Large red tractor behind a fence with a sign reading "Durham Farm & Rural Family Resources." Trees and cloudy sky in the background.
A collection of line art icons depicting a person, barn, sheep, wheat, scarecrow, tractor, cow, smiley face, and two balloons.

Who We Are

At Durham Farm and Rural Family Resources (DFRFR), we're dedicated to providing quality and flexible children's services and programs to farm and rural families in Durham Region.

Through our Ontario EarlyON programs and seasonal OnFarm Childcare & Safety initiatives, we aim to reduce injury risks for children on farms, increase opportunities for families in the north of Durham, and enhance communication and coordination among service providers. As a registered charitable non-profit, we rely on grants, fundraising, donations, and memberships to fulfill our mission.

Join us in making a difference today.

We are a registered, charitable, non-profit organization supported by grants, fundraising, donations and memberships.

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DFRFR provides quality and flexible children’s services and programs to farm and rural families in Durham Region.

OUR MISSION

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To play a key role in bringing services for children together in the north part of Durham Region so that they are delivered in a creative and coordinated fashion.

OUR VISION

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Durham Farm and Rural Family Resources provides Ontario EarlyON programs in Brock and Uxbridge Townships. All programs are free of charge to parents, grandparents and caregivers with children birth to six years. Programming is provided at four EarlyON Child & Family Centres, located in Beaverton, Cannington, Sunderland and Uxbridge. We also offer seasonal On Farm Childcare & Safety programs to farm families in Durham Region.

OUR PROGRAMS

Three children sitting on hay in a tractor trailer, being driven through a field with trees in the distance.

Our Goals

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Reduce injury for children living on farms in Durham.

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Increase opportunities for programs for children and their families living in the north of Durham.

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Increase communication and coordination between agencies offering services in the north of Durham.

Our Board of Directors

BOARD PRESIDENT

Jessica Puzzulo

Vice PRESIDENT

Vacant

Member at Large

Amanda Shier

Bookkeeper

Karen Barkey

On Farm Coordinator

 Josie Linton

Executive Director

Heather Doner

Treasurer

Laura Hilton

Secretary

Emily McMorris

Uxbridge rep

Devon Bennett

Brock rep

Emily Smith

community rep

Liz Eastman

ONFarm rep

Vacant

Our Staff

  • Woman with glasses and blonde hair wearing a green sweater standing indoors.

    Darlene Hill

    EarlyON Coordinator

  • Smiling woman with long hair wearing a black shirt in a classroom setting.

    Andrea Earl

    Flexible Childcare

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    Sara Zon

    EarlyON Coordinator

  • Woman taking a selfie in a library, with bookshelves and holiday decorations in the background.

    SHANEL SCOTT-PANDOLFI

    EarlyON and Flexible Childcare Coordinator

  • A woman with blonde hair wearing a denim jacket, standing outdoors in front of a tree with orange fall leaves.

    Jessica Collins

    EarlyON and Flexible Childcare Coordinator

  • A woman outdoors in winter, wearing a colorful scarf, a beaded knit hat, and a red jacket, smiling with arms raised against a snowy background.

    Lee Fisher

    EarlyON Coordinator

  • Woman with long wavy hair and glasses smiling indoors.

    NATASHA LITTLE

    EarlyON Coordinator

  • Smiling woman with long hair wearing a blue sweater indoors.

    Mellanie Jones

    EarlyON Coordinator

OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

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    HEATHER SHEARER

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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    KAREN BARKEY

    FINANCIAL OFFICER

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    JOSIE LINTON

    ONFARM COORDINATOR