A local business has started a new fund to help Atlantic Canadians facing challenges as the country works to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Atlantic Business Interiors, a workplace furniture supplies businesses with locations in all Atlantic provinces, is teaming up with United Ways across Atlantic Canada to create the Atlantic Compassion Fund. The fund will support the people most impacted by the widespread social distancing and other public health measures being implemented across the region.
Atlantic Business Interiors will be matching up to $100,000 of contributions made by individuals and businesses the region to the fund.
The idea to create the fund came from Atlantic Business Interiors president Tom Rose.
“Tom was really concerned about the people across all of our communities that are impacted by this, more so, people that are already in precarious situations, whether they’re unemployed, elderly, trying to access community service and not able to,” says Michelle Cook, the company’s vice-president of Finance. “He really felt a need to help the communities that have been so supportive of Atlantic Business Interiors throughout the years.”
Anyone can make donations to the fund online, whether it’s an individual, business or organization. The money will then be distributed amongst the 11 United Ways in Atlantic Canada. Each chapter will use the funds how they see fit in their communities. This could include food banks, organizations that support mental health, seniors, and homeless shelters, for example.
“The United Ways are working with the government to make sure we are fully aligned with any programs and supports that they are going to be offering. I’m working here locally with the Saint John Community Foundation and with Living SJ,” says Alexya Heelis, interim executive director of United Way Saint John, Kings and Charlotte counties.
“We are all working on this together because we all want to be in the same boat rowing in the same direction. We want to make sure we’re filling in the gaps and that we’re not duplicating things that other people are doing.”
Heelis says the new fund will help the United Ways support charities in their communities even more.
“We have a certain capacity to help as a United Way in the community in general, but as far as fundraising, most of the funds that we raised in this past year have already been allocated out to agencies,” she says. “So to have that additional funding come in to help us respond to the new and emerging needs that are coming is just absolutely critical to help us in our work.”
With many taking part in social distancing and being extra vigilant, Cook says donating to the fund is a way people can safely help others in their communities during this time.
“One of the things with social distancing is how do we help our community members get access to the care that they need, the groceries they need for the elderly, those types of things. The United Way is really in a position to be able to help really get traction for this,” says Scott.
“They have the network in place to be able to get this going much faster than an individual can. We’re hoping once the money gets funneled and can get into the communities that we can take action quickly.”
The funds may help to continue to support people when the pandemic is over.
“This is a way we can help our community now and help in the future when we are able to bring out communities back together,” says Scott.
“We’re a resilient bunch in Atlantic Canada and I really feel that this is a really give way to contribute and do good in a time that’s really trying for everybody.”
A version of this story was published in Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
