INNISFAIL – Town council has approved more than $100,000 of provincial grant money for youth programming.
At council’s regular meeting on Jan. 8, Karen Bradbury, the town’s community and social development coordinator, outlined recommendations made by the FCSS Advisory Board on Dec. 5 for the distribution of $172,700 of provincial FCSS (Family and Community Support Services) grant money for 2018.
Council was told the town would receive a total of $207,592 in FCSS grant money this year from the province.
In Bradbury’s report to council, local youth will benefit the most with $30,000 approved for the mentoring program offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Red Deer, and another $30,000 going to the local Boys and Girls Club. As well, $45,000 was approved for the Chinook’s Edge School Division’s Family School Wellness Program.
Another $2,000 was approved for the local Junior Achievement program.
Outside monies targeted for youth, FCSS funding was also approved for seniors, with $39,000 going to the Innisfail Seniors Drop-In Centre. Another $5,600 was approved for the Innisfail Public Library to support the seniors’ Art Encounters initiative, and for the Knit and Knat program, which is also designed for older adults. Bradbury said the $5,600 would also help fund transportation needs for seniors who need assistance to get to the library.
Meanwhile, the Henday Association of Lifelong Learning is receiving $5,000 for its Afternoon Cooks program. The Lending Cupboard, a Red Deer organization that provides needy citizens vital medical equipment for a nominal fee, was approved for $5,500, and Innisfail’s Pathways Home Family Counselling will receive $8,600 to support group therapy in the community.
