On October 13, 2023, the WindsorEssex Community Foundation and United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County were joined by MP Irek Kusmierczyk at the John McGivney Children’s Centre to announce fifty-one innovative capacity building projects across Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent as part of the Community Services Recovery Fund.
The Community Services Recovery Fund is a one-time investment of $400 million in federal funding to help Community Service Organizations (charities, non-profits, Indigenous governing bodies) adapt and modernize, to sustain and strengthen the community services that they are providing through the pandemic recovery and beyond.
“Local organizations are working day in and day out on the frontlines building stronger and healthier neighbourhoods in Windsor-Essex County. Our federal Community Services Recovery Fund, delivered in partnership with United Way and Community Foundations of Canada, is supporting their vital work and boosting their ability to serve residents in our community. Congratulations to all the tremendous organizations receiving support through the CSRF!” -MP Irek Kusmierczyk
The fund is a collaboration between the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and United Way Centraide Canada. The unique nature of the fund is set up to respond to what Community Service Organizations need right now and supports organizations as they adapt to the long-term impacts of the pandemic.
“With the support of the CSRF grant, Family Fuse will strengthen our capacity to connect black families and community leaders to break down barriers for system navigation and help fast track their goals to success, through mentorship, while deepening community relationships. It is an honor for our team to serve and to be awarded funding to do this meaningful work.” – Christie Nelson, Program Manager at Family Fuse.
“The Community Services Recovery Fund is giving organizations like South Essex Community Council (SECC) an opportunity to focus on data integrity and standards. This is the kind of activity to allows community organizations to better tell their stories and convey their impact to government funders, donors, and community supporters. Understanding our data helps us better serve the community by developing evidence-based solutions and creating much needed efficiencies so that we can spend more time with our clients.” – Carolyn Warkentin, Executive Director at South Essex Community Council.
The fund opened January 6 and closed February 21, 2023. Depending on their Project Focus Area, applicants applied to one of the three National Funders. Eligible applications were submitted to and reviewed by community volunteers attached to local offices. Fifty-one projects were announced today through the WindsorEssex Community Foundation and United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County. Additional local projects were also supported through the Canadian Red Cross.
“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. It is heartening to see the compassion and empathy of our citizens as they give back to those in need. Projects like Brandon McBride Youth’s mentorship program and the South Essex Community Council’s Program Data Integrity & Standards Project 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 Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.” – Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
For more information on locally funded CSRF projects, please visit https://communityservicesrecoveryfund.ca/