A small community initiative a few years ago prompted Joanne Sweers and Rebecca Gardiner into further action, building a momentum they hope to see continuing.
By bringing people together, they have been able to celebrate their community while supporting it through successive campaigns to build up food supplies in the Newmarket Food Pantry.
Now the longtime Newmarket residents and neighbours are looking a bit into the future to build on their success with the NWMRKTproud initiative and continue its evolution, which will likely include some kind of succession planning.
“The genesis of NMKTproud comes out of the love of our community and the recognition of other people... who are willing to get involved and support (the campaigns),” begins Sweers who, like Gardiner, has been involved in many community initiatives. “I also always felt blessed to have some skill in this area… I had some extra time on my hands so I could volunteer.”
Sweer came to Newmarket 25 years ago where she raised her children. She became involved in the Community Safety Village at the Bruce's Mill Conservation Park, raised money for Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and, with her husband, ran golf tournaments for many years.
Gardiner opened her Sew Perfect Embroidery and Screen Printing business with her husband, Doug, after moving to Newmarket 35 years ago and quickly became involved in school charities and the community.
The two responded to a call to action about three years ago to fill the Newmarket Community Fridge in front of the Newmarket Public Library
“We would go every other Sunday to fill it,” says Gardiner. “It would be flying out of the fridge faster than we could put it in.”
Seeing the need, the two who describe themselves as more like sisters than just neighbours, decided to stretch out their budget for more food. So they pooled their resources for the rest of that year by investing in specially embroidered toques with a NWMRKTproud logo they created.
During the fall of 2022, they went to fairs and markets and got support from John’s No Frills, managing to raise $7,000 through the toque sales that then went directly to fill the pantry.
“We had the traction of the new logo, we had the excitement of the community… and we started the NWMRKTproud month for June,” says Gardiner, who, with Sweers, explains that they are not linked with York Pride but do have deep appreciation for the need to be inclusive. “We’re proud that NMKT is an all-inclusive community… we couldn’t have thought of a better link… but we’re not physically connected.”
Building on that momentum in 2023, they turned their attention to selling t-shirts with their logo ad managed to raise another $20,000.
In 2024 they built on their previous campaigns, concentrating on t-shirt sales and raised $38,000.
They were worried about burnout after that. But they see an ongoing need and have decided to do some sort of fundraising for 2025.
“When we’ve had such great community response to this whole concept… we didn’t expect it to become a movement, but it really has become a movement… and we want to include other people to carry the torch forward,” says Sweers, adding that they have some sponsors that are interested, including some who missed out last year. “And that’s the really exciting thing.
“We can’t do it without the support of the community… we’re really lucky with how blessed we are.”
They see their campaigns as celebrations that they share with the entire community, which has supported all their efforts. And whatever direction future efforts take, the two neighbours believe the food pantry will always be part of it all. In 2023, they say, $20 provided six meals but in 2024 that only covered the cost of five meals.
Their impact, says Adrian Bain, executive director of the Newmarket Food Pantry, has been overwhelming.
“Rebecca and Joanne embody the true spirit of giving, transforming lives and making a difference through their unwavering dedication and generosity,” says Bain. “Through their tireless efforts to provide a little bit of relief and hope to those who use our services, the impact these two unsung heroes have had on the Newmarket food pantry is immense, and is paving the way for a brighter future for many of our neighbours in need.”
