THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay is offering another injection of emergency funding to help local non-profits through the COVID-19 pandemic. The $44,000 aid package, approved by city council earlier this week, will be divided between two organizations providing basic food and clothing assistance.
The Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) will receive the lion’s share of the funding, just over $40,000.
In financial information submitted to the city, the organization estimated it faces a financial hit of at least $370,000 from the pandemic, largely due to increased demand.
The remaining $3,750 in assistance is headed to Community Clothing Assistance, which said it's down $45,000 thanks to COVID-19.
The Community Arts & Heritage Education Project (CAHEP) also applied for support, but was not approved. City administration said recommendations for funding are based on the urgency and level of financial need, and the availability of other confirmed funding.
The aid was drawn from a $235,000 emergency fund established by city council in March to help local non-profits manage the demands of the pandemic. About $170,000 was distributed in April, largely to the Shelter House and RFDA. Roots to Harvest and the Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre also received smaller amounts for food aid programs.
That emergency funding comes on top of the nearly $3 million dispersed to local non-profits each year through the city’s Community, Youth & Cultural Funding Program, which currently supports 19 local non-profits. The fund also covers financial losses of the Community Auditorium.
Around $23,000 remains in the emergency fund, which is set to be allocated in September.
