SupportING Community Charitable need through partnerships

Yorkton and District Community Foundation (YDCF) is pleased to announce $210,889 in funding to support five community services recovery projects in Yorkton and surrounding communities through the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund.

The national 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 provide through the pandemic recovery and beyond.

 The following local and regional organizations submitted applications meeting the Community Services Recovery Fund criteria and reviewed by a panel of local adjudicators. The projects funded will help these organizations to modernize and adapt as they continue serving people in Yorkton and surrounding regional communities:

• $51,275 will fund an organizational redesign project at the Society for the Improvement of Good Neighbours (SIGN);
• $42,200 will fund renewal of the strategic framework for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yorkton and area;
• $91,314 will create a comprehensive employee on-boarding structure at Rail City Industries serving Melville and area;
• $10,000 will assist with with technology upgrades at Gateway Community Church serving Canora and area;
• $16,100 will fund a database management system for the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society Inc.

“S.I.G.N. provides a wide range of social services and supports throughout our region, that aim to address the increase in difficult societal issues in our communities. Our programming has almost doubled over the past twelve years, yet we have never changed our administrative structure.  The recent COVID Pandemic highlighted the need to review and adjust our operations to improve on our delivery. The funding provided through the Community Services Recovery Fund will assist SIGN in identifying and updating administration structures to ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of our community well into the future,” says Andrew Sedley, Executive Director of S.I.G.N.

Community service organizations are at the forefront of addressing community needs. Since the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have struggled with increased demand for their services, reduced revenues, declines in charitable giving due to the rising cost of living, and a greater need to make use of digital tools. Many organizations are struggling to recover and adapt their services to these changing needs.

“Community service organizations often operate with minimal resources, primarily focused on delivering programs and services,” says Andrew Rae, Vice President of Yorkton and District Community Foundation. “The Recovery Fund is an unique funding opportunity to invest in upgrades and modernization for the long-term health of community service organizations. Yorkton & District Community Foundation is pleased to have assisted this national opportunity to reach organizations in east central Saskatchewan.”

Yorkton and District Community Foundation is a member of Community Foundations of Canada, one of the partners in selection and distribution to grant recipients across the nation. Canadian Red Cross and United Way Centraide Canada also partnered to deliver this national grants program.  More information about the national grants can be found at: www.communityservicesrecoveryfund.ca.