Oxford Community Foundation (OCF) have partnered with Community Foundations of Canada and the Government of Canada to deliver the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) in Oxford County.  In Round 1 of ECSF last summer, $201,870 was distributed. Now, OCF have invested an additional $84,770 towards local charities supporting populations experiencing heightened vulnerability during this crisis.

“In Oxford, we continue to see demand for funding exceed available grants during this pandemic,” says Louise Wardrop, Executive Director, OCF. “In fact, application requests were more than double the amount we were able to provide.”

“Many of our charities are seeing dramatically reduced donations while being forced to cancel fundraising events, making it difficult to operate during a time when we need them the most. What some of our local organizations have accomplished during this pandemic to support our community and populations made increasingly vulnerable has been heroic, despite all the challenges.”

In a press release, Oxford Community Foundation say they’re honored to bring this additional funding to Oxford County.

Round 2 of ECSF has supported the following projects:

• Women’s Employment Centre who are partnering with Cycles for Life to provide food and personal care items for those looking for work and those in need.

• Junior Achievement who created a readily accessible digital platform for their financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness programs for students in Oxford County. “It was extremely well-aligned with the expectations in the new math curriculum on Financial Literacy!” – JA Teacher, Gr. 7 Dollars with Sense Program

• Oxford County Community Health Centre who purchased supplies and provided services for the residents at Huron House, a 14-room transitional housing facility. The pandemic has led to an increased need for housing and Huron House is “a safe secure supportive environment to help people get off the streets and working towards a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I can honestly say it has saved me.” -Huron House Client#3

• Domestic Abuse Centre Oxford who are using their grant to replace old windows that cannot be opened. These new windows will provide the air circulation and ventilation crucial to preventing COVID-19.

• Community Living Tillsonburg who support individuals with an intellectual disability used the funds to develop an easy-to-use virtual platform so these individuals, their families and support systems can socialize, learn and participate in activities.

• Woodstock Art Gallery and Children’s Aid Society Oxford who are working together to distribute community creation kits containing art supplies, instructions and resources to families in need. “As the global pandemic continues, the Woodstock Art Gallery recognizes the increasing need to provide meaningful, accessible, and inclusive arts programming for our younger generations, local families, and the community at large.” – Deanna Logan, Education Coordinator, Woodstock Art Gallery

• Strong Start, to expand its Letters, Sounds and Words Program (LSW) to more schools in Oxford County. “We know that the need for our program has become even more urgent—it is our struggling readers who are most impacted by this pandemic. Reading ability can have a huge impact on a child’s future and the LSW program provides the intensive, targeted intervention to improve a child’s reading skills, confidence and future potential.” – Christine Giese, Program Co-Ordinator.

• Social Planning Council Oxford in partnership with the Oxford Housing Action Collaborative and other community agencies who are working together to find system solutions for ending chronic homelessness

Filed under: covid 19, oxford community foundation, oxford county