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Slain girls commemorated through fundraiser

Local resident Krysia Meeldyk made a recent donation to Simcoe Hall Settlement House and started a hashtag movement in honour of her slain goddaughter, Rori Hache, who was killed in 2017, as well as slain teen Kandis Fitzpatrick, who was last seen in 2008. The DNA of both girls was found at the home of Adam Strong, who remains in custody awaiting trial. (Photo submitted)

By Courtney Bachar/The Oshawa Express/LJI Reporter

A local resident has started a hashtag movement to raise awareness for two things near and dear to her heart: her slain goddaughter, and a local organization that needs help.

Krysia Meeldyk started the hashtag movement in honour of her goddaughter, 18-year-old Rori Hache, who was killed in 2017 in Oshawa, and 19-year-old Kandis Fitzpatrick, who was last seen in 2008. The DNA of both girls were found almost a decade apart in the home of Adam Strong. He remains in police custody and is awaiting trial.

“I’ve always strived to find something to pay it forward in memory and commemorating [Rori] in a conducive and positive way,” explains Meeldyk.

Then, when she saw that Simcoe Hall Settlement House, a local organization and a place Meeldyk utilized when she was younger, was in need of donations, she knew there was something she could do to help.

Originally, Meeldyk wanted to do a pay it forward card, but when she saw that Simcoe Hall needed help, she knew she needed to do more.

“I wanted to bring awareness to the fact that there’s this cornerstone in our community, a place that is very dear to me, that is suffering and only with us does it survive,” says Meeldyk, who grew up doing the afterschool program there on the weekends. Her spouse, who is a police officer, does a lot of community work there as well, but Meeldyk says more needs to be done.

“It’s just not enough, especially when you’re faced with a pandemic, because people are now tapping in that normally wouldn’t.”

She says she also wants others to be able to donate to a much needed cause while also having a way to remember and honour their loved ones.

“I have my goddaughter that I want to do something for, and then you have this place that is the foundation of my youth, and they’re suffering,” she explains. “Collaboratively, I put them together and created the hashtag movement.”

Meeldyk and her family, along with Fitzpatrick’s father, banded together to donate to Simcoe Hall Settlement House in honour of both Hache and Fitzpatrick.

“This is a movement that lets everyone know that in unity we grieve. Times are quiet right now, but we don’t forget,” says Meeldyk. “This allows them to apply themselves and their loved ones to something more, it allows them to commemorate and keep their memory alive.”

Meeldyk says those wanting to take part in the hashtag movement can use “The Hashtag Movement #yourlovedone” on social media using their loved one’s name, when they drop off or give a donation to Simcoe Hall.

“I vow to help in any way that I can and I hope the community does as well,” she says.

So far, her hashtag movement has helped raise about $1,000 and she hopes the movement continues.

“If I could use such a tragedy of these two young, beautiful women that were plucked from our community and brutally taken, if I can take a tragedy and turn it into something positive, that’s everything.”

Kate Korgemagi, food bank coordinator for Simcoe Hall Settlement House, says the need for their services in the community is going up amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simcoe Hall, located at 387 Simcoe St. S. in Oshawa, is a non-profit community resource centre that assists less advantaged children, families and vulnerable adults whose lives are affected by poverty.

Korgemagi says that since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, they’ve increased their services to five days a week and increased their bi-monthly visits to monthly visits for their clients, and says there is still a need for donations.

Monetary donations are welcome, as well as much-needed food items, including peanut butter, canned meat, side dishes, cereal, and pancakes, hygiene products, and baby products like diapers and formula.

Simcoe Hall services all of Durham Region and Korgemagi says they know the need now is greater than ever amidst the pandemic, and wants residents to know their doors are open.

“We won’t turn anyone away. There’s no cap on who gets to access the food bank. If you come here, we’ll service you to the fullest of our ability.”

 

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