Interior Savings is pleased has announced that six non-profit organizations in the interior of B.C. will benefit from grants totalling nearly $50,000, as part of the spring allocation of its Community Investment Fund.
In Prince George, $4,600 in funding will help bring generations together to build a greenhouse and grow food. The Green Thumb, led by CMHA Northern BC, harnesses the healing properties and sense of mental well being that working with plants and growing food provides while creating connections between youth and older adults. Food produced in the greenhouse will support CMHA Northern BC’s social enterprise Two Rivers Catering, while also helping to address food insecurity amongst their clients.
This grant marks the very first Community Investment Fund allocation in the community of Prince George since the merger of Spruce Credit Union with Interior Savings earlier this year.
Since its inception over 80 years ago, Interior Savings has been committed to local money for local good. Its Community Investment Fund is only one such initiative that puts people before profit, with local organizations receiving nearly $2 million in grants following the Fund’s launch in 2007. Whether the grants are used to get new programs off the ground, or to substantially expand upon them, they share a common goal of helping empower people in our communities to create more local impact. Programs are evaluated on their ability to have far-reaching and positive impact on the community, be sustainable, and align with the social impact goals of the credit union, to create healthier more livable communities for everyone.
“Credit unions, by their very nature, have always been focused on building community resilience,” said Interior Savings acting CEO, Karen Hawes, in a news release. “With this pandemic not yet behind us, our investment in social and economic recovery is even more critical this year. We’re so grateful to local groups like these who are on the ground, truly fostering community, when the community needs them most.”
Other grant recipients include:
- BGC Kamloops – Youth Mental Health Programs
- BGC Okanagan – Families and Community Together Program
- Desert Sun Counselling & Resource Centre Society – Food Insecurity Programs
- Karis Support Society – Wellness Collective Program
- North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society – ADHD Parent Lending Library and Support Group
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