Wednesday June 24, 2020
The Community Foundation, in partnership with United Way Peterborough & District and donors have contributed $367,500 towards housing, food and mental health supports for local vulnerable residents during the pandemic. Since March 16th, close to 150 donors have contributed to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund for three rounds of funding. Thirty-two (32) grants have been made to 18 local charities – thank-you donors!
“When Jim [Russell, CEO, United Way Peterborough & District] and I talked about setting up a Community Response Fund back in March, we didn’t know quite what to expect, we just knew that our charitable partners needed the support of the community to help flatten the curve, and make all the adjustments necessary to protect the health of their clients and staff,” said Jennifer DeBues, Director of Operations and Granting at the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. “We also knew that the people of Peterborough would want to help too – and indeed, about 150 of them have made donations to the Fund.”
Examples of funded activities include, but are not limited to:
- Safe shelter for families and homeless youth and adults
- Emergency food for those same people in addition to low-income seniors
- Supporting mental-well being of vulnerable individuals by switching the majority of services to online or telephone, and purchasing cell phones, tablets, laptops and privacy-protected software to ensure employees can serve clients safely but remotely.
- For services still delivered in-person, purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) and reconfiguring offices to keep front-line service workers and clients safe.
Click here for a more comprehensive list of funded activities.
Click here to read impact stories about emergency housing relief, harm reduction supports, food for kids and more.
As pandemic recovery begins, the community is going to need vibrant charities providing services and building community vitality. This fall, the Community Foundation will be inviting charities to share their recovery and sustainability plans. Donate to the Community Response Fund Fund to help with this work.