Emergency Community Support Fund

Round One

We are proud to have partnered with United Way Centraide Canada and the Government of Canada to deliver the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) in Peterborough. United Way Peterborough & District received over 40 applications for community programs and services that support vulnerable community members. 35 organizations have been approved for a total of $366,079.96 during round one of the ECSF. We are pleased to announce the ECSF is supporting the following:

• $10,000 was invested in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough to provide virtual mentoring opportunities and small group activities to keep children feeling connected, safe and secure.
• $10,000 was invested in Community Care Peterborough to assist seniors, caregivers and persons with disabilities living in poverty to attend medical and other essential appointments.
• $10,000 was invested in Community Counselling & Resource Centre to provide services through an outside Housing Clinic ‘drop-in’ for homeless or precariously housed persons.
• $10,000 was invested in Community Counselling & Resource Centre to assist individuals with community service orders find opportunities that provide physically distanced home projects and educational opportunities to complete their community service hours.
• $5,000 was invested in Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough to provide virtual programming and social opportunities for individuals with Down Syndrome.
• $6,135 was invested in Easter Seals ON to provide mobility and accessibility equipment to children, and supporting their families in the Peterborough region facing increased challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis.
• $10,000 was invested in Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough to Elizabeth Fry Society Peterborough will increase their capacity to provide services to a greater number of service users, by developing alternative formats of program delivery and support.
• $9,405 was invested in Five Counties Children’s Centre to allow children to receive their much needed treatment virtually at home and continue their progress while Centre sites are closed during Covid-19.
• $11,689.62 was invested in Food for Kids Peterborough to continue feeding children who normally rely on breakfast programs every day to ensure they get the nourishment they need to grow and be healthy.
• $10,000 was invested in Friends Reaching Individuals in Every Nation Doing Service (FRIENDS) to ensure that the FRIENDS location remains operational during the pandemic by supporting salary of the full time employee and the supplies needed.
• $11,689.61 was invested in Good Neighbours Care Centre to maintain the food bank clothing store so those in need in Peterborough and the surrounding area may access it through the COVID-19 pandemic.
• $10,000 was invested in Junior Achievement of Peterborough Lakeland Muskoka to run Junior Achievement programs digitally on an online campus so students from grades 3 – 12 can continue building financial and business skills through the COVID-19 pandemic.
• $12,500 was invested in Kawartha Child Care Services (Compass Early Learning & Care) to prepare the space offered in partnership with Kawartha Land Trust for the ‘TimberNook’ program based on COVID-19 protocols for six vulnerable children.
• $9,449.62 was invested in Kawartha Participation Projects Foundation to provide personal supports that are essential to the activities of daily living for adults with physical disabilities.  Offered in one of our 5 Housing Locations, or in the client’s home.
• $9,888 was invested in Kawartha Youth Orchestra to design, develop, and deliver digital resources for interactive music enrichment for school-aged youth, vulnerable seniors, and long-term care residents within the Peterborough community.
• $5,085 was invested in Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation to retrofit a meeting room inside at the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society’s Peterborough location with Plexiglas and utilizing additional PPE safety protocols so that KHCAS staff can resume indoor visits with their clients.
• $10,000 was invested in KSAC to support those affected by sexual violence and to influence social change within our community.
• $12,000 was invested in New Canadian Centre for a training program in use of technology for newcomers with lower literacy levels.
• $10,000 was invested in Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle to support part time staff who will assist NASC program workers with the challenges associated with providing our services during COVID-19
• $23,500 was invested in Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre to enhance Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre’s ability to prepare and provide weekly nourishing meals for our most vulnerable community members, including our Elders/Seniors, homeless, youth-at-risk and single parent families.
• $10,000 was invested in PARN as part of their HIV prevention strategy, provide weekly programming for 2-SLGBTQIA youth 12-24 in Peterborough and area, which includes inclusive education and social components to reduce isolation, build resiliency and strengthen awareness regarding identity, health and wellness.
• $10,000 was invested in Peterborough Green Up Association to provide access to equipment and learning supports to move an adult from non-rider to confident commuter, providing independent, low-cost transportation.
• $10,000 was invested in Peterborough Youth Services to the Community Response Team (CRT) that provides mobile crisis outreach services for ages 0-18. It is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of youth.
• $11,689.61 was invested in Saint Vincent de Paul Food Pantry to resume the personal grocery shopping in the pantry that was replaced by hampers handout when COVID-19 started, and restock shelves to ensure that customers can come into the food pantry and shop for groceries tailored to their specific dietary and family needs.
• $1,615 was invested in Sensity to purchase technology to promote social inclusion and support a person in the Peterborough area who is deafblind during COVID-19 isolation. Allowing them to connect with peers, participate in virtual activities organized by Sensity and of their own choosing, and engage their creativity through apps and games all of which would promote inclusion and reduce their sense of isolation
• $10,000 was invested in Special Olympics Ontario – Peterborough & Area to enable individuals with an intellectual disability currently without access to electronic materials to access content to remain connected, informed, healthy and active.
• $11,689.61 was invested in John’s Anglican Church – One Roof to provide large portions of healthy take away lunches for the clients, increasing the number of snacks people can take with them at the lunch meal pickup, providing additional food to clients who have kitchen facilities and working with Nourish to continue to provide food boxes to clients as well.
• $10,000 was invested in Telecare Distress Centre of Peterborough Inc. to train volunteers to take calls confidentially and non-judgmentally from anyone in our catchment area who may be in distress, particularly due to COVID-19 isolation and its effects.
• $10,000 was invested in The Canadian Canoe Museum to rebuild social engagement and learning for isolated seniors through live virtual museum tours of the Canadian Canoe Museum’s collection and galleries.
• $10,000 was invested in The Council of Persons with Disabilities to adjust the Community Accessibility evaluation Program (CAEP) and the Time in My Shoes (TIMS) program, moving them to a digital format. CAEP is offered to local businesses so they may enhance accessibility at their location. TIMS is an educational program aimed at raising awareness of the barriers to accessibility and inclusion for those living with disability.
• $7,000 was invested in Township of Selwyn Public Library to provide programs that would include online book clubs, additional virtual children’s programs, and additional virtual adult programs such as online genealogy programs, trivia, and much more. Also, purchase a subscription to Hoopla, which provides public libraries the ability to offer patrons an enormous selection of digital video, music, audiobooks, and ebooks.
• $12,000 was invested in Trent Valley Literacy Association to expand digital literacy training availability to new participants and purchase equipment and tools to reduce the digital divide for those already in service.
• $10,000 was invested in Victim Services of Peterborough & Northumberland to purchase of a database with secure on-line text or chat capability to safely connect with clients during the pandemic.
• $11,689.61 was invested in VON Peterborough Victoria Haliburton to prepare “Dinner on Us” care packages and drop them off at our client’s homes, since our adult day programs are not taking place.
• $7,700 was invested in VON Peterborough Victoria Haliburton to purchase iPads and mobile internet hubs so that we can assist isolated clients to connect virtually with their family and friends.
• $5,000 was invested in YMCA to purchase sports equipment for a modified camp that will adhere to provincial pandemic guidelines, which recommend that cohorts do not share equipment.
• $11,354.28 was invested in Youth Emergency Shelter of Peterborough to promote the safety and well-being of youth experiencing homelessness through COVID-19, they will provide access to internet-based services for youth in emergency shelter and in their youth housing program for one year.

Click here to read the press release.