July 9, 2024
Youth in Coalhurst are making a positive difference in the community through a special project funded by the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.
The Coalhurst DO Crew – operated through Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) – has been awarded $1,800 from the 2024 Youth in Action grant program, administered by the Foundation. The funds are being used to prepare one-time emergency food hampers for Coalhurst families who have been identified as needing assistance with food security.
“This project is completely youth-led, meaning the youth came up with the idea, helped to write and submit the grant, and package the food hampers,” said Zakk Morrison, Executive Director of FCSS. “The Coalhurst Youth DO Crew are committed to supporting the Coalhurst community and FCSS is proud to help develop their leadership skills by helping them along the way.”
The Town of Coalhurst helped facilitate the grant application for the Coalhurst Cares: Food Hamper Project and is proud to support the DO Crew project.
“One of Council’s key priorities is to engage community members in a way that deepens social connections and improves residents’ overall wellbeing,” said Coalhurst Deputy Mayor Scott Akkermans. “So when the Town was approached by the DO Crew and asked to help facilitate this grant application, we jumped at the chance to do what we could to see this project come to life. It’s remarkable to watch young people in our community eagerly identify a need and offer a solution that can create a big and lasting impact on local families. We’re proud of the work these youth are doing.”
Families who will receive the one-time emergency food hampers have been identified with the help of the Palliser School Division and will be distributed over the summer months and into the fall.
“At Palliser School Division, we understand the profound impact that proper nutrition and food security have on our students’ ability to learn and thrive,” said Tony Montina, Board Trustee of Palliser School Division. “We are incredibly proud of the Coalhurst High School students who participated in the DO Crew for their empathy and compassion for their fellow students.”
“It’s wonderful to see youth take the lead and address an issue as problematic as food insecurity,” said Charleen Davidson, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “The Youth in Action Grant program is about inspiring and developing the leaders of tomorrow. The Do Crew saw a need in their community and demonstrated leadership by going to the Town so they could apply for this grant. It is an honour for us to support this initiative and the young people who are working to improve their community.”
The Youth in Action Granting Program aims to empower young leaders by supporting youth-led initiatives that will benefit the community. Projects funded through Youth in Action grants must be initiated, led, and organized by residents of Southwestern Alberta up to 25 years of age, in collaboration with a charitable partner.
Photo above L-R: Caitlin Gajdostik (Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta), Wesley Lebeau (Palliser School Division), Kaitlynn Weaver (FCSS), Max McKee, Lisa McKee, Tyler Schofield (Youth DO Crew), Kaylene Sawicki (FCSS), and Deputy Mayor Scott Akkermans (Town of Coalhurst) gathered together to celebrate the Youth in Action grant and see one of the food hampers that has been put together to support a local family. Additional hampers will be distributed this summer and fall.
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