The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta is supporting Ukrainian refugees with a $20,000 grant to the Lethbridge Family Services. Front left: community foundation executive director Charleen Davidson, and John Lafferty and Julia Entz of Lethbridge Family Services.
The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta is responding to the arrival of Ukrainian nationals with a $20,000 grant to the Lethbridge Family Services’ immigrant services department.
The grant will support those fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking a temporary safe haven in Canada.
“We learned that the Ukrainian families who are arriving in our community are considered temporary refugees, as most are expected to return to their home once it is safe to do so,” community foundation executive director Charleen Davidson said.
“This ultimately means that they are not eligible for the government support available to refugees who resettle permanently in Canada. While the government of Alberta announced additional support earlier this week for Ukrainian nationals, this grant is our way of welcoming these families and, hopefully, helping to make their transition and their time here a bit easier.”
The grant comes from the foundation’s Community Priorities Fund, which is the result of donations from individuals since 1966.
Gifts to the Community Priorities Fund are unrestricted, and serve the most pressing needs of the community.
“We are absolutely delighted and hugely appreciative of this extremely kind gesture from the community foundation,” said John Lafferty, Director of the Lethbridge Family Services immigrant services department.
“This significant act of kindness will go towards enabling the successful settlement of displaced Ukrainians into the community; to set them up for success so that they feel a sense of belonging during this uncertain and anxious time for them.”
The grant will be used to buy bus passes, food, and children’s items, and to offset medical expenses.
The community foundation encourages all Ukrainian nationals who arrive in southwestern Alberta to contact Lethbridge Family Services at 403-327-5724 so that they can receive the assistance they need.
Anyone wishing to support the Ukrainian nationals can contact the community foundation for more information.
All proceeds will go directly to Ukrainian support, and will not be allocated to the community foundation’s endowment fund.
