Haven is expanding our language program in Calgary, in which Calgary based refugees receive personalized online classes with teachers, and one on one conversation practice with Calgarians. Our impact data demonstrates that our personalized and immersion focused approach helps refugees improve their English three times faster than traditional government classes. The grant will pay for teaching costs for Calgary based refugees, and engagement costs for local Calgarian volunteers.
Helping Hands food programs are supporting multiple communities west of Calgary, including the Iyahrhe Nakoda Food Bank located at Mini Thni. In 2023, the Food Rescue program distributed 105,085 kg of food back into the community, and is on track to surpass 175,000 kg in 2024. The Food Equity and Security initiative will support partial salaries for the Food Security team, meal prep supplies, and Free Food Shed maintenance. The foods programs are positioning to expand and innovate in 2025.
Highbanks is proposing a significant expansion of our core programing by increasing our capacity from serving 20 families to 30 families. The initiative goal is to provide culturally specific and appropriate housing and supports to our Indigenous and culturally diverse target population. This grant will help pay for additional housing units, a cultural support worker, an early childhood educator, and the additional programming costs of increasing our capacity by 50 percent.
Hospice Calgary intends to double the clients served through its Companion Program. This service matches trained volunteers to clients in the community living with advanced illness. The program grew from 4 active client/volunteer matches in its first 12 months to 50 active matches after 24 months, proving demand and positive impact for this service. This grant will help fund staff positions to support activities related to doubling volunteer client matches by September 2026.
I Can for Kids aims to amplify the evidence based impact of their grocery gift card model to optimize support for food insecure populations. This grant will pay the first full year of salary for a new director responsible to strengthen and expand their partnership network with frontline agencies in Calgary while simultaneously coaching other organizations to use their new, free, and comprehensive online guide that outlines how to adopt and implement a successful grocery gift card program.
Emma House will provide safe, supportive housing for expectant mothers who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. As part of Inn from the Cold Supportive Housing programs, Emma House will offer a nurturing environment where young families can build healthy and sustainable futures. This program will enable mothers to move from vulnerability to strength, creating healthy, sustainable lives for themselves and their children.
L’Arche Calgary offers essential low cost residences for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Kichiyak, one of our homes, urgently needs remodeling but is often deprioritized due to its smaller size and differing regulations. With our focus shifting to a major capital campaign, Kichiyak’s renovations risk further delays. This grant will allow us to remodel the main floor now, prevent recurring repairs, and build our capacity to support residents with more complex needs.
Miskanawah has expanded the scope of cultural programming into homelessness supports, community violence prevention, gender diverse supports for Indigenous youth, and Reconciliation. These expansion projects have resulted in an increasing need for culturally appropriate leadership, to ensure effective, sustainable and culturally specific supports. Miskanawah is seeking funds for a full time Cultural Relations Lead to enhance our cultural capacity and Building Relatives ReconciliACTION strategy.
MPC will complete the work started in Part 1 of this program. We will translate Beginner TechBuddy contents, develop Instructor manuals and begin work on Intermediate level contents for Practical English and TechBuddy. We will deliver Beginner and Intermediate classes for 40 weeks each year for 2 years. The goal is to create accessible opportunities for seniors to acquire skills that lead to independent living. This grant will pay for the successful completion and delivery of all learning contents.
The Youth Mind and Wellness Initiative at the Akram Jomaa Youth Center addresses rising concerns around mental health and substance use among Muslim youth. The program offers culturally sensitive education, counseling, and support services, including workshops, peer support groups, and professional counseling. The Community Grant will cover costs for program materials, facilitator fees, and resources for outreach and parent engagement activities.