The South Cariboo Community Enhancement Foundation presented the 100 Mile House Quilts for Survivors organization with a $2,500 cheque on May 31.
The grant will go towards materials used in making quilts for residential school survivors, said Lisa De Paoli, SCCEF vice-president. Faith Andre, owner of the Dancing Quilts fabric shop and host for the quilters applied for the grant to help pay for quilt batting, material, backing and longarming of the big quilts.
The SCCEF was established in 2012 to improve support for non-profit organizations in the South Cariboo.
“There was a set of seed funding that was provided by the Northern Development Initiative Trust, the 100 Mile District and the Cariboo Regional District,” De Paoli said. “That funding now is invested and every year generates a set of interest that then we’re able to make available to the community through grants.”
The types of grants that will be available are related to education, community support, sports, arts and culture and preservation, she said.
“So there’s quite a wide range of community programming that benefits from the South Cariboo Community Enhancement Foundation.”
De Paoli, who is also a member of the quilting group said that by the end of the day, they would have mailed out 87 quilts.
“Our goal is to have 100 quilts by the end of June which will be our one-year anniversary,” she said. ‘Then we keep going.”
There are currently 1,600 residential school survivors on the waiting list for a quilt. More people apply every day.
Several other non-profit organizations in the South Cariboo have benefited from the existence of the foundation. Among these are the Lone Butte Historical Association, the 100 Mile White Cane Association and the Bridge Lake Fair. A complete list can be found on the foundation website.
The SCCEF is always accepting grant applications. The application form can be found on the website at www.sccef.org.
fiona.grisswell@100milefreepress.net
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