Seventeen projects that aim to improve the lives of Columbia Basin residents by addressing social issues will soon be making a positive difference with nearly $965,000 in Social Grants from Columbia Basin Trust.

“Through projects like these, the Trust is supporting the efforts of community organizations to help Basin residents address challenges, and improve the quality of their lives,” said Aimee Ambrosone, Columbia Basin Trust Director, Delivery of Benefits. “We applaud the tremendous dedication that people in our region put into aiding others—and we’re glad we can be there to support their efforts.”

The Social Grants program helps Basin residents rise above challenges in three significant areas including improving quality of life for vulnerable populations, like seniors or those living in poverty, helping children with mental health and developmental needs, and increasing the capacity of non-profit organizations in the social sector.

One recipient is the Cranbrook Boys & Girls Club, which is getting $25,000. It will offer an after-school program for children aged five to 12 that will encourage outdoor play and help build a long-lasting healthy lifestyle for participants.

“Opportunities for children to play, especially outdoors with other children, have been declining, while anxiety, depression and feelings of helplessness have risen,” said Lori McNeill, Executive Director. “Our new program will address these concerns by providing supervised care exclusively in outdoor spaces such as forests, lakes, rivers and parks in all four seasons.”

Other East Kootenay projects being funded:

• Community Connections Society of Southeast BC is getting $180,760 to provide access to free, short-term focused walk-in counselling services to families, individuals and couples experiencing distress.
• Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce is getting $25,500 to provide meaningful work experience for people with vulnerabilities and free refurbished computers to community members in need, bridging the digital divide.
• Kimberley Wellness Foundation is getting $95,125 to Work with local community and social service agencies, commercial food producers, and wholesalers to collect and redistribute consumable food to community members in need.

The Kootenay Region Association for Community Living in Creston is getting $19,926 to expand existing social enterprise activities and develop new opportunities at Spectrum Farms, a non-profit that provides meaningful employment and learning opportunities for persons with diverse abilities.

Golden Community Resources Society is getting $70,000 to deliver services and multigenerational and multi-cultural programming targeted at reducing social isolation in vulnerable populations, particularly seniors.

Golden Family Centre Society is getting $15,045 to secure the ongoing delivery of mental health services, including counselling for men.

See the full list of projects being funded

For more information about the program, visit ourtrust.org/socialgrants. To learn all the ways the Trust supports social well-being in the Basin, visit ourtrust.org/social.

Columbia Basin Trust supports the ideas and efforts of the people in the Columbia Basin. To learn more about the Trust’s programs and initiatives, and how it helps deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the Basin, visit ourtrust.org or call 1-800-505-8998.

Lead image: The Cranbrook Boys and Girls Club will offer after school care that encourages outdoor play. Columbia Basin Trust image

Columbia Basin Trust

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