United Way approves $150K in emergency community funding

Following the United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta’s second call for applications for the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), the Government of Canada has released the balance of funding for ECSF which is being administered in collaboration with United Way Centraide Canada, Community Foundations of

Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.

United Way of Lethbridge & South

Western Alberta has received nearly

$350,000 in funding requests from 16 organizations operating community programs and services that support vulnerable community members. To date, 10 organizations have been approved for a total of $150,349.

United Way’s interim executive director Vincent Varga said this round of emergency funding was well-timed for the region.

“In Alberta, we’re seeing the number of cases of COVID-19 increase rapidly, and that combined with the winter season is leaving many people and families in difficult positions,” he said in a news release. “This support from the Government of Canada will help organizations in our area to respond accordingly.”

For more information, contact United Way at 403-327-1700 or visit lethbridgeunitedway.ca.

Government of Canada Emergency Community Support Fund Programs & Projects Funded through United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta include:

• Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills (Crowsnest Pass Club) ($9,750) – Supporting financially insecure families in the Crowsnest Pass with seasonally appropriate clothing for the winter months;

• Fort Macleod Kids First Family Centre ($21,000) – Reducing social isolation for parents and children, and increasing access to physical activity through registered drop-in play sessions;

• Inclusion Lethbridge ($17,040) – Supporting people with developmental disabilities in accessing social activities, and online meetings by providing technology, and staff support to operate it;

• Interfaith Food Bank ($2,600) – Supporting the mental health and well-being of food bank employees who are essential workers through facilitated stress management education, and team-building sessions;

• Lethbridge Family Services ($35,779) – To upgrade technology for virtual counselling sessions and to support the increase in families registered for holiday programming;

• Parkinson Association of Alberta ($10,000) – To support rural outreach and to assist individuals with Parkinson Disease in accessing virtual programs and peer supports;

• SASHA House ($11,979) – Supporting SASHA House residents, including those with mental illnesses and addictions, in developing and planning routines for meaningful daily activities while public recreation facilities are closed;

• Streets Alive ($18,200) – To support the continuation of the meaningful activity program which supports individuals waiting to access addictions programs by providing daily activity, and a warm place in winter;

• The Governors of the University of Lethbridge ($10,000) – Supporting Building Brains Together which provides learning and activity kits to recipients of Lethbridge Food Bank hampers and through other community partnerships; and

• Wood’s Homes ($14,000) – To offer extended youth shelter opening hours on weekends to provide a safe, warm place for homeless youth while other public facilities like malls and libraries are closed or have reduces hours.