United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes (UWCKL) has announced A Place Called Home (APCH) as the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Telecare Mona Hall Fund to pilot a new Youth Emergency Fund Project.
This pilot will ensure that the immediate needs of youth in crisis, facing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness are met during the waiting period for other financial aid. Funds provided in the form of gift cards will help youth stay warm, fed, and connected to their community.
“Over the years, we have been given the privilege of small legacy gifts which have allowed us to invest in people in real time. When donors give to UWCKL they do so with purpose and with the knowledge that funds go to high priority needs. These funds are monitored with the help of citizen review panel teams to ensure transparency and accountability,” explains Penny Barton Dyke, Executive Director of UWCKL.
When Lifeline Telecare closed its doors, funds were transferred to UWCKL to administer through a committee process and to help local groups initiate innovative programs in response to emerging or identified community priorities over a five-year period. The funds have been overseen by a committee of volunteers with expertise. Five agencies have received funding since the launch of the grant fund in 2016: Kawartha Sexual Assault addressed dating violence prevention for youth; Ontario Early Years created the Queen Victoria Public School Summer Outreach Program; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton created an in-School Mentoring Resource initiative and marketing for mentors, The John Howard Society started a Caring Dads Program to increase skills for fathers needing special supports, and last year Community Care Health and Care Network created a teleconference caregiver support program.
This was the final round for the Telecare Mona Hall Legacy Fund. The criteria and process was created through the efforts of volunteer panels, led by Lynne Downey, with support by UWCKL staff. UWCKL has been able to support several pilot projects and the agencies awarded the gifts were able to capture measurable outcomes and help identify potential new programs. Together we have helped strengthen supports for people who live here.
For further information on the Youth Emergency Fund, please contact:
Jennifer Lopinski, Youth Trustee – A Place Called Home
(705) 328-0905
