Neighbourhood Small Grants is a unique program that helps build community and strengthen connections right where people live - in their neighbourhoods. The program supports ordinary residents who have small but powerful ideas to bring people together and make their community vibrant. Through the support of a small grant (from $50-$500), residents are able to tap into their creativity and leadership skills to develop projects that benefit the community. Delta Foundation is offering this program once again to the Delta community, with funding support from the Vancouver Foundation.
Charities, non-profits, Indigenous communities and local governments are among the organizations eligible to apply for funding of local, small-scale infrastructure projects aimed at bringing people back to the streets of our communities and public meeting places, after isolating for so long during the pandemic, and help boost our economy.
Whether it’s pop-up bike paths, community gardens, art installations or Wi-Fi hot spots or other programs and services, funding can be used for adapting public spaces, or for programming or services that respond to COVID-19 and serve the public or a community disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Canadians want to be able to work, live and play in safe, vibrant and inclusive communities. This program is designed to help communities achieve this potential. The Applicant Guide provides a full list of eligible organizations.
Former Chair of the Delta Foundation Noel Philippot received the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Club of Ladner, which founded the Foundation in 1986, for his service above self to the Delta community as board director and chair of the Delta Foundation over several years. Paul Harris Fellow honourees are individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set forth by Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary International, the world’s original service club, and for extraordinary service above self. https://tinyurl.com/56lr5kni
The Healthy Communities Initiative is a $31 million investment from the Government of Canada to support fund local, small-scale infrastructure projects, programming and services that respond to new realities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether it’s pop-up bike paths, community gardens, art installations or Wi-Fi hot spots or other programs and services, Canadians want to be able to work, live and play in safe, vibrant and inclusive communities. This program is designed to help communities achieve this potential.
Join Community Foundations of Canada and the Canadian Urban Institute on February 9th, 2021 at 10 AM PST for a special announcement and panel event focused on transforming public spaces to respond to COVID-19. For more information and to register
Delta Foundation, the community foundation for Delta as the local “charity for charities”, announces its board of directors for 2021, following a recent annual general meeting.
“This much larger board, of 13 directors instead of six, with its experienced, talented leaders,” says Delta Foundation President Peter Roaf, “will enable us, as Delta’s community foundation in regional and national networks, to build and develop in new ways so that we can do more for our charities in Delta as they serve the people of this community.”
Another seven Delta charities, supporting populations more vulnerable than normal, during the the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn, have received $76,370 in funding from the Delta Foundation through the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), launched in early October.
This Round 2 of funding follows the original Round launched in the Spring when Delta Foundation granted $181,860 to eight Delta charities for vulnerable populations.
For more than 30 years low income families throughout Delta have been receiving hampers of food at Christmas time to give a hand up in making their festive season a little happier. There have been 650 families receiving these food hampers in recent time, thanks to food drives in Delta schools and to Deltassist, which runs the program with donations and volunteers from many Delta charities and non-profits.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic there are no school food drives. Nor is there the small army of volunteers packing and delivering door-to-door 1,200 to 1,500 boxes (two to three boxes of food per hamper depending upon the size of the family) with canned goods, dry goods like pasta, bread, cookies, fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, candy canes and a 5 to 7 kg. turkey.
Instead, the Tsawwassen Order of Old Bastards (TOOB) has received $17,000 in emergency funding from the Delta Foundation towards purchase of food gift cards for the 650 families.
When children and youth in low income families have sufficient food to eat at home, they can focus better on their learning and social skills. That benefits not only them and their families, it benefits their teachers and their schools.
South Delta Baptist Church, in Tsawwassen, runs a Starfish Pack Program for that purpose. Delta Foundation has granted $17,000 in emergency funding to the Church so it can continue with this project to make sure that kids are fed over the weekend so that they come to school on Mondays ready to learn. The mission of Starfish Pack is to love kids by providing them with nourishment.
Residents of long term care – among the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic – and their visiting family and friends, at KinVillage in Ladner, will now be able to enjoy a safe, indoor visiting area with the support of $10,000 from the Delta Foundation.
A safe and pleasurable visiting opportunity for each KinVillage long term resident during the pandemic is aimed at the overall mental well-being of each frail person in overcoming the sense of isolation and loneliness through social connections with their significant others.
The new system being installed will allow residents and their family and friends to connect safely in person through a variety of ways including virtual visits, "glass-door visits" and "in-person/social visits" will support the emotional well-being of our vulnerable older adults and at the same time help meet some of the needs of their family/friends.
Therapeutic horseback riding has proven to relieve depression and improve overall mental health, affecting more Delta residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and those with mental and physical ability issues in more intense ways. Educational activities, provided by Delta-based Pony Pals Therapeutic Riding Association (PPTRA), involves specially trained horses and therapists in helping people with mental illness, children and youth and persons with disabilities. PPTRA will be able to respond to the growing need for this form of therapy during the pandemic with the support of $5,370 from the Delta Foundation, for its Equine Facilitated Mental Health (EFMH) Program for Covid-19 Vulnerable Populations.
PPTRA provides the people of Delta, Surrey, Burnaby, New Westminster and White Rock, with therapeutic horseback riding services and equine assisted therapies to promote physical, psychological, developmental and social well being of clients of all ages. Clients learn stress coping and reduction, interacting in a physically and socially safe way, in real time, fostering a normalized shared therapeutic experience, increasing acceptance, self-esteem, equality, access, safe social interaction and well-being.
For many seniors and elders in South Delta, living independently or in residential facilities, life can be rather isolated and lonely, affecting mental, physical and emotional quality of life. Since 2003 ElderCollege Delta Society, run by volunteer seniors, has been improving the quality of life for seniors by advancing their education through courses, instructional seminars, field trips and workshops.
With $7,000 from the Delta Foundation, as emergency community funding for charities serving vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, ElderCollege can apply this funding to continuing, as and how possible, its fall and spring program of 76 courses, seminars and field trips, totalling 295 course hours for 717 attendees as well as its free public talks for 720 attendees and presentations at care homes in South Delta.
The three Boys and Girls Clubs in Delta normally serve more than 150 children and youth per day in programs outside of school, but, with physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to close their facilities in March and have had their service reduced to serving only 43 per day. All the BGC clubs now have waitlists for available spaces, with not only revenues down, but staffing costs increased with higher staff-to-participant ratios for ensuring safety protocols with fewer volunteers to help.
Staff at the three BGC clubs have maintained contact with Club families via email, phone, and text, and started offering virtual programs in April and have provided grocery store gift cards for families who needed extra support.
With $16,000 in emergency funding during the pandemic from the Delta Foundation, BCC in Delta can continue to offer in-person and virtual after-school programming and day camps for kids aged 6-12 through the three local clubs.
People with developmental disabilities can reach their full potential by living and belonging in their community with the help of Delta Community Living Society (DCLS), which facilitates community connections, family supports, employment opportunities, and supportive housing options with a commitment to life-long learning, choice and self-determination.
In providing this service, DCLS staff have had to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and provide cleaning supplies to keep themselves and their clients safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, amounting to an unanticipated and extraordinary expense.
Delta Foundation is providing $6,000 to DCLS so it can cover some of this increased expense during this community emergency in serving vulnerable populations so the charity can continue to provide the necessary supplies to its teams while continuing to offer vital services to people with developmental disabilities in our community.
A Neighbourhood Small Grant recipient reported: Each year, my sister and I put together backpacks filled with school supplies and donate them to our former elementary school, Hellings Elementary, in North Delta, in hopes that it can be passed on to a student in need. With the ongoing pandemic, we recognize that many families in Delta may be experiencing financial hardships during this difficult time, therefore we decided to make our Back(pack) to School initiative bigger this year and include other elementary schools in our catchment.
Stroke survivors need to access recovery programs beyond their initial rehabilitation period to ease the challenge of living with changes in their lives. In this period of pandemic restrictions, it’s essential to provide Stroke survivors, in the Speech Language Pathology Program, with the technology and confidence they need to access recovery programs online instead of in person.
With a total of $4,500 from the Delta Foundation, in part from emergency support funds from the Vancouver Foundation, Delta Stroke Recovery Society can move its in-person Speech Language Pathology Program online, by purchasing tablets and employing a Speech Language Pathologist Practitioner.
With a total of $4,500 from the Delta Foundation, in part from emergency support funds from the Vancouver Foundation, Delta Stroke Recovery Society can move its in-person Speech Language Pathology Program online, by purchasing tablets and employing a Speech Language Pathologist Practitioner.
The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be an unpredictable challenge for many people and organizations, with some communities experiencing higher levels of vulnerability than others. Marginalized groups, youth, children and the elderly, essential workers, and newcomers are just some of the communities that have faced increased challenges. To provide emergency relief, the Government of Canada launched the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) to help support communities made increasingly vulnerable by the pandemic.
With COVID-19 cases increasing in many communities, and a continuous call for emergency relief, the ECSF will reopen with a Round 2 of funding, providing much-needed assistance to charities and non-profit organizations serving communities experiencing vulnerability.
Having worked with young children for over 25 years and seen how important early literacy is, Delta resident Denise Sheridan brought books to young children in her neighbourhood with her project, Neighbourhood Love for Literacy. A Neighbourhood Small Grant from the Delta Foundation made the project possible.
When plans to have a neighbourhood bbq were put on hold because of COVID-19 restrictions a North Delta neighbourhood came up with a virtual replacement. The Sunshine Hills Virtual Garden Show attracted 51 entrants and 85 entries, with support of a Neighbourhood Small Grant from the Delta Foundation, with funding from the Vancouver Foundation.
The challenge in organizing a Pastry Parade on Canada Day, July 1, 2020, in a local Delta community was increased when faced with the questions: "How do we celebrate safely during a pandemic?; how do we celebrate our neighbourhood, get out and have fun while including everyone and maintain social distancing?"
Thanks to a Neighbourhood Small Grant from the Delta Foundation, with funds from Vancouver Foundation, one of the organizers says, "We hosted a 'pastry parade'! My kids and I handed out flyers around the entire block inviting everyone to join us as spectators at the end of their driveways , or as participants rollin' , strollin' or dancing down the street. The turn out was truthfully greater than I had expected and I couldn't be more pleased."
Thanks to a Neighbourhood Small Grant from the Delta Foundation, with funds from Vancouver Foundation, one of the organizers says, "We hosted a 'pastry parade'! My kids and I handed out flyers around the entire block inviting everyone to join us as spectators at the end of their driveways , or as participants rollin' , strollin' or dancing down the street. The turn out was truthfully greater than I had expected and I couldn't be more pleased."
A survey conducted in April found that 80% of charities in Canada were operating with decreased capacity and nearly one in five organizations had suspended or ceased their operations. The projected financial losses for registered charities in Canada is between $9.5 billion and $15.7 billion.
Eight Delta charities, supporting populations more vulnerable than normal, during the health threat and economic downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic, have received $181,860 in funding from the Delta Foundation through the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), launched on May 19, 2020.
North Delta residents housebound by restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the elderly, low income families and those living with mental illness, will continue to receive freshly prepared, nutritious meals from Surrey-North Delta Meals on Wheels, thanks in part to $15,000 in emergency funding from the Delta Foundation.
Since most plans were cancelled on Canada Day, one family in Ladner thought it would be nice to connect with their neighbours and have a 7 pm parade around our block, with support from the Delta Foundation with a Neighbourhood Small Grant from funds through Vancouver Foundation.
One of the organizers says, "Last year our street held our 1st block party and it was a success, so with most people home we sent out invitations for our neighbours to join us on the street (at the end of our driveways) for dinner, followed by the parade and doorstep photos.
One of the organizers says, "Last year our street held our 1st block party and it was a success, so with most people home we sent out invitations for our neighbours to join us on the street (at the end of our driveways) for dinner, followed by the parade and doorstep photos.
For people living with mental illness and with low income, sometimes poverty, Options Community Services help them help themselves and, in turn, promotes safe, healthy, vibrant communities. At the Delta clubhouse, Options provides psychosocial rehabilitation programs related to employment, leisure, basic living skills and wellness. It focuses on participants’ strengths and emphasizes a person’s potential for recovery -- recovery as a personal journey rather than a set outcome, developing hope, a secure base and sense of self, supportive relationships, empowerment, social inclusion, coping skills and meaning.
The “Ready to Work (R2W)” project aims to reduce barriers in finding employment post-COVID-19 for those of age 19 years and older by increasing employability among clients experiencing mental illness.
Delta Foundation has provided $8,000 in emergency funding to the Options Ready to Work project.
For individuals and families experiencing job loss, homelessness and other financial struggles in North Delta, it has been an especially difficult time during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. Access to food is most important for these members of the community. To relieve the stress of limited access to, and affordability of, food, and the additional stress that can lead to a rise in domestic violence, Deltassist Family and Community Services Society is substituting for the normally functioning food bank in North Delta which was forced to close during the pandemic.
“Deltassist Temporary North Delta Food Bank” is now serving 708 people in North Delta in need during the pandemic by purchasing every two weeks grocery gift cards so families can purchase perishable food and receive prepackaged food bags from the Surrey Food Bank.
Delta Foundation has provided $70,000 in emergency funding to the food bank.
Children and youth with special needs and their families have received support from Reach Child and Youth Development Society (REACH) for more than 60 years in Delta, Surrey and Langley. Every year Reach provides support for 1,200 children from birth to nineteen years of age with Autism, and developmental disabilities such as Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, behavioural and mental health challenges. The family-centered, individualized, and responsive approach means that families experience success
and each child is given the opportunity to reach their potential.
and each child is given the opportunity to reach their potential.
With emergency funding of $25,805 from the Delta Foundation, the “Virtual Autism Early Intervention Therapies Program” is ensuring REACH can provide online autism-related sessions so that children continue to receive the support programs and services that they need to reach their potential. The program also sees that families are supported with the tools, materials, equipment and guidance necessary to support their child's continued development from home where in-person services are not feasible.
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