Family & Children's Services - St.Thomas and Elgin

🍋 LemonAID Day 2026 – June 13 🍋

Looking for something fun (and meaningful) to do with your kids this summer?

Doug Tarry Homes LemonAID Day for the Elgin Children’s Foundation is a chance for families across Elgin County to set up a simple lemonade stand and raise money to help send local kids to summer camp. It’s one day, a bit of fun, and a really big impact.
Your kids get to be part of something bigger—helping other kids have the chance to explore, make friends, and just enjoy being a kid.

We’ll take care of the setup—lemonade supplies, t-shirts, signage, and even an online fundraising page. You just bring the energy.
Can’t do June 13? No problem—you can run your stand another day that works for your family.

Spots are limited, so if you’re thinking about it, don’t wait too long.

👉 Sign up here: https://childrensfoundation.on.ca/lemonaid-day/

Open your heart and home – please consider fostering with Family & Children’s Services of St. Thomas and Elgin.

Whether you’re curious about fostering, or might know someone who is, visit our website to register for one of our free, virtual information sessions.

And help us keep a local child local.

Join us for a free family-friendly Pride celebration filled with colour, creativity, and connection!

Everyone is welcome to drop in at the St. Thomas Public Library.

All families are welcome!

Children & Youth in Care Day

&Story

May 14, 2026

May 5 is Red Dress Day, a National Day of Awareness and Remembrance.

The day honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S). It marks a day of remembrance and awareness for the profound violence experienced by thousands of Indigenous women, gender-diverse people, and their communities.

The REDress project, an aesthetic response to the more than 1000 missing and Murdered Indigenous women in Canada was began in 2010 by Canadian Jaime Black (Métis).

She told reporters that a friend of hers, who is also an Indigenous person, explained that red was the only colour spirits could see.
The red dresses you often see in public spaces especially on this day symbolizes the absence of those who are missing or lost and a call for justice and awareness. The day highlights systemic issues Indigenous women and girls and two-sprit people are confronted with. These include Violence against Indigenous women and girls and two-sprit people; poor public recognition and appreciation of this plight, lack of or inadequate investigations and justice and ongoing social and historical inequalities.

Wearing RED on this day is a visible sign of respect and solidarity.
We can support this call by wearing red, displaying or hanging red dresses, attending vigils, marches, or community events, sharing stories and educating ourselves and others about Indigenous issues.

https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52964.html

🍋 Calling Elgin County Businesses – LemonAID Day 2026 🍋

On June 13, lemonade stands will be popping up across the community with one goal—sending local kids to summer camp.

We’d love to have your business be part of it.

Doug Tarry Homes LemonAID Day for the Elgin Children’s Foundation is a simple, visible way to give back. Set up a stand outside your business, get your staff involved, and show your customers what community support really looks like.

It’s great for team building, great for community spirit, and every dollar raised stays local.

We’ll provide everything you need—supplies, signage, t-shirts, and an online fundraising page. You can even choose a different day if June 13 doesn’t fit your schedule.

Only 40 spots are available this year.

👉 Register your team here: https://childrensfoundation.on.ca/lemonaid-day/

https://volunteer.ca/national-volunteer-week/