United Way Central Plains is trying to lend a helping hand to non-profit organizations in the area.

Their Community Response Fund has them give out grants up to $5000 and executive director Randi Kehler says they’ve handed out two already this year. She says they have a board meeting every month where they will vote on which organizations they will give money to. Kehler gives some of the qualifications.

“They just have to serve a need in Portage or the Central Plains region and be a non-profit organization,” Kehler explains. “We don’t fund things like political parties or religious activities. We have given grants to everybody from Fort La Reine Museum to the Portage Community Shelter.”

Kehler says this funding will be available all year and applications are available on their website. She talks about one of the grants they’ve handed out so far in 2021.

“We gave $1500 to the Portage Family Abuse Prevention Centre for an initiative that we think is a great idea. They are making a gardening space for their clients,” says Kehler. “We just thought that was such an amazing idea. We all know that being outside, in nature as much as we can be is healing. So, we thought that was a great initiative to fund.”

She says they also gave $5000 to the Touchwood Park Association out of Neepawa for a grooming room they are putting together. This association works with people who have various disabilities and Kehler says this will be a good way for their clients to feel good about themselves.

Kehler notes while there is no deadline, they do have a set amount of money for funding, so she recommends submitting applications as soon as possible.