Community Spotlight: The Essentials Fund
There's no shortage of good work happening locally - let's take a closer look!
Welcome to the first edition of a new Citified feature - the Community Spotlight where I highlight one of the many local organizations and/or individuals making our community a better, safer, and more equitable world. I want to kick off the series with The Essentials Fund (TEF).
The Essentials Fund is now in its fourth year of raising funds and awareness for local non-profits in the form of ‘unrestricted grants’. While local non-profits may receive funding through various grants, the vast majority of those grants come with restrictions on use. And, while that may make sense in some ways, it can often mean many essential day-to-day items needed by an organization’s clientele aren’t allowed under a specific grant. The Essentials Fund provides money for these organizations to purchase those items, offering flexibility to respond directly to their clients’ most pressing needs without bureaucratic hurdles.
“We trust our charity partners to spend the funding however they deem is necessary and best for the clients they support. An unrestricted grant gives flexibility to purchase specific essential items when needed,” their website states. Since launching in 2022, TEF has provided 29 local organizations over $130,000 to purchase essential items like toiletries, transportation, seasonal clothing, menstrual products, and baby supplies.
“The current fiscal uncertainty and chaos throughout the world are impacting the non-profit community’s ability to support their clients due to skyrocketing costs and reduced funding opportunities,” said Jane Arnold, Co-Founder of The Essentials Fund.
Not only does The Essentials Fund offer practical financial assistance to non-profits, they are also advocating for systemic changes to create a more equitable community. As outlined in their press release, “In 2024, the committee advocated for Waterloo Regional government to provide a further discounted Grand River Transit (GRT) fare for non-profits organizations to purchase to support their clients’ transportation needs. A pilot program will launch in 2025-26 which we hope is the first step in expanding this much needed support.”
In their collaborative approach, The Essentials Fund team has been working with the Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF). At the recommendation of the WRCF, The Essentials Fund are using a new fundraising and granting platform in hopes of saving administrative costs so they can grant more of what is raised. The TEF Committee says, “Our goal is always the same – to raise as much as we can and once administrative fees are paid, grant the amount available to WR non-profits to support their clients’ essential needs.”
I’ll give the final word to Allyson Kroetsch, Co-Founder of The Essentials Fund: “The success of The Essentials Fund is dependent on the generosity of Waterloo Region compassionate community members, and we are so thankful for the financial support we have received the last three years and hope to maintain and build on that kindness this year. The grantee organizations have shared with us their appreciation and the impact of the unrestricted grant on their ability to support their clients as they don’t often receive unrestricted grant dollars to purchase essential items needed for their clients’ long-term health.”
If you’d like to get involved, visit the website at www.essentialsfundwr.ca or reach out directly to Jane and Allyson at essentialsfundWR@gmail.com
Upcoming Events:
Tomorrow - Teddy Bear Clinic! (1-4pm at KPL’s Central Branch). If your child has a Teddy Bear, it may be time to have that bear visit the health clinic. “The aim of the Teddy Bear Clinic is to alleviate any fears children might have with doctors, hospitals or medical procedures by providing them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the healthcare system in a safe and fun environment.”
May is, by and large, just around the corner and I always keep the first weekend in May open for Jane’s Walks! “Jane’s Walks are citizen-led walking tours that make space for people to observe, reflect, share, question and collectively reimagine the places in which they live, work and play.” Check out the list of walks happening in your community and consider attending one this year.
There are only a couple of weeks left for this exhibit at the City of Waterloo Museum (in Conestoga Mall). Killing the Indian in the Child: Generations Lost explores the lasting impacts of Canada’s Residential Schools.
Grand River Transit’s Business Plan “will guide transit service expansion and investments over the next 10 years and beyond. It builds on transit priorities identified through the Region’s Strategic Plan and Budget consultations, and engagement with riders, staff, community members and partners.” Proposed improvements include: 10 minute frequencies on 16 key routes, consistent schedules, more coverage, and overnight service on core routes. It also includes a plan for kids 12 and under to ride for free, with a fare-paying customer. Read the staff report or click to see staff’s slide deck.
A Public Input meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 16 at 6pm where you can share your thoughts with Regional Council and Committees and/or attend the meeting as a delegation.
Thanks so much for including The Essentials Fund this week, Melissa! Appreciate your support!
Thanks, Melissa! All good "stuff"!