Bowen Island is all about community. We’re unequivocally seeing this now as we navigate our way through the new and dangerous waters of the COVID-19 pandemic. Front-line essential services employees are helping to keep us all healthy and safe. Restaurants are providing more take-out meal options and delivery. Retail stores are pivoting their business models to offer virtual tours, honour systems, and delivery. Health and wellness providers are coming into our homes through video conferencing to help with the physical and emotional challenges many of us face. Individuals are purchasing gift certificates to help local businesses get through these difficult months. Neighbours are shopping for those in isolation and in high-risk groups. Every organization and every individual is stepping up to this community challenge. We are seeing heart-warming gestures in a time of fear and uncertainty.
Your Bowen Island Community Foundation (BICF) is working to provide assistance to the Bowen community through a new Resiliency Fund. This fund will respond to the community’s current needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic at an integrated, systems level, and will establish the framework to be able to respond quickly to any future island-wide emergencies. We are currently working through how we can best get funding to those who need it in the most expeditious manner. We have already met with representatives from the Municipality, Health Centre Foundation, Caring Circle, United Church/Food Bank, Bowen in Transition, Bowen Rotary, Cates Hill Chapel, Bowen Children’s Centre, and the Community Economic Development Committee to discuss community priorities. Stay tuned for more information about this new Resiliency Fund at bowenfoundation.com/resiliency-fund/.
The Foundation has also made changes to the inaugural Neighbourhood Small Grants program to allow it to be a responsive community-building tool during the COVID-19 crisis. These grants are from $50 to $500 and are specifically for individuals and small volunteer-based neighbourhood and community groups to take part in building community. We have eliminated application deadlines and will review and decide on applications on a “one-off” basis in order expedite funding. Project ideas that can ease social isolation of vulnerable people and build community with physical distancing and safety in mind are particularly needed now. Details can be found at bowenfoundation.com/neighbourhood-small-grants/.
During this unprecedented time, the Foundation’s focus will be on helping the community today, while still looking towards the future. Thank you to every organization and every individual that is working so hard to help the entire community. We have never been so grateful to call this our home.
