Thunder Bay, ON, July 10, 2020 – Today, United Way of Thunder Bay and Thunder Bay Community Foundation are pleased to announce $527,000 to support 26 non-profit organizations and charities that continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in Northwestern Ontario. The funding initiative is in partnership with Community Foundations of Canada and United Way Centraide Canada, funded through the Government of Canada’s $350M Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The vast national effort aims to support vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by the health crisis.
“This funding strengthens capacity of local frontline services that continue to deliver vital programming and really goes beyond the dollars, providing valuable support. Funding distributed is helping with urgent medical travel in the region, remote learning, enhanced counselling supports, programming for
individuals with disabilities, and the purchase of equipment to assist in the development of a garden for Indigenous communities,” says Alex Calderon, Executive Director of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation.
Elevate NWO is one of the funding recipients, receiving a $60,000 grant. The organization provides services and programming to improve the lives of people living with, affected by or at risk of HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C. The funding will support the delivery of its fresh food program that provides 300 hampers a month. “Our HIV/Hep C nutrition program is more than just a food bank. It’s a vital connection to the health care provided by Elevate NWO. It acts as a lifeline for people with comprised immune systems and advanced liver diseases. Ensuring that people living with HIV and Hep C have access to quality foods, helps them to prioritize their health care and not be forced to spend countless hours sourcing out basic resources,” says Holly Gauvin, Executive Director of Elevate NWO. “To our people, food is medicine. Without the funding support, Elevate would have been forced to close its food service program.”
The Emergency Community Support Fund was initially announced on April 21, 2020, by the Prime Minister of Canada, and will provide $806,000 in total to Northern Ontario organizations and charities. With funding still available, community service organizations throughout Northwestern Ontario are encouraged to apply with all applications due July 16th, 2020. Information and a link to the joint Thunder Bay Community Foundation and United Way of Thunder Bay Grant Application Portal can be found on each organization’s website: www.uwaytbay.ca or www.tbcf.org.
“This simplified funding application process assists organizations in need quickly so they can meet the urgent needs of individuals and families impacted during this health crisis. The funding is a necessary boost that will help organizations as we continue to move forward for the stabilization and recovery phases ahead,” says Albert Brulé, CEO, United Way of Thunder Bay.
Today’s funding recipients include:
- St. Andrew Soup Kitchen: $21, 658.00 – It takes 2 to daily do the Dew
- Crossroads Centre: $525.00 – Release from custody COVID hygiene kits
- Grace Ministries of Thunder Bay: $5,724.00 – COVID-19 Food Serving Barriers
- Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada: $1,500.00- Starlight Play From Home Packs
- Elevate NWO: $8,559.00- Safe Place = Healthy Place
- Handicapped Action Group: $12,000.00- Supporting Vulnerable Individuals
- Hospice Northwest: $2,500.00- Technology to link isolated seniors with family and volunteers
- Alzheimer Society Thunder Bay: $5,743.00- Caregiver Care Kits
- Precious Bundles Clothing Assistance Program: $40,000- COVID-19 Family Essential Item Recovery Project
- St. Andrew Soup Kitchen: $54, 810.00- Take me home, Dinners from the Dew
- Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre: $48,994.00 – Good Food Box Bridge Program
- Roots to Harvest: $21,000.00- Food Capacity Infrastructure
- ELEVATE NWO: $60,000.00- No one left behind 2.0
- NorWest Community Health Centres: $18,193.00- NorWest Community COVID Response Project
- NorthWind Family Ministries: $19,400.00- Emergency Mental Health Support to Families in Thunder Bay
- Ma’mo’weh Wii’soo’ka’tiwin Foudation: $35,000.00- Reduce Social Isolation & Improve Mental Health Through Crafts
- Pic Mobert First Nation: $46,875.00- COVID-19 Emergency Response
- Community Living Atikokan: $4,627.00- Essential Services for Vulnerable Populations & Communities
- Township of Schreiber: $7,700.00- Schreiber Senior Centre COVID-19 Helping Hands
- Easter Seals Ontario: $1,035.00 – Camp E-aster Seals
- Teach For Canada: $18,000.00- Supporting First Nations Education
- Catholic Family Development Centre : $4,250.00- Individual/Group Counselling to Crossroads Centre Clients
- Thunder Bay Counselling Centre: $7,700.00- Enriching Community Coping and Connections
- Frontier College: $15,000.00- Championing Literacy in Thunder Bay
- Catholic Family Development Centre (Thunder Bay): $7,500.00 – Grief and CareGiver Counselling Supports to our Seniors
- Hope Air: $20,000.00- Flights of Hope and Accommodation for Medical Care
- Gathering of Rivers for Community Care: $35,000.00- Matawa Food Security Project
- Our Kids Count of Thunder Bay: $3,950.00- OKC Gets Virtual
