Government of Canada Emergency Community Support Fund - Round Two
January 14, 2021
The Guelph Community Foundation announces funding results of $471,166 to 35 critical programs through the Emergency Community Support Fund to support COVID-19 efforts. The Guelph Community Foundation (GCF) is proud to have partnered with Community Foundations of Canada and the Government of Canada to deliver the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) in Guelph and surrounding communities.
Round 1 of ECSF funding was distributed over the summer of 2020 totalling $345,510. Round 2 of ECSF launched on October 5, 2020, with $125,656 in funds distributed in early November. This brings GCF’s total disbursement for ECSF dollars to $471,166 for Guelph and Wellington County to 35 critical programs.
For Round 2, GCF again worked in partnership with United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin and Centre Wellington Community Foundation. All dollars granted provided funding to local charities supporting many populations experiencing heightened vulnerability during this crisis.
We are proud to announce the ECSF has supported the following:
ECSF Round 1 |
Project |
Program Description |
Grant |
Community Living Guelph Wellington |
Immediate Grocery Assistance for adults with disabilities |
This program will provide immediate food security, as well as vital hygiene and sanitation products, for more than 100 independently living adults with disabilities in our community. |
$9,560.00 |
East Wellington Community Services |
East Wellington Community Services Youth Centre |
To build high speed internet at the youth centre in Erin. |
$20,000.00 |
Food4Kids Guelph |
Grocery gift cards to families in need during Covid-19 |
To provide grocery food cards to children's caregivers in place of weekend food bags which cannot be delivered when schools are closed. |
$14,000.00 |
Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition |
North End Harvest Market |
Providing access to fresh food for the most vulnerable members in the community |
$45,000.00 |
Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition |
Neighbourhood Group Emergency Food & Essential Needs Support |
Neighbourhood Groups have trusted relationships and local spaces where community members call and go for support especially in times of crises |
$25,000.00 |
Hospice Wellington |
Transformation of Hospice Wellington wellness programs |
Funding to help with the significantly increased costs of offering wellness services remotely and with increased health precautions due to COVID-19 |
$10,000.00 |
Shelldale Family Gateway |
Shelldale Family Gateway Integrated Youth Services Project |
This project will engage youth aged 12- 16 in their search for support on mental health issues, addictions, and other daily stressors such as housing and food insecurity. |
$15,000.00 |
Beginnings Family Services Care Centres |
Wellness Check and Support Initiative |
Supporting clients with text/call support, face to face support and curb-side check ins to pick up essential items |
$18,000.00 |
Chalmers Community Services Centre of the United Church of Canada |
Reducing Community Food Insecurity During COVID-19 |
Provide relief to those experiencing food insecurity in our community during COVID-19 and beyond |
$4,000.00 |
Chalmers Community Services Centre of the United Church of Canada |
Nourish by 10C - Collaborating for Local Emergency Food Provision |
Nourish by 10C, a new certified commercial kitchen, will develop, cook and package frozen meals and nutritious prepared food products for community partners |
$26,000.00 |
Everdale |
Everdale growing 40 tonnes of food for GW emergency-food agencies |
Forty tonnes of fresh food being grown by Everdale and distributed to food- insecure Guelph-Wellington community members by emergency-food-provision agencies including The SEED and East Wellington Community Services |
$13,700.00 |
Guelph Community Health Centre |
The 69 Huron Street Warehouse for Food Security in Guelph- Wellington |
Nine food security organizations collaborating in one efficiently run warehouse space, will deliver over 1,000 tonnes of food each year to community members in need |
$39,000.00 |
HIV/AIDS Resources & Community Health (ARCH) |
Harm Reduction Support during COVID- 19 |
Hire one Harm Reduction staff to support the needs of community members who experience multiple health risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Opioid Crisis and homelessness. Staff will work with an inter-agency outreach team. |
$34,000.00 |
Lakeside HOPE House |
COVID-19 Food, Hygiene & Volunteer Program Support |
Support the urgent need of providing food, hygiene, and essential items to vulnerable populations while keeping up with increased demand |
$20,000.00 |
Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington |
Free to Grow at Home |
Will provide recreational kits that get kids hands and feet moving, spark their imagination, and support their learning and development |
$5,000.00 |
Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington |
Fresh Food for Kids Initiative |
Supporting the emergency nutritional needs of the most vulnerable children and youth in the Guelph community by delivering nutritious food similar to what they would receive during a school-based program |
$8,880.00 |
Church of the Apostles (St. James and St. Matthias) |
Kitchen Bees - Summer 2020 |
Food outreach program of the Church of the Apostles that is preparing food for local emergency food providers |
$3,000.00 |
Family & Children Services of Guelph and Wellington County |
Urban Social and Agricultural Hub |
Develop an urban social and agricultural hub at Shelldale Centre that will introduce community designed spaces for safe social distancing outreach and community engagement |
$10,170.00 |
Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis |
Transitional and Housing Support Program- Overflow Support |
Support additional staff counselling hours for Transition and Housing Support Program due to the increase need for services because of COVID-19 |
$10,000.00 |
Hospice Wellington |
Hospice Residence transformation |
Financial assistance to offset the significantly increased costs of keeping hospice residence safe for all residents, their families, our staff, and volunteers. |
$5,000.00 |
Portage Program for Drug Dependencies |
Bunker House Project |
Portage Ontario has procured standalone mobile bunker houses to accommodate new admissions of young people struggling with substance dependency and needing residential care. |
$10,200 |
ECSF Round 2 |
Project |
Program Description |
Grant |
Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition |
Community Accessibility Project |
Providing access to technology to support key GNSC staff and volunteers to do their work and maintain connections to the community |
$6,400.00 |
Michael House |
Help and Hope Through the Pandemic |
Providing the care and support that is needed to families that are navigating ongoing pandemic concerns |
$6,300.00 |
Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington |
Therapeutic Recreational Virtual Programming |
Expand the Therapeutic Recreational programming for people living with dementia and their care partners on-line |
$3,500.00 |
Church of the Apostles (St. James and St. Matthias) |
Kitchen Bees - Winter 2021 |
Food outreach program of the Church of the Apostles that is preparing food for local emergency food providers. |
$5,000.00 |
Community of Hearts Lifelong Learning |
Independent Hearts: Virtual Format |
Supporting adults with developmental disabilities to achieve the level of independence they desire. From the safety and comfort of home. |
$15,000.00 |
Guelph Black Heritage Society |
Virtual Programming - #ChangeStartsNow & Black History Month |
Support the virtual delivery of programming, featuring the #ChangeStartsNow educational initiative and Black History Month programming in February 2021 |
$10,056.00 |
Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition |
Girls and Women Support Program |
Support women that they have lost work, are at home alone with kids, socially isolated and feeling disconnected |
$5,500.00 |
Guelph Public Library |
Fostering a Connected Community - Loanable Wi-Fi Hotspots at GPL |
Fund a new loanable Wi-Fi hotspot program that will extend crucial internet access, enabling vulnerable citizens to stay connected as the need for internet access rapidly grows |
$15,000.00 |
Guelph Tool Library |
Guelph Tool Library Delivery Outreach Program |
Provide pickup and delivery service of items to those in self-isolation so they can participate in Repair Cafes, Sew on the Go, and tool borrowing. |
$5,000.00 |
Lakeside HOPE House |
Supporting Vulnerable Women through COVID and Beyond |
Provide opportunities for vulnerable women to safely participate in community programs, initiatives, and services, and volunteer, lowering the COVID-19 effects on mental health |
$9,600.00 |
Shelldale Family Gateway |
Wraparound Support for the Onward Willow Community |
Supporting families, children, and youth in the Onward Willow community |
$12,000.00 |
The Brain Injury Association of Waterloo Wellington |
Covid Check-in Coordinator |
Given the isolation COVID-19 has caused an already marginalized population, BIAWW will conduct periodic "check-ins" for survivors and their caregivers to help support their mental health and promote their connection to the community |
$5,120.00 |
The Guelph Enabling Garden |
Virtual Horticultural Therapy Outreach |
Expanding the Garden's on-line registered horticultural therapy workshops to a broader audience of community members of all abilities. |
$2,680.00 |
Torchlight Services |
Virtual Program Facilitator |
Secure one additional staff member to provide on-line programming to bolster participant engagement, decrease social isolation, and build a sense of community and belonging |
$14,500.00 |
Wyndham House |
Youth Emergency Supports and Wellness Program |
This program supports youth who are experiencing chronic and complex homelessness with access to housing, programs and basic needs that are required as they transition to supportive and permanent housing |
$10,000.00 |
Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared more than 10 months ago, local charities and non- profit organizations have been working tirelessly to provide emergency support, to individuals and communities experiencing heightened vulnerability.
We know the need for funding is still significant and we are continuing to advocate for broader recovery and stabilization support for the charitable sector in Guelph and Wellington County.
The Guelph Community Foundation will also offer funding to local charities through our 2021 granting programs, for full details, please contact the Foundation office.
About The Guelph Community Foundation:
Founded in 2000, the Guelph Community Foundation is a charitable public foundation whose purpose is to provide leadership in community philanthropy. The Foundation pools the charitable gifts of donors into permanent, interest earning endowments. Currently, the Foundation manages $13.6 million in funds and has distributed $6 million to more than 950 community programs. For more information on how you can invest for community impact, please visit guelphcf.ca.
For additional information about this release, please contact:
Jessica Barrie
Operations and Community Engagement Manager The Guelph Community Foundation
Cell: (519) 400-8687
jbarrie@guelphcf.ca