United Way Perth-Huron is proud to have worked with United Way Centraide Canada as part of the Community Services Recovery Fund. This fund is administered collaboratively between the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and United Way Centraide Canada to provide funding to Community Service Organizations, including non-profit organizations, Indigenous Governing Bodies, and Registered Charities located in Canada. The Community Services Recovery Fund responds to what Community Service Organizations need right now and supports organizations as they adapt to the long-term impacts of the pandemic.

The Community Services Recovery Fund is a one-time investment of $400 million by the Government of Canada to help Community Service Organizations (charities, non-profits, Indigenous governing bodies) adapt, modernize, and be better equipped to improve the efficacy, accessibility, and sustainability of the community services that they are providing through the pandemic recovery and beyond.

“The projects supported by the Government of Canada through the Community Services Recovery Fund demonstrate that we are a caring and compassionate society that values the well-being of all its members,” said Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Jenna Sudds. “It is heartening to see the compassion and empathy of our citizens as they give back to those in need. Projects like those listed are a testament to the power of our collective action and our ability to come together to make a positive difference in the world. I am confident that together we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in Perth and Huron Counties.”

The following projects are being supported in Perth and Huron Counties:

• $50,000 was invested to fund Camp Menesetung (CM) to fully renovate a health centre to transform it into a space that is accessible, 4-season equipped, and functional for providing effective health care in 2023 and beyond. This project will enable CM to offer higher quality health care to their 2000+ annual campers, students, and guests from Perth-Huron;
• $44,700 was invested to fund Hidden Acres (HA) Mennonite Camp to redevelop and expand the outdoor education program to include new winter programming. Offering outdoor education programs for three seasons (instead of two) allows Hidden Acres (HA) to provide safe outdoor learning experiences for students and teachers throughout the entire school year, increasing the impact and adding a new revenue stream for the organization;
• $94,200 was invested to fund Huron Perth Children’s Aid Society (HP-CAS) to expand and remodel behavioral support services at HP-CAS by adding an adapted clinical service model that takes into account new needs post pandemic. It will help HP-CAS modernize and adapt by providing evidence-based, tailored and culturally integrated services;
• $34,000 was invested to fund the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC) to create safe, accessible trails to support outdoor education for children and youth. In addition to its mission of protecting and enhancing natural areas, the HTLTC will help to foster in young people an understanding and appreciation of nature;
• $80,000 was invested to fund ONE CARE Home and Community Support Services to create a sustainable plan to deliver transportation, to redesign delivery models, and identify capacity and resource needs. This work will be informed by service users, pre and pandemic learnings/experiences and best practices;
• $10,000 was invested to fund the South Huron Arts Centre (SHAC) to modernize clay and visual arts programs and create opportunities for youth, elderly, isolated citizens, immigrants, and those who struggle to find a place they belong to take classes with expert potters and visual arts instructors. It will allow the SHAC to adapt to serving individuals virtually, while strengthening in-person programming;
• $49,000 was invested to fund the Stratford Kiwanis Festival of Performing Arts to equip the organization with tools and procedures to update its governance oversight and integrate new digital literacy with traditional experiences. By embracing equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility to reflect the entire community it serves, it will modernize and deepen the richness of the experience for all; and
• $68,350 was invested to fund Noah’s Ark to take existing space that is unable to be used for programing and turn it into a space that will become more versatile. This will not only support programming needs, but also the needs of other agencies who are partners and are looking for space to run programming.