Like many Vancouver Island communities, the Comox Valley is feeling extra pain from the COVID-19 crisis.
From the homeless to the newly unemployed, there are many people in need right now.
“The need is growing and the Federal Government has put out a lot of programs but the money hasn’t started to flow yet. However, people’s paycheques have stopped coming in and so there are new needs emerging every day,” said Heather Ney of the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness and The Comox Valley Transition Society.
In order to meet the need, the Comox Valley Community Foundation is raising money for an emergency fund to help.
“It’s really to address our community’s most vulnerable in specific needs such as essentials, food, shelter and care,” said Matt Beckett, the omox Valley Community Foundation President.
The Comox Valley Community Foundation already has about $220,000 to allocate. The fundraising continues and the applications for those funds are still coming in.
The Campbell River Community Foundation is also fundraising and has a goal of $100,000 for its Emergency Relief Fund. $54,000 has been raised so far.
“There are places that have shut down,” added Beckett. “Like we saw our food bank shut down temporarily. Schools are not in session. There are now breakfast programs and salad bar programs that aren’t happening.”
The homeless community has unique needs during the COVID-19 crisis.
“They don’t have that opportunity to isolate so we’re looking to provide some hotel rooms for a person who is unsheltered and needs to be isolated because they’re exhibiting symptoms or have a confirmed case of COVID,” said Ney.
The Comox Valley Community Foundation hopes to be allocating funds as soon as possible.
For more information on the Comox Valley Community Foundation and to donate click here.
For more information on the Campbell River Community Foundation and to donate click here.
Dean Stoltz
