COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF)
Funded by the Government of Canada
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release:
Emergency Community Support Fund Round 2
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, December 3, 2020
On October 5, 2020, the United Way of Pictou County launched a second call for applications for the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The fund provides financial support to charities and other qualified donees adapting their frontline services to support vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada has released the balance of funding for ECSF which is being administered in collaboration with United Way Centraide Canada, Community Foundations of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.
Today, the United Way of Pictou County is pleased to share an update on the recipients of this second round of funding. United Way of Pictou County received 31 requests totalling over $253,000 in funding applications for community programs and services that support vulnerable community members. In Pictou County, 11 organizations have been approved for a total of $44,320. In Antigonish County, 6 organizations have been approved for a total of $20,896:
In Pictou County:
- Aberdeen Palliative Care Society – Respite Program
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County – Sport/Recreation Registration Assistance and Holiday Support
- John Howard Society of Nova Scotia – Food Security, Comfort/Hygiene Bags, Winter Clothing and Transportation
- Kidney Foundation, Atlantic Branch – Emergency Short Term Financial Assistance Program (STFA)
- Pictou County Continuous Learning Association (PiCCoLA) - Technology
- Pictou County Sexual Health Centre - Access Success - Product and Service Provision and Delivery
- Pictou County Women's Resource and Sexual Assault Centre – Food Hampers
- Summer Street – Anti-Poverty Care Boxes
- Viola's Place Society – Shift Worker
- VON Pictou County – Meals Subsidy
- YMCA of Pictou County – Subsidized Memberships for Mental Health and Addictions Referrals
In Antigonish County:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County – Sport/Recreation Registration Assistance and Holiday Support
- Immaculate Conception Parish - Tri-Parish COVID-19 Relief, Meals and Check-ins
- John Howard Society of Nova Scotia - Scotia – Food Security, Comfort/Hygiene Bags, Winter Clothing and Transportation
- Kidney Foundation, Atlantic Branch – Emergency Short Term Financial Assistance Program (STFA)
- Syria Antigonish Families Embrace (SAFE) Society - Safe Newcomer Arrival and Settlement during COVID-19
- VON Antigonish -– Meals Subsidy and Adult Day Program
United Way of Pictou County is proud to support this important investment of $65,216 into our local communities.
“Canadian charities and non-profit organizations play a vital role in our communities. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing real challenges to these important organizations. The Government of Canada is pleased to support these organizations through the Emergency Community Support Fund so that they can continue to help the most vulnerable members of our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
– Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Ahmed Hussen
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges for the charitable and non-profit sector across Canada, including here at home. The ability for these organizations to continue supporting vulnerable people in our communities has never been more important. I am thrilled to see additional funding made available through the Emergency Community Support Fund to help these essential organizations in Pictou County and Antigonish continue their important work.”
- Sean Fraser, Member of Parliament for Central Nova
“The United Way of Pictou County is a trusted community partner with years of experience overseeing granting processes that are fair and accountable to donors and community agencies,” says Ellen Fanning, Executive Director of United Way of Pictou County. “This opportunity to fund local organizations who are addressing the well-being and inclusion needs of our communities and our more vulnerable populations is a critical piece in providing the support and short-term relief needed in our communities during the second wave of this pandemic”.
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund.
NOVEMBER 2020 UPDATE:
For Round 2 of Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) funding, The United Way of Pictou County received over $253,310 in application requests from 31 charities. About ¼ of that amount was available to us through the Government of Canada’s ECSF Round 2.
Because of kind and generous donations from our local Pictou County community, our Board of Directors had the ability to consider (and approve) allocating additional Community Investments (CI) dollars toward COVID-19 relief and recovery initiatives. On November 27, 2020 are pleased to be awarding an additional $37,000 in Community Investment Funds to 4 Pictou County charities:
- Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education – Schools Plus Pictou County’s Winter Clothing Tree
- Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education – G. Baillie Memorial School’s Food/Backpack Program
- Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education – Frank H. MacDonald Academy’s Food/Backpack Program
- Tearmann Society for Abused Women – Alternative Shelter Programs for Women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The United Way of Pictou County has also approved an additional $10,400 in COVID-19 related grants in Pictou County through the Atlantic Compassion Fund to:
- East Pictou Education Foundation - COVID-19 Educational Materials and Meals Program
- Pictou Community New Horizons 50+ Club – Safeguards and Materials to Reopen using and maintaining COVID-19 protocols
- Pictou United Church – Seniors Holiday Outreach Program (non-denominational)
- Pictou United Church – Meals for Seniors (non-denominational)
To summarize, on November 27, 2020, the United Way of Pictou County is allocating to 18 Pictou County charities a total of $91,720 for 19 projects. And, in Antigonish County, 6 charities will be receiving a total of $20,896.
The funding above is in addition to our previously allocated COVID-19 relief and recovery initiatives:
- The Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program grants of $33,800 to 11 charities in Pictou and Antigonish Counties in May.
- The Atlantic Compassion Fund’s corporate and individual donations of $24,044.30 to 11 charities for 12 programs in Pictou and Antigonish Counties.
- The Province of Nova Scotia’s investment through the Atlantic Compassion Fund of $63,000 to 18 charities for 19 programs in Pictou and Antigonish Counties in May.
- An ECSF investment of $185,269to 21 Pictou and Antigonish County organizations in June.
Total Amount of COVID-19 Funding Requested from United Way of Pictou County: $637,826.94
Total funding allocated to COVID-19 relief and recovery as of November 27,2020: $418,729.30