(United Way of Lehtbridge & South Western Alberta)

By Justin Goulet

10 community groups receiving grant COVID-19 relief funding

Dec 21, 2020 | 9:12 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Multiple groups in the region have received some COVID-19 relief thanks to the federal government and United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta.

In its second round of funding through the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), the local United Way received nearly $350,000 in funding requests from 16 organizations. To date, 10 organizations have been approved for a total of $150,349.

The funds are administered in collaboration with United Way Centreaide Canada, Community Foundations of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.

Below is a list of programs and projects being funding through the United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta:

• Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills (Crowsnest Pass Club): $9,750 which will support financially insecure families in the Crowsnest Pass with seasonally appropriate clothing for the winter months.
• Fort Macleod Kids First Family Centre: $21,000 to reduce social isolation for parents and children, and to increase access to physical activity through registered drop-in play sessions.
• Inclusion Lethbridge: $17,040 to support people with development disabilities in accessing social activities, and online meetings by providing technology and staff support to operate it.
• Interfaith Food Bank: $2,600 to support the mental health and wellbeing of food bank employees, who are essential workers through facilitated stress management education, and team-building sessions.
• Lethbridge Family Services: $35,779 to upgrade technology for virtual counselling sessions and to support the increase in families registered for holiday programming.
• Parkinson Association of Alberta: $10,000 to support rural outreach and to assist individuals with Parkinson Disease in accessing virtual programs and peer supports.
• SASHA House: $11,979 to support SASHA House residents, including those with mental illnesses and addictions, in developing and planning routines for meaningful daily activities while public recreation facilities are closed.
• Streets Alive: $18,200 to support the continuation of the meaningful activity program which supports individuals waiting to access addictions programs by providing daily activity, and a warm place in winter.
• The Governors of the University of Lethbridge: $10,000 to support Building Brains Together, which provides learning and activity kits to recipients of Lethbridge Food Bank hampers and through other community partnerships.
• Wood’s Homes: $14,000 to offer extended youth shelter opening hours on weekends to provide a safe, warm place for homeless youth while other public facilities like malls and libraries are closed or have reduced hours.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

“In Alberta, we’re seeing the number of cases of COVID-19 increase rapidly, and that combined with the winter season is leaving many people and families in difficult positions,” said Vincent Varga, interim executive director of the United Way.

“This support from the Government of Canada will help organizations in our area to respond accordingly.”