Thursday April 23, 2020 ~ GREATER VICTORIA
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
This week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $350 million in funding to community-support organizations that will help vulnerable people across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds are to provide emergency support for community groups and national charities that help seniors, the homeless and others made more vulnerable by the pandemic, it was stated in the April 21 announcement.
United Way Greater Victoria (UWGV) has received some of those funds, which they will allocate to local not-for-profit organizations to assist them in meeting community needs during the pandemic. The first deadline for COVID-19 submissions from agencies in need is April 24. Submissions will be evaluated and funding allocations soon thereafter. Contact information is online | Phone: 250-385-6708.
The UWGV’s Local Love in a Global Crisis fund is connecting isolated seniors with food, meals and prescriptions. They are also funding virtual mental health and addiction counselling and providing accommodation to frontline workers.
Already — earlier this month — the City of Langford donated $20,000 to the Local Love in a Global Crisis fund, as approved at their April 6, 2020 board meeting, specifically to help fund hotel accommodation for frontline workers.
“Frontline workers, especially those working at our hospitals are working long hours fighting the pandemic,” says Langford Mayor Stew Young. “They need somewhere comfortable, safe and quiet to get a proper night’s rest after a long day. The City of Langford is showing our support and hope that anyone who is able can also donate to this campaign.”
“We are inspired by this kind of neighbourhood response to the COVID-19 pandemic and proud to be part of it,” said Mark Breslauer, CEO, United Way Greater Victoria. “We have a strong donor base on the West Shore, and fund a number of social service organizations.”
For anyone who is able to donate, the ‘how to’ information is here: https://uwgv.ca/donatecovid19/