United Way of Northern BC (UWNBC) is distributing the second round of Canada's Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) to social service programs that need an extra boost through the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than $674,000 of funding requests were received from agencies across the north, to which UWNBC says this signals the needs outweigh the resources available for regional communities.
"We are so grateful for the funding made available through the Government of Canada to be able to help the communities of northern B.C,” says Executive Director Trista Spencer in a news release today (Dec. 14).
“We know there are urgent and long-term issues that are only increasing due to the pandemic and we hope the allocation of this funding assists in even a small way to lift up our fellow agencies and the vulnerable that they serve.”
UWNBC’s $288,000 portion of the ROUND 2 ECSF has now been fully invested in 26 programs filling significant gaps in resources that would otherwise have gone unfilled or left agencies to find alternate resources at this critical time
Programs that received a portion of the funding are as follows:
- AiMHi – Prince George Association for Community Living, Prince George for Safe Transportation
- Burns Lake Public Library Association for Cognitive Care Kits in the Lakes District
- Canadian Cancer Society for Re-opening of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) Kordyban Lodge Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
- Canadian Mental Health Association Prince George Branch for Safe Covid Transportation
- Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre Society for Hadih House Emergency Hampers
- Child Development Centre Society of Fort St. John and District for Social Inclusion
- Dawson Creek Literacy Society / Lake View Learning Centre for Adult Learning Centre
- Dawson Creek Society for Community Living for Senior Grocery Shopping
- Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society for COVID Related Advocacy Supports
- Fort Nelson Family Development Society for Children, youth with special needs and their families.
- Fort St John and Area Senior’s Care Foundation for Connecting with Seniors
- Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society for outreach Covid 19 Wrap Around Services
- Houston Link to Learning Society for HLL Food Kitchen
- Nenan Dane zaa Deh Zona Family Services Society for Food Security and Family Resources
- Northern Environmental Action Team for NOURISH
- North Cariboo Seniors’ Council for Taxi vouchers for seniors
- Northern John Howard Society of BC for Resident Wellness Program
- Parent Support Services of BC for Cooking Club
- Positive Living North No Kheyoh T’sih’en T’shena Society for Winter Outreach
- Quesnel Women’s Resource Centre for Emergency Support to Vulnerable People due to COVID-19
- Saulteau First Nations for Community Social and Wellness Services
- Sources Community Resources Society for The APA Parent Network: Autism Pre-Assessment in COVID-19
- Terrace and District Community Services Society for Homeless Outreach Program
- Grocery Gift Card Program
- Volunteer Terrace for YVC (Youth Volunteer Corps) Youth Uniting for a New Normal
- West Moberly First Nations for Caring and Sharing food support packages
"Charities and non-profit organizations are at the heart of our communities, helping the most vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 crisis," says Ahmed Hussen, federal minister of families, children and social development.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to support these organizations through the Emergency Community Support Fund so that they can continue their invaluable work."
UWNBC says although with the funding from the feds and through UWNBC COVID-19 Relief Fund, it has been able to provide critical support to hundreds of agencies, the work is still not complete.
With the second wave of the pandemic, the needs are growing and changing at a pace never experienced before and UWNBC adds it will continue to connect resources to needs in northern B.C. communities, but its appealing to the public for donations once again to bring more support to non-profits who need an extra hand.
“We need continued support from all who are able to contribute to our efforts to support the most vulnerable in northern B.C.,” says the organization in its release.
For more information on the Emergency Community Support Fund and how you can give to the cause, you can visit its website.
