A new municipal assistance fund is aiming to help out community organizations who are feeling the financial effects of COVID-19.
The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg opened applications for its Emergency Assistance Fund for organizations in the community that rely on fundraising to continue operations.
MODL mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson said many of these organizations haven’t been able to host planned fundraising events, resulting in significant hardships.
“These are events that help keep the lights on in these small community halls,” she said.
“They are also a focal point in small communities, so it is important that we try to help them in these hard times.”
The fund will provide up to $2,500 to eligible organizations, with a total investment of $150,000 by the municipality.
Organizations eligible for financial relief must be a non-profit, charitable, fraternal, educational, recreational, religious, cultural or sporting organization who owns a community hall within the MODL which hosts fundraising events open to the general public.
This stipulation, however, does not apply to Royal Canadian Legions who may be outside the municipalities boundaries, but serve or have members who live within the district.
Keeping these organizations running is of the utmost importance for the future of small communities, said Bolivar-Getson.
“When this is over, whatever our new normal looks like, we will rely on these community halls to hold meetings and for events to happen in our communities,” she said.
Application deadlines are Friday, July 17 at 4:30 pm, and a full list of requirements can be found here.
