Organizations Across NS Benefit from NSLC Community Fund

HALIFAX, April 4, 2023 -- Eleven charitable and non-profit organizations across Nova Scotia that support community wellbeing and the environment will receive financial support from the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation’s community investment fund.

The For the Good of Our Community Fund was established with the NSLC’s supplier partners to provide financial support to organizations that help build healthy and sustainable communities. “The community need continues to be overwhelming,” said Marley MacDonald, Director, Responsibility and Sustainability. “We received twice as many applications this year as we did last year. There are so many deserving organizations working hard to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of people living in communities across Nova Scotia, and this funding is one way that we can support and thank them.”

The fund provides one-time grants to charitable or non-profit organizations of up to $20,000. The NSLC received over 200 applications for the total funding of $140,000 and is providing grants to 11 organizations. Recipients must be registered charities or non-profits working to support communities within Nova Scotia and address areas of critical community need.

The NSLC Employee Community Advisory Committee, comprised of employees from across the province, reviews applications and approves the final grant recipients. “Our focus areas of community wellbeing, our environment, and accessibility and diversity are well-represented among the recipients,” MacDonald said.

They include organizations that help address domestic violence, food security and accessibility, including through budgeting and healthy food preparation, support for the environment and mental health and wellbeing.

The For the Good of Our Community grant program is funded equally between the NSLC and supplier partners. Designated products of suppliers who partnered with us will be available throughout the year, with their ongoing sales providing additional financial support to the selected organizations.

For further information, please contact Marley MacDonald, Director, Responsibility and Sustainability, at 902-450-5892.

Recipient	Use of Funds
After Trauma Empowerment Network	Workshops in the Shubenacadie area focused on wellbeing, healthy living, and connection
Clean Foundation	Restoration of an altered salt marsh at Sitmu’k in Pictou Landing First Nation
Eastern Shore Family Resource Association	Access to fresh meal kits along with instructions to encourage families to prepare healthy home cooked meals
Health Arts Society of Atlantic Canada	A series of classical music concerts in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in rural Nova Scotia
Independent Living Nova Scotia	Cooking and connection workshops that will provide cooking, meal planning, and budgeting skills to Nova Scotians with disabilities and their families
Laing House	Community kitchen programs that include cooking workshops, and fund facilitators, and upgrades to the Laing House community kitchen
Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association	Food and nutrition and budgeting programs to educate clients on meeting nutritional needs on a budget
Raising the Villages	Support access in rural Cape Breton to services, programs, and supports based on the First Nations intergenerational model
Second Harvest Canada	Expand access to healthy, surplus food in rural communities, supporting over 30,300 meals worth of nutritious food and stopping 113,000 lbs of greenhouse gases
Shelter Movers Nova Scotia	Expand programming to rural communities to support clients who leave their homes due to domestic violence
Hike Nova Scotia	Support community trail groups to provide safe and inclusive trails for more diverse hikers and walkers, along with trail maintenance and workshops

QUOTES:

"Through the generous support of the NSLC, the Feeding Our Souls project will allow our centre to support the food security of our clients. The project will enhance our ability to supply food bags through our food bank and provide hot meals in our centre. Nutrition and grocery budgeting workshops provided in a culturally supportive environment will increase and further develop our clients’ knowledge of providing healthy meals on a restricted budget." - Lisa Carr, Director-Jane Paul Indigenous Women's Resource Centre (Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association)

“Raising the Villages is grateful for the NSLC For the Good of Our Community funding and appreciates the recognition of our efforts to work with communities to develop integrated hubs in rural NS. Hubs where services, programs, and social connections can be coordinated and integrated as a one stop shop for health and well-being from our infants to our elders. If it truly does “take a village to raise our children” then let's make this a priority and help inform and shape policies arm-in-arm with our community partners, to foster more welcoming, inclusive, and upstream healthy communities.”- Amanda Knight, Communications and Network Development Coordinator, Raising the Villages - Mawiomi W’Jit Mijuwajijk

“Clean Foundation is thankful for the support from NSLC. These funds will allow for the continued stewardship and restoration efforts on the North Shore of Nova Scotia. Due to impacts from Hurricane Fiona, our Coasts team is working to enhance an innovative living shoreline, combining the use of salt marsh grasses and reef balls (concrete domes that slow down wave energy and provide homes for organisms). This funding will help support engagement, monitoring and restoration activities, as we continue to study the viability of living shorelines in a Nova Scotia context.”- Charlynne Robertson, Manager of Clean Coasts, Clean Foundation

“Shelter Movers Nova Scotia is a charitable volunteer-powered organization that provides moving and storage services free of charge to individuals and families fleeing abuse and violence. We have completed 600 moves in Nova Scotia since 2019 and serve HRM, South Shore, Annapolis Valley and soon Truro. This grant is making a direct impact on 60 clients to transition to a better life. In many cases we are also moving children and pets. We are grateful for this grant to support us in providing this important and necessary service. We are the only service of its kind in Canada. Thank you.” - Jennifer O'Neil, Chapter Director, Shelter Movers Nova Scotia

Learn more about The For the Good of Our Community fund.