United Way Perth-Huron announces funding for community service organizations

The United Way Perth-Huron announced funding for eight community service organizations through a federal pandemic recovery fund.

“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 Jenna Sudds, the minister of families, children and social development, in a release. “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 to Camp Menesetung to fully renovate a health center and transform it into a space that is accessible, four-season equipped and functional for providing effective health care in 2023 and beyond. This project will enable the camp to offer higher quality health care to their 2,000-plus annual campers, students and guests from Perth-Huron;
• $44,700 to Hidden Acres 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 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 to Huron Perth Children’s Aid Society to expand and remodel behavioral support services by adding an adapted clinical service model that takes into account new needs post-pandemic. It will help the local branch modernize and adapt by providing evidence-based, tailored and culturally-integrated services;
• $34,000 to the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy 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 conservancy will help foster in young people an understanding and appreciation of nature;
• $80,000 to ONE CARE Home and Community Support Services to create a sustainable plan that delivers transportation, redesigns delivery models and identifies capacity and resource needs. This work will be informed by service users, pre and pandemic learnings/experiences and best practices;
• $10,000 to South Huron Arts Center 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 center to adapt to serving individuals virtually, while strengthening in-person programming;
• $49,000 to 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;
• $68,350 to Noah’s Ark to take existing space that is unable to be used for programming 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.