Top left: Gary Vipond, CEO, United Way Sault Ste. Marie
Top right: Terry Sheehan, MP Sault Ste. Marie
Middle Left: Annette Katajamaki, Executive Ditector, Canadian Mental Health Association
Middle right: Katie Blunt, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie and Area
Bottom left: Rory Ring, CEO Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
Office of Terry Sheehan
Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie
For Immediate Release
October 22, 2020
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
We know that Canadian charities and the non-profit sector are playing an essential role in supporting Canadians during COVID-19 and the Government of Canada is here to support them. That is why we created the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), a $350M investment from the Government of Canada to support charities and non-profit organizations serving vulnerable populations as they manage the impacts of COVID-19.
The ECSF provides critical support for community-based organizations that have experienced a drastic increase in demand for their services since the start of the pandemic.
Three national partners will distribute the funds to community organizations that deliver essential services to those in need.
The United Way Sault Ste. Marie is a designated intermediary, identifying and distributing ECSF funds to our local community organizations. Recipients of the ECSF include:
Kidney Foundation
Habitat for Humanity
Welcome Friend
Arch
Algoma Family Services
Salvation Army
Canadian Mental Health Association
Soup Kitchen
VON Algoma
Our government has been working with, and listening to charities and the non-profit sector throughout the COVID-19 crisis, collaborating with charities by investing:
$350 million for the Emergency Community Support Fund
$9 million through United Way Canada to help local organizations support seniors with services, including grocery delivery, medications and check-ins.
$100 million to food banks to improve access to food for Canadians facing social, economic, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
$7.5 million for Kids Help Phone to help provide young people with mental health support during the coronavirus crisis.
Quotes:
“This emergency funding has been rapidly delivered to the non-profit and charitable organizations. We acted very quickly to respond to people’s needs by mobilizing the non-profit and charitable sector, who are already serving vulnerable populations and are best qualified to know the needs of their clients. Our local United Way has done a wonderful job of highlighting to us, the most urgent needs of our vulnerable populations, and I would like to thank them for all their hard work.”
Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament, Sault Ste. Marie
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development (FedNor)
“On behalf of United Way Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma District I would like to thank Terry Sheehan and the Federal Government for providing funding to the United Way network through the Emergency Community Support Fund. Through this funding, $306,000 was made available to charities in Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District. These funds have been distributed to nine organizations in our region, ensuring that our most vulnerable populations have access to essential services, by addressing the increased operating expenses required to deliver services during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Gary Vipond, CEO, United Way Sault Ste. Marie
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Media Contact:
Jennifer MacNab
613-406-1280 | [email protected]
