Community Care Peterborough Highlights Difference From Trillium Grant

A virtual meeting of Peterborough notables discussed how a $99,600 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant obtained in late 2020 has made a difference for Community Care Peterborough on Friday.

Photo courtesy of Community Care Peterborough.

Among the discussion were Community Care members, MPP Dave Smith, MPP Laurie Scott, MPP David Piccini and Elizabeth Finnie-Hunt, OTF volunteer.

The Resilient Communities Fund was created by OTF to help the non-profit sector to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

“Community Care Peterborough delivers essential and critical services to our most vulnerable members in the community,” said Smith. “Their team of volunteers, donors and staff have supported our residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This capital investment will strengthen Community Care, enabling them to grow and further their good work in our community.”

Over the last year, Community Care Peterborough — which involves several communities — used the grant to help fund four key elements in its recovery plan: a new strategic plan; to reinvigorate its fundraising methods; build awareness of the agency and to expand its virtual care capabilities.

“Our Government believes in the importance of supporting community based organizations that improve the health and wellbeing of the people we serve,” said Piccini. “These unprecedented times have highlighted the importance of having a strong health care system and we are incredibly grateful for the work Community Care Peterborough does to support better patient-centred care and the social determinants of health."

Funds from the year-long grant were helped with staffing and administrative costs, guidance for developing new strategies, purchasing new donor data management software and technical equipment to expand online capabilities and communications, as well as health and safety supplies for rural offices.

“Community Care is a staple in Peterborough County and this funding will help community members access new and improved virtual services that are so important to residents,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.

Over the course of the pandemic, Community Care Peterborough has seen an increased need for the essential services and wasn’t able to host in-person programs or its usual fundraising activities. It saw the closure of its thrift stores for extended period of times.

“We adapted and extended programs to help even more residents of the City and County of Peterborough through these difficult times,” said Danielle Belair, Community Care Peterborough executive director. “Also as part of our funding, we were able to increase our staff capacity by hiring Donor Relations Assistant, Laura Strongitharm, to help us transition into our new software.”

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