Hundreds of grants, totalling about $850,000 and approved by Richmond city council, will benefit community organizations.
"(Grants are) very, very important because without the city, we cannot do our programs," said Daniel Suen, executive director of Connections Community Services.
Connections is a non-profit that has been in Richmond for 50 years. It offers tutoring services for youth in need and connects youth with seniors through its inter-generational program aimed at helping seniors adapt to digital life.
Its application for just over $14,000 through the health, social and safety grants, which was approved, will fund the salary of an activities worker.
The non-profit will also get just over $3,000 to help buy items such as a portable sink, a play tent, a kids sofa and other items for its kids club.
It's "not easy" even with city grants to run programs, said Suen, as funding has been impacted by inflation.
To make the most of limited resources, Connections surveys community members to determine what they need the most when designing new programming.
While the city has its own catalogue of community services, Suen said it is important to provide more options to Richmond residents by supporting community organizations.
Similarly, for Steveston's Society for Youth Empowerment and Strength (Society for Yes), which offers a safe space for struggling youth between the ages of 13 and 17 to exercise, city grants fund salaries and rent for its programming.
Society for Yes currently serves 12 young people and there are six more on its waitlist. Referrals continue to come in from the Foundry, RCMP and high school counsellors.
Founder of the organization, Pilar Bradshaw, told Richmond city council on Monday the demand for Society for Yes' programs "exceeds (their) current financial situation." The grant would help in hiring new trainers and expand the program capacity.
Society for Yes' request for $4,000 was originally not recommended by city staff due to limited grant funds, but council ultimately approved $2,500 after Bradshaw's appeal.
Bradshaw was not the only group to receive more funding than recommended by city staff.
The city's grant for Church on Five was increased from $13,000 to $35,000 after advocates told city council the week before of its efforts to deliver hundreds of meals to unhoused community members.
St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Parish, which also serves community meals, got a boost from council as well and went from a $5,125 grant to $10,000.
The extra funding for these three groups will come from the council contingency funds as the grant fund was fully subscribed.
The grants will come back for a final vote at Monday's city council meeting.
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