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Alberta Blue Cross commits $500,000 to support vulnerable communities during pandemic

Apr 24, 2020 | 9:04 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta Blue Cross is offering help to the province’s most vulnerable communities.

Earlier this week, Alberta Blue Cross (ABC) announced temporary premium reductions to support customers through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, it’s announced a $500,000 commitment from its community foundation to that will help address priority needs to support communities hit the hardest by the health crisis.

Support will include a ‘coordinated’ approach with the United Way to stabilize food security and compromised essentials, support to address increased suicide rates among adults and youth in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, and support for grassroots community initiatives to help isolated and rural regions.

ABC is currently sponsoring the Text4Hope program. That’s expected to provide support for up to 250,000 Albertans over the next three months.

READ MORE: Text messages will provide mental health and wellness support

Alberta Blue Cross is also contributing to the Community-Based Seniors Serving Sector initiative, which is led by the Alberta Ministry of Seniors and Housing.

This helps enhance connections between health care and vital community social resources for Alberta’s 600,000 seniors during the time of social distancing.

In a release, Alberta Blue Cross noted that funding for the community support comes through the ABC Benefits Corporation Foundation, which was established by ABC in 1998 to enable community investment on a sustainable basis.