Grafton Community Action Inc

Community Events - Annual Easter Egg Hunt: In 2024 our organization proudly continued its sponsorship of the annual Easter Egg hunt for local children an event that brought together approximately 85 young participants from the community. Beyond providing candy for the egg hunt we enhanced the family-friendly atmosphere by offering a variety of food and beverages ensuring everyone felt welcome and comfortable. Importantly this event was offered at no cost to those attending making it accessible to all families. The success of the Easter Egg hunt was made possible by the enthusiastic efforts of 15 dedicated volunteers whose commitment ensured a memorable experience for everyone involved. Ongoing Support for the Community Center: Our dedication to community enrichment extends beyond single events. We actively assist in the operation of the community center bar a crucial facility that supports private gatherings such as weddings graduations and other celebrations. The community center serves as a vital hub for our city and our organization remains committed to its ongoing success and future sustainability. Heritage Depot Museum Trick-or-Treating Event: 2024 marked the second consecutive year of our sponsorship of the community trick-or-treating event at the Heritage Depot Museum. To make the festivities even more enjoyable outdoor childrens games were introduced and complimentary hot dogs and chips were served to all participants. The event benefited from excellent weather contributing to a robust turnout of over 100 children and family members. Additionally a special Depot Halloween shirt was available for purchase marking the occasion with a unique keepsake. Depot Christmas Celebration December saw the return of the annual "Depot Christmas" event. Although a smaller attendance was anticipated due to the CP Holiday Trains off year more than 100 attendees joined in the festivities. Guests enjoyed treats and drinks while special holiday music was performed on the stage located in the freight room. The evenings highlight was a visit from Santa Claus delighting the children and creating lasting holiday memories for all.

Heritage Depot & Museum - Seasonal Operations: In 2024 the Heritage Depot Museum continued its tradition of opening to the public on the 1st and 3rd Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This schedule provided visitors with regular opportunities to explore the museum and engage with its exhibits throughout the summer months. Window Restoration Project: During the year planning began for a comprehensive window restoration project. The goal of this initiative is to refurbish all museum windows and install new storm panes. The original windows constructed as single pane wood frames have started to leak significantly. This has led to a dusty interior environment and has reduced the buildings heating and cooling efficiency. Although the option of replacement windows was considered it was ultimately decided that replacements would compromise the historical character of the museum. Instead a restoration expert was located who can remove the windows and restore them in his workshop before reinstalling them. The museum hopes to see the completion of this important project in 2025. Community Events: The Heritage Depot Museum continued to serve as a venue for several GCA events during the year. Notable among these were the Depot Halloween and Depot Christmas celebrations which brought together community members and visitors for seasonal festivities at the museum.

City Beautification & Parks: The organization remained active in local beautification with volunteers maintaining flowers at city welcome signs and ensuring Main Street was lined with American flags each year. These efforts promote a welcoming atmosphere and community pride. No park improvements were made this yea