Libro Credit Union has announced the recipients of the 2023 Annual granting program.
Twenty-one projects across southwestern Ontario will receive a total of $310,000.
Libro described the projects chosen as "organizations whose work reflects our pillars - financial resilience, housing, employment, and local food accessibility."
Carolina Triana, Libro's Purpose Integration Specialist, called the Grant program an opportunity for Libro to learn about and get involved in impactful projects across the region.
"Every year we are impressed by the innovative programs that these groups are delivering to improve the quality of life for so many," she said.
Organizations in Huron-Perth receiving funding include:
Facile Perth
Project: providing education, support, and facilitation to people and families accessing the adult developmental service system for the first time.
Pillar: Financial Resilience
Grant Amount: $10,000
Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre
Project: enhance the HCFBDC delivery van by adding refrigeration capabilities, allowing for the delivery of perishable food items through the Mobile Food Bank program.
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $20,000
Municipality of North Perth
Project: providing workers and job seekers, especially unemployed and under-employed people, with the foundational skills and knowledge to find meaningful jobs in the construction industry.
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $15,000
United Way Perth Huron
Project: building and operating housing, through the Community Renewal Company, for those experiencing homelessness, the precariously housed, and individuals and families with lower incomes.
Pillar: Housing
Grant Amount: $15,000
In London-Elgin-Oxford the following organizations will receive funding:
Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre
Project: enhance food security and social connection for low-income Londoners by rebooting a weekly meal with a community building and referral focus. The funds will provide 75 meals a week for 26 weeks.
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $15,000
Elgin Business Resource Centre
Project: EBRC Self-Employment Training will help entrepreneurs go from idea to researched business plan through a series of workshops.
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $15,000
Stevenson Camp
Project: give campers, staff, and volunteers a chance to learn about health, wellness, and overall quality of life by actively participating in the community garden program with its own Victory Garden.
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $15,000
United Way Oxford
Project: The Light House – Tillsonburg Transitional House plans to provide a safe and welcoming home with all the necessary wrap-around supports to help those that are ready to move to a more stable environment.
Pillar: Housing
Grant Amount: $15,000
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex will receive funding for the following:
Empty Bowls Strathroy-Caradoc
Project: a global grassroots movement by artists and crafts people to raise money for food related charities to care for and feed the hungry and homeless in their communities. The money will allow restaurants and artists to promote their businesses while receiving subsidies to cover the costs of their supplies for the inaugural fundraiser in the area.
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $5,000
Good Things Outreach
Project: purchase a fridge to store perishable food and contribute to the purchase of food to continue provide nutritious lunches and grocery hampers to over 100 people in need in the Blenheim and Ridgetown areas.
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $5,000
Sarnia-Lambton Rebound
Project: support The Hub in continuing to serve food and keeping the doors open to local youth.
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $20,000
The Inn of the Good Shepherd
Project: The Mobile Market, a traveling van that delivers free, fresh produce to low-income and rural neighborhoods in Sarnia-Lambton including rural areas in food deserts, and 2 First Nation Reservations.
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $15,000
The following organizations in Windsor-Essex will also receive funding:
Art Gallery of Windsor
Project: create and conduct two cohorts of a creative business career 'boot camp' in 2023/24 to support 40 emerging creative entrepreneurs.
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $17,500
Downtown Windsor Business Revitalization Association
Project: gather unsold produce, baked goods, and prepared foods from the Downtown Windsor Farmers' Market to be repackaged and sold at a reduced price, or donated to ensure that low income, at-risk and vulnerable people in the city centre have access to fresh, healthy foods.
Pillar: Local Food Accessibility
Grant Amount: $20,000
Women’s Enterprise Skill Training Centre (WEST)
Project: provide extra support for women and youth facing employment barriers to enter the workforce.
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $20,000
WE Build a Dream
Project: workshop to allow young women, and those from equity deserving groups, learn new skills and discover different career opportunities available in the skilled trades.
Pillar: Employment
Grant Amount: $12,000
Projects in Haldimand and Waterloo counties will also receive investments from the Grants program.