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COVID-19 Community Relief Fund grows by $50K

Bombardier, Resolute donate $25,000 apiece, fund grows to $229,000.
Albert Brule
The United Way of Thunder Bay's chief executive officer, Albert Brulé. (TBT News)

THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay’s COVID-19 Community Relief fund has grown by $50,000, thanks to a pair of recent donations.

Resolute Forest Products Thunder Bay paper mill has teamed up with the company’s local sawmill and its Ontario woodlands operation to provide $25,000 of the total.

The J. Armand Bombardier Foundation provided the other $25,000, bringing the collective total to $229,000.

“It’s all about finding ways to come together as a community, while being apart. Our team realizes how difficult this time of social distancing can be for many, and we appreciate the efforts of all those helping to keep our community and staff safe,” said Dr. Kristie Skunta, who works at the transitional care unit at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, whose staff also donated $1,000.

Last week, the fund announced it was giving six local vendors money as a result, to help ensure those affected by the pandemic remain safe, healthy and have access to basic needs like food, clothing, hygiene projects, shelter and crisis counseling.

“As we all work together during the pandemic, these significant contributions provide support for those who need it most. Local service providers are seeing a surge of people in need and this helps ease the strain. The flexibility associated with this fund also allows us to act quickly and disperse the funding into the community almost immediately,” said United Way of Thunder Bay CEO Albert Brule in a release issued on Tuesday.

Local agencies are invited to apply for funding through the Thunder Bay Community Foundation’s online grant platform, or donate at either www.uwaytbay.ca or www.tbcf.org.

The need has never been greater, said Alexandra Calderon, executive director of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation.

Non-profits say the impact of COVID-19 was immediate and will have ripple effects in the long-term. They all need a helping hand right now, more than ever. Many expect future demand for support and services to only increase in the upcoming weeks.”



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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