Community Foundation kicks in $22,000 to look at rural transportation

Dec 18, 2019

In their fall community grants announcement on Monday night (December 16) in Kingston, the Community Foundation for Kingston and Area (CFKA) focussed on regional service delivery. Frontenac and rural Lennox and Addington are the focus for one of the largest grants, $21,850 to the KFL&A (Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington) Children and Youth Planning Committee (CYPC)

The CYPC is made up of over 30 agencies who meet together periodically in order to attempt to provide seamless service delivery for children and youth in the region.

“We meet together regularly and the topic of transportation comes up at almost every meeting. That’s why we decided to apply for a grant to allow us to look at what is available in different communities, so we can work together r to find better solutions,” said Louise Moody, who is the Executive Director of Rural Frontenac Community Services, a member of CYPC. She accepted the grant on behalf of the member agencies.

“Lack of transportation in Kingston & Area's communities continues to be an obstacle for rural children and youth,” said the Community Foundation in announcing the grant. “This often means youth and families have difficulties accessing needed services, attending social events, participating in sports and leisure activities. Most agencies in KFL&A have a small transportation budget or program.

“This project will take a systemic view of rural transportation by supporting planning among agencies to see how transportation services can be coordinated so that more children, youth and families can not only access the services they need, but also participate in community activities to support their overall wellbeing and feel a sense of inclusion in their community.”

Transportation services in KLF&A have had their ups and downs recently.

In early November, Frontenac County Council decided that 2020 will be the last year that they will provide $96,000 in funding for transportation services in their jurisdiction. The county has provided annual funding to various transportation programs for over 15 years. Later in November, a new community bus program was started up in Addington Highlands by Land O’Lakes Community Services with the aid of a provincial grant, and starting in January of 2020 a new ride sharing app will be unveiled by Rural Frontenac Community Services.

Other grants from the Community Foundation that will have an impact in the Frontenac News readership area include: $9000 to replace aging equipment at the Gould Lake Resource Centre in South Frontenac, $3650 for the Passport to Nature Program of the Land Conservancy for KFL&A, as well as funding for children’s mental health, an awareness program for ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences), and a women’s intensive support program.

The CFKA provides community grants in: arts and culture, community development, education and literacy, environment, health and social services, heritage preservation, recreation, and youth and children’s mental health The next application deadline is February 15, 2020. Information about grant applications is available at CFKA.org.

In an outreach effort to groups and agencies in Frontenac County, grants coordinator Penny Scott will be holding a community grants information session in Sydenham in early January.

During this information session, participants will be provided with an overview of the community grants program, as well as a review of the eligibility guidelines, application form and budget template.

It will be an informal setting to ask questions and learn more about this opportunity.

The South Frontenac information session will be held on Thursday, January 9 from 2pm - 3:30pm in the Sydenham Library meeting room at 4412 Wheatley Street. Register by visiting www.cfka.org