for the more than 400 residents of the community.
Tonge adds “it was nice to know that we were able to make a difference to that community.”
The group only stayed for one night. But the trip has left an impression.
Kivinen says they are already working on next year’s collection.
She adds each anglican parish in Windsor Essex is going to pick an item to collect for Kingfisher Lake.
The Rotary Club has also offered to help, and the Windsor Flying Club has already signed on to fly back next fall.
