Community Foundation gives $20,000 grant to LFS for Ukrainian nationals

By Lethbridge Herald on July 8, 2022.

The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta has given a $20,000 grant to Lethbridge Family Services Immigrant Services Department to support people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking temporary safety in Canada.
“We learned that the Ukrainian families who are arriving in our community are considered temporary refugees, as most are expected to return to their home once it is safe to do so,” said Charleen Davidson, Executive Director of the Community Foundation in a press release.
“This ultimately means that they are not eligible for the government support available to refugees who resettle permanently in Canada. While the Government of Alberta announced additional support earlier this week for Ukrainian nationals, this grant is our way of welcoming these families and, hopefully, helping to make their transition and their time here a bit easier.”
In the release John Lafferty, Director of the Lethbridge Family Services Immigrant Services Department, said “we are absolutely delighted and hugely appreciative of this extremely kind gesture from the Community Foundation.”
“This significant act of kindness will go towards enabling the successful settlement of displaced Ukrainians into the community; to set them up for success so that they feel a sense of belonging during this uncertain and anxious time for them. We are truly grateful for this generous extension of support to the newly arrived displaced Ukrainian population in Southwestern Alberta.”
The grant comes from the Community Foundation’s Community Priorities Fund, which is the result of donations from generous individuals since 1966. Gifts to the Community Priorities Fund are unrestricted, and serve the most pressing needs of the community, says the foundation.
The money will be used to by bus passes, food, and children’s items, and to offset medical expenses of the Ukrainians.
All Ukrainian nationals arriving in southwestern Alberta are being urged by the Community Foundation to contact Lethbridge Family Services at 403-327-5724 so they can receive needed assistance.