As part of the $1 million Be a Light: Beating COVID-19 Together campaign, Bruce Power will provide $50,000 to the REACH Centre Grey Bruce to help it secure a safe space for programming for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
At the onset of the pandemic, the donated space the organization previously used was shut down and remains unavailable to the organization. The agency shifted to remote support and monitoring of overall participant well-being, and when public health deemed safe to do so, a modified program was held in two separate short-term locations. With no place for program delivery in 2021, the organization sought community support to purchase a building in Owen Sound.
“We recognize the tremendous impact COVID-19 has had on us all, but it has been especially hard on our most vulnerable populations and their families,” said Dwight Irwin, Acting Manager of Community Relations, Bruce Power. “Our Be a Light campaign is aimed at battling the pandemic, while at the same time supporting those who have been most impacted. The work the REACH Centre does is vital to our community and the families it serves, and we are happy to contribute to a new space for their program.”
Due to space restrictions to ensure physical distancing, there remains a waitlist for families to participate in the program. Government-funded agencies mostly remain closed, leaving REACH, which receives no government funding, to try to fill those gaps.
“The agency has been profoundly impacted by COVID-19 and our families are in crisis,” said Jennifer Miller, Executive Director at the REACH Centre Grey Bruce. “This population, despite being remarkably resilient, does not accept change well. Thanks to the generous donation from Bruce Power, we have been able to secure a forever home for our program.”
Between Bruce Power and other donors, the organization has raised $275,000 towards purchasing a building in Owen Sound to provide a safe space and stabilize the supports for these youth and their caregivers. There remains a shortfall of $75,000 in order to acquire the accessible equipment and furnish the space for program delivery. Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce has agreed to help retrofit the building and make accessibility upgrades.
Bruce Power is announcing this donation on ‘Giving Tuesday’ with the hopes of encouraging the community to do what they can to support a local not-for-profit organization.
“Whether it’s a donation of time, goods or money, we need to rally around organizations that provide support to local people in need, now more than ever,” Irwin said. “I also thank these organizations, on behalf of Bruce Power, for everything they do for our communities.”
Those who wish to donate to the REACH Centre can contact Miller at [email protected] or (226) 974-0577.
Bruce Power’s Be a Light: Beating COVID-19 Together campaign will provide $1 million to work with public health, county and municipal governments, chambers of commerce, hospitals, local MPs and MPPs, and community organizations to redouble efforts to battle the pandemic. This will be achieved through support for public health communications, additional community protections, supporting buying local, mental and physical initiatives, and lending a helping hand by working with school breakfast programs, long-term care facilities, and community organizations.
source: media release, Bruce Power
