Ontario Supporting Non-Profits in Niagara Through Resilient Communities Fund
Smithville – Today, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, announced $429,800.00 in support through the Resilient Communities Fund of the Ontario Trillium Foundation for five non-profit recipients in Niagara West. The grants will help local community service providers offset the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic so they can deliver the best service possible for the people of Niagara and create a stronger Ontario.
The grant recipients include Horse Cents for Kids in Fenwick, the Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region, Pathstone Mental Health and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 393 in Smithville, as well as the Town of Pelham.
“Non-profit organizations are a crucial and valued part of any community, especially here in Niagara West,” said MPP Oosterhoff.
“Countless people rely on their services every day, and even facing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, they still deliver. This funding will help them offset those impacts and continue supporting those who need it most.”
The grants will support Horse Cents for Kids with staff training and developing a fundraising and marketing plan; the Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region with developing a new partnership model; Pathstone Mental Health in hiring staff to support children’s mental health programs; the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 393 in Smithville with kitchen upgrades to expand services to the community and the Town of Pelham with library upgrades.
“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and state our appreciation to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for this generous grant,” said Kathey Putman
President of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 393 in Smithville.
“Since our Legion Branch is a non-profit organization, we have been truly affected by the pandemic. This grant will allow us to update our upstairs kitchen, which will make our cooking and catering for local seniors and veterans much easier and more efficient.
“This funding is a unique initiative for improved library services for the community and the funding will provide increased safety and access to library resources,” said Marvin Junkin, Mayor of the Town of Pelham.
“The Town of Pelham is very fortunate to have the continued support from the province for projects that will assist in the recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.”
In total, the Ontario government is providing $95.8 million this year through the Resilient Communities Fund to help 1,146 non-profit organizations across the province recover and rebuild.
The Resilient Communities Fund provides grants of up to $150,000 to eligible non-profit organizations to cover a broad and flexible range of needs, such as:
Mental and physical health and wellbeing supports for staff or volunteers.
Support to adapt or re-imagine program delivery and services to meet the needs of communities, employees and volunteers, incorporate new health and safety processes, or purchase new technology and personal protective equipment.
Renovations and facility updates to meet the changing needs of the communities they serve.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has committed to supporting those struggling the most,” said Hon. Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.
“That is why it has been a priority for us to fund successful programs like the Resilient Communities Fund, which helps non-profits adapt and grow – ensuring they can continue providing the best service possible to the people of Niagara and make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families.”
The Ontario Trillium Foundation will continue to offer the Resilient Communities Fund in 2022-23 to help more eligible non-profit organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19. Application details and a full list of grant recipients to date are available on the OTF website.