MEDIA RELEASE
United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin distributes over $852,000 to assist with COVID-19 Efforts
Thirty-Four grants issued through the Emergency Community Support Fund
Guelph, Ontario. August 4, 2020. Today, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin announced over $852,000 to local organizations through the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), to support vulnerable members of our community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The ECSF is funded by the Government of Canada and is being administered in collaboration with United Way Centraide Canada, Community Foundations of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross in communities across Canada.
On May 19, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin launched a call for applications for the ECSF to support charities and other qualified donees adapt services to support the community. Forty-seven applications were received from community organizations, with a total ask of over $1.9 million. Throughout the past month and a half, a volunteer-led grants committee reviewed applications to distribute ECSF funds locally. The team worked closely with the Guelph Community Foundation, Centre Wellington Community Foundation and Dufferin Community Foundation to ensure a coordinated approach was taken to distribute funds fairly and ensure maximum impact.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to support our communities in this way,” said Rick McCombie, interim executive director at United Way. “These funds have allowed our community partners to think of new ways to support those who need our help right now and address new and emerging issues head on over the coming months and that is a wonderful thing for our community.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic is having disproportionate health, social and financial impacts on vulnerable Canadians,” says the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “The Government of Canada is pleased to work with its trusted partners to support the community organizations serving those most in need during this crisis.”
Successful applications are addressing a number of issues across our community, including food insecurity, mental health and addictions, housing, domestic violence, seniors and social isolation.
“These are issues that our community faced before and COVID-19 has only exacerbated,” said McCombie. “We know many are struggling right now and even as we move into more things reopening, we know vulnerable populations in our community will continue to need support moving forward. We are pleased to have been able to award some of this funding to projects that will not only assist in the short term, but set-up services for the long term.”
These allocations are in addition to the $175,000 distributed through United Way and the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, in partnership with the Guelph Community Foundation, and $71,000 allocated through the New Horizons for Seniors fund back in April, bringing the total invested in our community to provide additional support during COVID-19 since March to over $1 million
A full list of the successful projects awarded funding through United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin’s ECSF allocation is included below.
|
Organization |
Program Name | Grant Awarded |
|
Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington |
Therapeutic Recreational Program | $25,000.00 |
| The Elliot Community | Virtual Care and Virtual Reality Program | $30,000.00 |
| Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington | Walk-In/Call-In Single Session Mental Health Clinic in Harriston | $61,445.00 |
| Food4Kids Guelph | Grocery Giftcard Program for Families in Need | $30,000.00 |
| Township of Mapleton | Good For You Food Box Program | $24,450.00 |
| Guelph Wellington Seniors Association | Building Bridges through Community Development | $40,000.00 |
| Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition | Neighbourhood Group Emergency Food & Essential Needs Support | $15,000.00 |
| The Seed | The Huron Street Warehouse for Food Security in Guelph-Wellington | $50,000.00 |
| East Wellington Community Services | East Wellington Community Services – Youth Centre | $50,000.00 |
| Chalmers Community Services Centre | Reducing Community Food Insecurity During COVID-19 | $40,000.00 |
| Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington | Reducing Risk during COVID-19 for Guelph Homeless Population | $41,720.00 |
| 10 C Shared Space partnership with Chalmers Community Services Centre | Nourish by 10C | $28,800.00 |
| Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington | Free to Grow At Home | $22,750.00 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Centre Wellington | Virtual Mentoring Program | $20,000.00 |
| Church of the Apostles (St. Matthias and St. James) | Kitchen Bees | $3,000.00 |
| Everdale | Growing 40 Tonnes of Food | $13,900.00 |
| Guelph-Wellington Women In Crisis | Rural Support Program- Remote Technology Assistance | $3,000.00 |
| Family & Children’s Services in partnership with Shelldale Centre | Urban Social and Agricultural Hub | $11,300.00 |
| St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation Guelph | COVID-19 Isolation Rooms – Medical Equipment | $37,000.00 |
| Guelph Arts Council in partnership with Guelph Tool Library | Guelph Tool Library – COVID-19 Community Response Plan | $28,000.00 |
| Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington | Men’s Engagement Program | $5,000.00 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Wellington | Virtual Mentoring Program | $10,000.00 |
| Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington | Fresh Food for Kids Initiative | $25,000.00 |
| Lakeside HOPE House | COVID-19 Food, Hygiene & Volunteer Program Support | $36,000.00 |
| Jobs. Opportunities. Enterprise (JOE) | J.O.E. Pivot Initiatives | $5,000.00 |
| Guelph Independent Living | COVID Cleaning | $5,000.00 |
| ARCH | Harm Reduction Support during COVID-19 | $39,900.00 |
| Wellington Dufferin Guelph Drug Strategy | Peer and Lived Experience Support | $12,500.00 |
| Canadian Mental Health Association – Waterloo Wellington | Self-Monitoring Tool for Older Adults | $10,000.00 |
| Guelph Wellington Seniors Association | Food Delivery Program for Seniors | $9,000.00 |
| Dufferin County | ||
| Orangeville Food Bank | Emergency Food/Perishable Food Program (PFP) | $75,000.00 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dufferin | Virtual Mentoring Program | $15,000.00 |
| Compass Community Church partnership with Shelburne Food Bank | The Shepherd’s Cupboard Foodbank | $10,000.00 |
| Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin | Infection Prevention & Control Measures | $20,000.00 |
United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin has worked in our community for over 80 years to monitor and meet the pressing social needs of our community, including poverty, social isolation and mental health. Directed by a volunteer board, managed by committed staff and supported by thousands of donors, United Way works with partners in all sectors to improve lives and build community. Donations stay 100% local, always. For more information, please visit unitedwayguelph.com
Media Contacts:
Colleen Murdoch, Director, Communications & Community Impact
United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin
85 Westmount Rd., Guelph, ON N1H 5J2
colleen@unitedwayguelph.com