United Way Regina has announced that it will be accepting applications for the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), to help provide support to charities providing frontline services to vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robyn Edwards-Bentz, CEO of United Way Regina, says that more than $1 million will be available locally.

“They are certainly working hard on the front lines meeting the urgent needs of vulnerable individuals and families in our communities,” said Edwards- Bentz. “This funding is to support the work that they are doing, and those that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.”

The $350 million ECSF was announced by the federal government in April and is in support of making sure Canadians continue to be there for Canadians.

Edwards-Bentz says that United Way will be looking to provide the funding to organizations that are specifically helping out vulnerable populations.

“For example, key activities could be food security, financial wellness, health and hygiene, homecare or personal support,” said Edwards- Bentz. “Those kinds of interventions that, for many people who are already living in poverty, or are a vulnerable population, it’s difficult for them to navigate at this time.”

She adds that the support for different organizations in the province throughout the pandemic has been staggering.

“We’re certainly very lucky to live in a province where we have such generous support from individuals, from corporate partners, from government,” said Edwards-Bentz. “There’s so many different players that have stepped up in supporting our charitable sector.”

Applications for the fund will be accepted until June 12, 2020 from qualified donees within the cities of Regina, Moose Jaw, Weyburn, Swift Current, Yorkton and Melville and southern Saskatchewan (south of Highway 15) with the exception of Estevan.

More information on the application process can be found on United Way’s website.