Homelessness, food insecurity, mental illness and precarious employment are really difficult things to have to experience. Now, as public health measures have been made across the PEI in response to COVID-19, people who were already vulnerable are facing major disruptions and new risks – and many are in crisis right now.
Since the pandemic hit the Island in March of this year, the United Way of PEI has worked to meet the needs of vulnerable people and families most at-risk due to challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here on PEI, through the Emergency Community Support Fund and the Atlantic Compassion Fund, more than $1 Million dollars of funding has been committed to local agencies who are adapting their vital services, and the United Way of PEI team is making sure they are having the biggest impact possible.
Click on the funding tabs below to learn more about the organizations that have been supported throughout this pandemic.
We are proud to have partnered with United Way Centraide Canada and the Government of Canada to deliver two rounds of funding through the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) to help charities and non-profit organizations across PEI adapt and increase frontline services for vulnerable populations during COVID-19.
The following local organizations received ECSF Round 2 Funding:
- Voluntary Resource Centre in partnership with Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels COVID-19 Response and Expansion
- Boys Girls Club Charlottetown: Safe Transportation Project
- PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre: Sexual Assault Support Therapist
- Cooper Institute in partnership with PEI Fight for Affordable Housing: Improving tenant wellbeing, safety, stability and empowerment during the COVID pandemic
- PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada: Equipping Newcomers for Mobile Services
- PEI Council of People with Disabilities: Designated Parking Permit Renewal in COVID
These are the recipients of the ECSF Round 1 Funding:
- Family Service PEI: Mental Health Counselling Service Expansion
- Abegweit First Nation Mi’kmaq Wellness Centre: Greenhouse Project for Food Insecurity
- PEERS Alliance: Support for PEI’s 2SLGBTQ+ community
- Cooper Institute in partnership with BIPOC USHR: Responding to Racism in COVID-19
- Boys and Girls Club Summerside: Project Backpack
- Canadian Mental Health Association, PEI Division: Tablets & internet access for Isolated and vulnerable clients
- PEI Literacy Alliance: Ready, Set, Learn Online Program Delivery
- Joyriders Therapeutic Riding Association of PEI: New COVID Normal
- Special Olympics PEI: Healthy @ Home
- PEI Association for Community Living: Support Match Worker
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the region, the 11 United Ways of Atlantic Canada created the Atlantic Compassion Fund to assist people struggling with the most basic needs throughout the pandemic such as food, shelter, access to medications and mental health supports.
The following local charities received funding from the Atlantic Compassion Fund thanks to support from the Government of Prince Edward Island, businesses and individual donors. These organizations were able to adapt their programs and services, and find new ways to meet the needs of our community.
- Abegweit First Nation Mi'kmaq Wellness Center (in partnership with the Charlottetown Farmers Market and Lennox Island First Nation)
- Cooper Institute (in partnership with Women's Network PEI)
- Gifts from the Heart Inc.
- Town of North Rustico
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of PEI
- PEERS Alliance
- Island Pregnancy Centre
- Boys and Girls Club of Charlottetown
- Municipality of Crapaud & Southshore Foodshare
- Family Service PEI
- Boys and Girls Club of Summerside
- CNIB PEI Chapter
- Kensington Meals-on-Wheels & Kensington Community Food Bank
- North Rustico Lions Club & The Yellow House
- PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre
- Harbourview Training Centre
- Winsloe Pastoral Charge
- St Vincent de Paul Summerside
- St Francis of Assisi Parish & St Vincent de Paul in Cornwall
- Wellington and Area Boys and Girls Club
- Enriched Residential Care Concepts Ltd & The Phillips Residence
- PEI Council of People with Disabilities
- Inclusions East Inc.
- East Prince Community Coalition Inc. Family Place
- Hospice PEI
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- The Adventure Group
- Voluntary Resource Centre
- Women’s Network PEI
- Charlottetown Farmers Market
