Keeping the community fed has emerged as a priority for the Golden and District Community Foundation (GDCF) in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the organization announcing a $5,000 crisis grant for the Golden Food Bank.
We’re all in this together is a popular refrain during this trying time and for the board of directors of the GDCF, that means taking action in a crisis, according to GDCF Executive Director Joy Orr.
“The current pandemic has not only led to an increase in demand but it has made providing service more complex,” said Golden Food Bank Chair Jackie Miles. “To keep our clients safe and fed we have had to find ways to deliver to the homes of those unable to leave, reduce the amount of donated food we can accept, allow fewer volunteers into our centre, all while increasing the number of hampers we distribute.”
For many in our community, the impact of coronavirus has made a difficult situation even worse. Mitigating that impact has been a real challenge for service providers such as the Golden Food Bank.
GDCF runs a range of grant programs including the Community Grant Program, which is set to run in the fall. The program will go ahead as planned.
While the community grants program isn’t set to start for a few more months, it was decided that a crisis grant of $5,000 from this program should immediately be given to the Golden Food Bank to keep people fed.
“The Golden Food Bank is incredibly grateful for the compassion and support being shown by our community during this crisis,” said Miles. “This grant from GDCF has been absolutely critical to helping us find solutions to these complex problems, and ensure that no one in Golden or Area A goes hungry.”
For those who are able, the GDCF board of directors is urging community members to continue to give during this challenging time. Donations to the foundation’s endowment will be held in perpetuity while the interest earned on these funds will provide grants to community projects every year.
But GDCF is also reminding community members to be generous to organizations like the Golden Food Bank through direct donations.
To donate to the food bank, go to goldenfoodbank.ca.
