Over $106,000 will be handed over to several community groups, courtesy of the United Way and Thunder Bay Community Foundation.
The groups will help front-line workers assist at Dew Drop Inn, Shelter House, the Regional Food Distribution, Our Kids Count, Roots to Harvest, and the Northwestern Ontario Women’s Shelter.
The money was raised by local philanthropists, corporations, and individuals, and supplied through the Thunder Bay COVID-19 Community Response Fund.
Michael Quibell, Executive Director of the Dew Drop Inn says, “For us it is essential we continue to feed the hungry in Thunder Bay. With so many lives depending on us I shudder to think what would happen if we no longer could offer our services.”
Local agencies can apply for funding through the Thunder Bay Community Foundation’s online grant platform. Individuals and corporations are encouraged to donate to the Thunder Bay COVID-19 Community Response Fund online at www.uwaytbay.ca or www.tbcf.org, alternatively by mail to either organization.
The agencies and organizations receiving support in this first round of grants include:
Roots to Harvest– $16, 800: Emergency Good Food Box for Seniors– Collaborating with Thunder Bay
Good Food Box Program, they are creating an Emergency Good Food Box that will include healthy, nonperishable food and fresh produce that will reach 100 low-income senior households per week.
St. Andrew Soup Kitchen (Dew Drop Inn)- $19,600: Take me Home, Lunches from the Dew– Life
saving food access to meals for Thunder Bay’s most vulnerable citizens daily.
Shelter House Thunder Bay- $14,286.50: Shelter House COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Sheltering
the Community– Steps to ensure no one in the community goes without food or a safe place to sleep.
RFDA Regional Food Distribution Association- $40,000: Emergency Food Bank Hamper Distribution- Supports those in need of food.
Our Kids Count- $2,000: Our Kids Count COVID-19 Response– Distribution of food hampers, counselling and home visits, Big Brothers Big Sisters support by phone.
Northwestern Ontario Women’s Shelter- $ 13,620: Regional First Nation Emergency Good Food
Box– Food Box delivery of 1152 boxes to three regional First Nation communities over the next two
months.
RFDA Regional Food Distribution Association- $40,000: Emergency Food Bank Hamper Distribution– Supports those in need of food.
