North Battleford councillors Len Taylor, left, and Kent Lindgren at a recent meeting. Council approved granting two non profits that serve the vulnerable with support for 2019. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff) : Angela Brown

By Angela Brown

Support for the vulnerable

City council gives nod to community grants for non-profits

Feb 26, 2019 | 10:22 AM

North Battleford city council approved community grant requests for the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre (BDFRC)/ Empty Stocking Fund, and the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre (BASAC), at Monday’s meeting.

Mayor Ryan Bater said the organizations initially applied for the funding prior to the city’s 2019 budget deliberations.

“The request came last fall. It was actually part of the budget process but council wanted more information,” Bater said following the meeting. “We heard from both organizations at our last council meeting. Council was clearly satisfied with the information they presented.”

Council gave the nod to award $6,450 for the BDFRC /Empty Stocking Fund, and $8,607 for the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre.

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Grants for these organizations were already earmarked in the city’s 2019 budget, pending council’s decision.

“I feel that these are services we are very fortunate to have in the Battlefords,” Coun. Len Taylor said. He added that he appreciated hearing a detailed report from each of the organizations at the Feb. 11 council meeting.

Representatives from both the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre/ Empty Stocking Fund and the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre had indicated the number of people using their services continues to grow, reflecting a greater need in the Battlefords area.

The organizations discussed how they intended to use the funding when they made their presentations to council previously.

The Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre/ Empty Stocking Fund, which operates year-round, would be using the grant funding essentially to help cover the property tax costs for its facility located downtown on 101 Street.

The organization indicated the funds it raises at Christmas time is its major fundraiser that helps it manage during the year ahead. The non profit provides a variety of programs to help needy families for the area, including its Food Bank program.

Executive Director Erin Katerynych said the Food Bank serves about 2,300 people a month.

The Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre has a high demand serving the Battlefords community, which has seen significantly increased numbers using its services.

Executive director Amber Stewart indicated the non profit planned to use the grant to help benefit its prevention-education program, for supplies for groups, honorariums to elders, and transportation services, since its core funding isn’t enough to support the programs it offers.

Over the past year the non profit saw a 75 per cent increase in requests for prevention-education for its 2018-19 fiscal year, and a 15 per cent increase in one-on-one counselling sessions.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow