Powell River Community Response Fund has awarded an additional $35,545, to be distributed to 10 different projects affected by COVID-19, bringing the total amount donated to local community organizations to more than $184,983.
“I feel very fortunate to live in this caring community,” stated Powell River Community Foundation director Shirley Court in a media release. “The willingness of those who can help those in need makes Powell River a special place.”
According to the release, the community response fund was allocated to the following recipients to support COVID-19 specific needs and programming:
• Tla’amin Health ($5,000) – Support Tla’amin Nation elder program to provide access to Gene’s Frozen Meal Program, food boxes and toiletries for elders in need.
• Lang Bay Community Society ($500) – Support the society’s Christmas hamper program, which provides holiday supplies and food baskets to struggling low income families.
• Salvation Army ($1,000) – Support for increased need of winter support supplies such as socks, sleeping bags, hot meals and food hampers.
• ORCA Bus ($2,045) – Support for additional driver/cleaner hours needed to allow the ORCA Bus to extend its COVID-19 safe programing for preschool aged children and their families living on Texada Island and in rural areas in qathet Regional District.
• Métis Nation Powell River ($5,000) – Support for members to access to cultural food items, including local fruits, vegetables, and traditionally harvested meat, as well as hygiene and cleaning products and culturally sensitive supports.
• Powell River Brain Injury Society ($5,000) – Support for outreach and peer support programs, which assists its most vulnerable members who are extremely isolated and unable to leave their homes to collect necessities.
• Friends of Powell River ($5,000) – Support to alleviate impacts of child poverty in Powell River by providing basic supplies like food and clothing, or access to recreation activities for the most vulnerable youth enrolled in schools throughout the district.
• Powell River Action Centre Society ($8,000) – Support the food bank’s increased staffing needs due to an inability to utilize volunteers and assist with the purchasing of supplies needed for holiday hampers.
• Everybody Deserves a Smile ($2,000) – Support to work safely with the community and school-aged children to provide kindness bags to the community’s most vulnerable adults that includes a personalized card, woolen hat, scarf, gloves, socks and four sugar cookies at Christmastime.
• Powell River SPCA ($2,000) – Support for increased need of pet supplies, resources and emergency boarding for vulnerable animals and their owners, including access to pet food via partnerships with community programs such as the food bank and/or the Salvation Army.
The release stated that the allocated funds provide frontline services to vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19. Services could include: food security; financial wellness; health and hygiene; home care or personal support services; information and navigation; legal supports; mental health and wellness; shelter; safety; social inclusion and learning; and transportation.
At this time there is not a date set for a further intake. According to the release, the committee will continue to monitor how the community is affected by the current surge in COVID-19, and hopes to replenish funds available in anticipation for another intake in the near future.
Powell River Community Response Fund is a special fund to rapidly deploy essential relief to organizations providing frontline services to those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The partnership is led by Powell River and District United Way, Powell River Community Foundation and First Credit Union, with support from the regional social planner, representing City of Powell River, qathet Regional District and Tla’amin Nation.
For more information, go to prcommunityfoundation.com/community-response-fund.
