Local charities and non-profit organizations impacted by COVID-19 are getting some help to ensure the programs and services they offer can continue during this uncertain time.

Thanks the Government of Canada's $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund, the Altona Community Foundation (ACF), in partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, has $40,000 available to groups that have seen a drop in donations or have incurred added expenses in order to modify services to fit restrictions. It is part of a national effort that aims to support vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

"We have to remember that these vulnerable people do exist in our communities, they don't necessarily have the same safety nets that others do, and these programs are really critical to their well-being," said ACF vice president, Loren Braul. He added there are a lot of high-quality organizations in the community that work with children, youth, people with disabilities and seniors, that been impacted by COVID-19, and says this funding is a vital step in the foundation's pandemic response and ensuring there is a mechanism in place to allow these services to continue while social distancing and other precautionary measures remain in place.

Braul added it's hard to put in to words the many ways COVID-19 has impacted these local organizations, noting they have had to adapt as the situation evolves. Those modifications could include converting programming to digital platforms, creating take-home work packages for kids that access the family resource centre, increased staffing requirements to help meet the needs of people with disabilities, or even purchasing an extra freezer for the food bank.

The application period for this fund began May 19th and Braul urged qualified organizations to get their requests in before the July 27th deadline, noting grants are being approved and distributed on an ongoing basis. This means grants will be doled out as applications move up through the process until the $40,000 pot is exhausted. Braul noted successful applicants will have money available to them within days of approval.

Click here for more information regarding eligibility and application details.