Not-for-profit and community organizations within Peterborough that support older adults can apply now for one of two $5,000 grants towards their senior care projects and healthy aging initiatives.
The Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) is currently accepting applications for its annual Senior Care Micro Grants program, a funding initiative GPHSF first launched in 2024. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30.
“The sole goal of these grants is to help seniors in our community have a better quality of life, whether that’s helping to provide nutritious food, access to medical care, health and wellness activities, mental health programming or any number of other supports,” Vince Bierworth, GPHSF’s executive director, told kawarthaNOW.
According to a 2024 statement from Bierworth announcing the inaugural recipients, Community Care Peterborough and the Peterborough Family Health Team, it was a “difficult process to narrow down the applications” submitted for last year’s program.
“Our committee, which was made up of healthcare professionals and community members, were very impressed with the quality and variety of projects submitted,” he said.
Community Care Peterborough received a grant to address food insecurity within the community’s population of seniors through its Meals on Wheels program, along with grocery shopping and delivery support. Meanwhile, the Peterborough Family Health Team received a grant for equipment aimed at increasing ease and access to care for seniors who do not have a family doctor and are using one of the team’s two unattached patient clinics.
“Our two recipients last year addressed very immediate issues in our community and the country at large: the increase in food costs and food insecurity within our senior population, and access to medical care,” Bierworth told kawarthaNOW. “We are happy to be a small part of the work they are trying to do.”
Applications for this year’s program are open to community and not-for-profit organizations, including medical organizations, that run programming and services, or are proposing to run programming and services, within the boundaries of the city and county of Peterborough, Hiawatha First Nation, and Curve Lake First Nation.
A maximum of $5,000 is available for each of the two grants. The grants can be used as seed money to address a new need, or as financial support for an existing program.
According to GPHSF, proposed projects must be general in scope and inclusive of and serving as many seniors as possible. Projects must be completed within one year of grant approval, unless GPHSF grants an extension.
Senior care micro grant projects may include research, equipment, nutrition, physical activity, and mental health. Applicants must provide a project timeline and budget.
GPHSF said priority will be given to projects that have a lasting impact on the community, support emerging needs in the community, and improve the quality of life for seniors in the community.
All grant applications must be from a not-for-profit charitable organization, with a charitable registration number, located in or serving the city or county of Peterborough.
The senior care micro grants have been made possible by the June Towle Trust. Before she passed away in 2023, Towle established a trust fund that would see money from her estate be donated to the GPHSF.
For more information and to apply, visit www.gphsf.ca/seniorcaremicrogrant/, where you can also make a donation to support the Senior Care Fund.
