A visit to the Emergency Department at Kemptville District Hospital prompted Cody to develop the idea for "Cody’sIndividual Comfort Kits”. These individual kits are to be given to young patients to help make their visit to the hospital a more comfortable, less frightening experience. Following a fundraising drive in September 2002 Cody assembled the first comfort kits. The free kits, for children aged infant to 16, contain books, blankets, videos, toys, rattles and other things to make a child’s stay at hospital easier.

As time has progressed, Cody’s Individual Comfort Kits have become very popular and the cause has been supported by many in our community, Kemptville and the surrounding Municipality of North Grenville. At Christmas 2003 Cody launched “Grandma and Grandpa Kits” for older patients staying in Kemptville District Hospital over the holidays.

With the assistance of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 212 in Kemptville, the first annual Cody Clark Poor Boy’s Supper was held in November 2003, raising a total of $2,800 from ticket sales and a live auction of donated items. Cody decided to donate $1,000 of the proceeds to Kemptville District Hospital’s Palliative Care Program, with the remainder being used to fund “Grandma and Grandpa Kits.” The Second Poor Boy’s Supper held October 30, 2004 raised $7,250!

Cody was named an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year for 2002 and was selected as North Grenville’s Hal Anthony Citizen of the Year in 2003. In 2005, Cody was one of just 29 individuals (and by far the youngest individual) from across Canada to receive the Governor General’s Caring Canadian award for outstanding volunteer efforts.

Cody is very proud to be part of his community and when asked where he comes from is always happy to announce “I live in North Grenville.”

The Cody Clark story was also featured on the TVO Kids program “Agents of Change,” which highlights inspirational stories of young people making a difference.

Despite his young age, Cody has been a guest speaker for various organizations in his area.He has taken the initiative to put together special kits for individuals including 10-year-old cancer patient John Leslie, whom he saw featured on TV. Cody also gave a kit to CJOH-TV anchor Max Keeping, following the announcement that Mr. Keeping had cancer just like his father.

How You Can Help?

The financial support of our community makes it possible for Cody to help make
hospital patients’ experience more comfortable.

Make a tax receiptable donation to the Kemptville District Hospital Foundation,
designated for the C.I.C.K. (Cody’s Individual Comfort Kits) Fund.
Your gift can be mailed directly to:
Kemptville District Hospital Foundation,
PO Bag 2007, Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0

Donations of items to be included in our comfort kits for children or adults are very welcome.
Plan on attending our annual fundraising Poor Boy’s Supper,
a spaghetti dinner and auction held each fall.

We rely on donated items to make our fundraising auction a success

For more information email Cody at:
Cody Clark Comfort Kits

or please call:
Troy Cross , Kemtpville District Hospital Foundation (613) 258-6133 ext