By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland United Way and Cameco Corporation have teamed up to provide six local organizations with $22,307 in one-time community grants.

Cameco funds the grant stream through their COVID-19 Relief Fund, the announcement said, to meet the emerging needs of the community.

“Cameco has always cared about the people in Northumberland County, as clearly evidenced by the work they have done to support United Way, mental health, and their most recent response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Northumberland United Way executive director Bobbie Dawson said in the press release,

“It is because of their support that we are able to continue with our grants program this year. They are a fantastic community-minded company, and we are so thankful to have this partnership.”

These grants support new initiatives that aim to address an increasing need in the community, as well as capacity-building efforts to improve organizational effectiveness and impact. This year, the recipients are:

The Cobourg Dragon Boat Club (to assist with summer sessions for vulnerable children)

The Help Centre of Northumberland (for English as a Second Language programming)

Horizons of Friendship (for their Migrant Worker Program)

Northumberland Food For Thought (for their Student Nutrition Program on-line store)
Transition House (for impact sharing and communications)

Victorian Order of Nurses (in support of their adult day centre)

Dawson thanked all the organizations that applied.

“We received funding requests for nearly four times the amount that was available, which clearly highlights the increased need in our community,” she said.

“We continue to rely on the generosity of our donors to help secure the future of important social service programs locally.”

Cameco Fuel Services vice-president Dale Clark added is hope that this funding will make a positive difference in a very challenging year.

“Northumberland United Way plays an important role in assisting our communities, and that is especially important right now,” Clark said.

“There is a lot of good happening locally, and we’re proud to support those efforts through Northumberland United Way’s grant stream.”