Cobourg, ON – January 20, 2025 – Thanks to community response to the 2025 Paramedic Therapy Dog Calendar fundraiser, Northumberland Paramedics raised over $1,000 to deliver over 50 holiday meals to seniors and community members in need this winter. Paramedics worked closely with Ketch’s Korner restaurant in Cobourg to deliver 25 meals to Community Paramedicine clients during the Christmas holidays, and are planning to deliver another 27 during the week of Family Day in February.
“We are so grateful for the incredible support we received from the community during the first year of this fundraising initiative,” states Northumberland Paramedic Chief Susan Brown. “Thanks to the community’s kindness, we were able to partner with the very generous Ketch’s Korner to provide holiday meals and a friendly visit from our Community Paramedicine team to seniors and vulnerable community members over the holidays.
“Ivy Joules – our Community Paramedicine therapy dog and the star of our 2025 fundraising calendar – often visits our clients and provides support to our paramedic team. She is truly a source of joy for us, and we’re thrilled that, through this program, she has spread her ‘paw-sitive’ impact even further in our community, one smile at a time.”
Each year, Ketch’s Korner donates approximately 250 meals to people in need as well as to first responders working over holiday periods. Northumberland Paramedics wanted to amplify this generous and impactful initiative by raising funds to expand the number of meals that could be distributed. The Northumberland Paramedics Therapy Dog calendar was launched in the fall of 2024 ahead of the holiday season to help support these efforts.
“We started giving out meals to seniors 10 years ago,” states Ketch’s Korner Owner Melissa Dale. “It all started with a lady who was going to be alone for Christmas, as her son was going to be out of town for the holidays. So, my daughter and I dropped off a turkey dinner for her – she was going to have a peanut butter sandwich. That’s what started the whole thing.”
Within only one month of pre-sales last fall, Northumberland Paramedics sold 135 copies of their heartwarming calendars, featuring photographs of Ivy exploring Northumberland and interacting with residents, Community Paramedicine clients, Northumberland Paramedics and staff delivering other County services. All profits from sales were used to purchase meals for seniors and people in need.
The Northumberland Paramedics Community Paramedicine program offers non-emergency in-home care to seniors and vulnerable community members in Northumberland. The program aims to provide preventative and patient-centered care while helping to manage the high demand on hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and emergency services. Learn more at Northumberland.ca/CP.
To see Ivy Joules at work, and to follow her adventures throughout Northumberland, follow @we.need.ivy.stat on Instagram.
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