President Rick announced COVID-19 Community Response Fund as the recipient of our Lunchbucket Challenge fundraising campaign. Established as a partnership between the United Way and the City of Calgary, the COVID-19 Community Response Fund supports vulnerable Calgarians during this extraordinary time. Since its creation, the Calgary Foundation has contributed $1 million to our most urgent needs. We chose the COVID-19 Community Response Fund as the beneficiary of our Lunchbox Challenge because the board felt the United Way and the City of Calgary team possess the expertise to assess needs rapidly, and that our club can be confident in their decisions.
We have made it easy to donate to the Lunchbucket Challenge. There is a donation link on the main page of our club website.
The United Way’s Karen Young provided this first update on the support delivered by the response fund.
Thanks, Rick. It is great to be here with you virtually. I am so excited about how we have been able to respond quickly to the COVID-19 emergency declared in Calgary on March 15th. The Calgary Emergency Management Agency asked the United Way to set up the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, which we were able to do in just twenty-two hours. We have worked to put money out into the community as quickly as possible to deal with the immediate relief required to help stabilize individuals and families during this challenging time. I wanted to pop in today just for a couple of minutes to say thank you to the Rotary Club and all your members for starting the Lunchbox Challenge. I think it is just fabulous. I appreciate our joint activities on the Enough for All poverty reduction strategy and the Community Hubs project.
Now that Calgarians need us again, you are stepping forward with a coordinated response. We are grateful for people like Peter and Adele McKeen, who have stepped up with a matching donation so we can leverage the opportunity.
I have been working with another group of ten donor families who have also created a match. They started with a goal of $500,000, and we have the potential to raise one million dollars. This success shows what we can achieve when we all work together. Additionally, the Government of Alberta can provide funds to match the donations we receive. We have a real opportunity here to leverage these dollars into the community and make them go as far as possible.
The immediate relief fund helps with the basic needs of in-need populations such as isolated seniors, families living in poverty, or newcomers to Calgary. We have worked hard to get more than $3.5 million out of the door. While we have answered 108 applications for support, we have received 196 applications, with requests for support totalling roughly $14 million. The need is great, and we see the impact social distancing is having on the community.
Thanks to the Calgary Flames Foundation, we have been able to provide 500 Chromebooks to help Grade 12 students in need to complete their studies. We have helped Meals on Wheels deliver 12,586 meals through the shelter system while people were unable to access the food bank. The Alex Community Food Centre has been providing food hampers in the Greater Forest Lawn area.
We supported CUPS with a $250,000 donation to help them serve their vulnerable population, and we work with Senior Secret Services to bring cheer to isolated seniors. Senior Secret Services have provided notes to 250,000 seniors, and they check in with them to see how they are doing during the lockdown. They also ensure isolated seniors have the medications they require. We support the Canadian Mental Health Association to allow their continued ability to provide counselling services online.
I wanted to remind you that today is giving Tuesday and that we are starting a campaign called United Apart, so now is a good time for you to become involved through your Lunchbucket Challenge. We live in a world where being kind and compassionate is one of the best things we can be doing for our community. Thank you, Rotarians, for coming through again.