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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014
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IN THE HILLS OF NEW WESTMINSTER
Larry Wright/THE RECORD
One of these things is not like the others: Art meets life as a passerby nearly blends into the background while walking down Fourth Street on a recent sunny day. The spate of sunny spring weather could be coming to a temporary end, however, as Environment Canada calls for showers and rain starting Thursday.
United Way cuts will impact city seniors BY JENNIFER MOREAU REPORTER editorial@royalcityrecord.com
Following a dip in charitable donations, the United Way of the Lower Mainland has been forced to scale back grant funding for seniors, which is expected to impact groups across the Lower Mainland. Organizations in Burnaby and New Westminster will likely be impacted, but United Way could not disclose which ones. “We’ve had to make some decisions we really didn’t want to, and if people pulled their chequebook out, it would help us,” said Deb Bryant, a director in the community impact and investment department. The United Way of the Lower Mainland
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Bryant stressed that the receives government fundUnited Way is not ending ing and public donations ◗RELATED ARTICLES any funding contracts early, and then allocates the money based on themes (such as Homeless: Fred Page owes however, some would not be renewed in the future. helping seniors or support- his chance at a safe life to Affected groups should ing kids’ after-school pro- a unique program funded by receive a letter explaingrams, for example). The the United Way – but that ing what’s happening, she money is then divided into could all stop. added. corresponding grant streams, See page 3 Meanwhile, United Way and six of those streams – all is also managing the Better dedicated to seniors – will Our View: Housing seniors is too important to rely on at Home program in cities no longer continue. across B.C. That program, Those discontinuing charity. which just started in Burnaby, funding streams are: seniors’ See page 6 was designed by the United temporary housing, support Way, to help seniors stay at to caregivers, seniors no longer alone (an outreach program), seniors home longer by offering help with things first (systems-level work) and seniors like rides to medical appointments or help with light housekeeping. Better at active and independent.
Home is funded by the provincial government, so the fact that United Way is taking on a new body of work does not affect the decision to close the six grant streams. They were closed because charitable donations from the public are down, Bryant explained. “We have had some real challenges in our charitable fundraising. … We’re not the province, we can’t tax anybody,” Bryant said. “We really hope that the community at large steps up and says this work is important, and we support it with our charitable donations.” Stephen D’ Souza is the executive director of Burnaby Community Services, the agency that “hosts” Voices of Burnaby Seniors, a local seniors’ planning table ◗United Way Page 9
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