With the mass cancelation of fundraising events this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on gatherings, Coun. Leanne Caron is looking for the provincial and federal governments to chip in to help community-level organizations survive.
“Their fundraising is a significant contributor to the social services provided in our city,” she told GuelphToday. “Everything from the United Way to the hospital foundation, the community foundation … all of those social services that rely so heavily on fundraising will not get their funds this year from those events.”
The City of Guelph recently awarded $200,000 in Emergency Fund cash to 26 organizations, unincorporated groups and individuals facing fundraising hardships. A second round of grants will see another $150,000 disbursed.
The problem, Caron explained, is that 65 applications were filed for that first round, requesting a collective $1.2 million in aid. That’s where she’d like to see the upper-tier governments step up to the plate.
“It just tells you what a lifeline those organizations need to keep operating,” she said of the $1.2 million in requests. “We’re calling on the federal and provincial government to help us to be able to assist all of these cultural and charitable organizations with relief funding so that they can continue the important work that they do in our community.”
Caron’s motion seeking provincial and federal support is up for discussion during Monday’s city council meeting. It’s based on a similar motion approved by Oshawa city council in June.
She’d like to see those upper-tier funds flow through the city because it already has a process in place for evaluation of requests and distribution.
“The most logical thing to do … is allow us to act as a conduit.”
Applications for the second phase of the city’s emergency fund grants is Oct. 3. Recipient organizations will be announced on Oct. 30.
