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Letters: Clarifying press release

Volunteer committee chair explains age-friendly grant process

Thank you for printing our press release regarding the “Age Friendly Community Grant for the Sooke Seniors Volunteer Connections Project” in the Jan. 16 Sooke News Mirror.

Although it is explained in the article, we wish to describe more clearly how the Sooke Seniors Volunteer Connections grant was achieved. Council and staff at the District of Sooke investigated applying this grant opportunity towards the provision of lights and sidewalks for the downtown core, however,  it was determined that this particular grant could not be used for that purpose.  Since only municipalities are eligible to apply for the grant,  the district suggested local senior serving organizations come up with ideas for the grant proposal.

The Sooke Region Volunteer Centre Committee  (SVRCC) proposed a ‘Seniors Volunteer Connections’ initiative in light of the current challenges facing a number of our seniors to access volunteer opportunities. SVRCC developed the foundation for the grant application, district staff completed it and council approved sending in the application.

That we were successful at a time when our seniors and seniors organizations are in great need is exciting and encouraging.  Sooke Region Community Health Initiative (CHI) will be overseeing the grant and reporting to the District of Sooke. The Sooke Region Volunteer Centre Committee will be doing the work as a sub-committee of CHI. We all look forward to continuing our collaborations with seniors, the organizations that serve them.

Marlene Barry, Chair

Sooke Region Volunteer Centre Committee