By donating 10 per cent of their monthly salaries, Innisfil council members and the town’s chief administrative officer were able to help 82 families through micro grants.
At its April 22 meeting, Innisfil council unanimously voted to create the Innisfil Helping Hands fund. The program provided small ($50), direct, real-time assistance to groups and individuals who found themselves struggling with urgent needs.
In addition to council and the CAO, town staff donated to the fund, and the town received a donation from Lioness Club ($500) and a Barrie resident named John Kosteniuk, who was inspired by council's gesture ($500), for a total of $7,870.
On Aug. 12, council received a report detailing how the fund had been used.
A committee established to disperse the fund received 125 applications for assistance, approving 82.
The fund was used to help people buy groceries and medicine, support parents with young children, and help people pay bills.
“What we ended up doing was helping over 80 families with this,” said Coun. Kenneth Fowler. “It was one of the highlights so far of my term in office.”
Shane MacDonald, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Barrie Advance
