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Bingo! City comes to Community Connections rescue
City of Cranbrook council Sept. 12 unanimously agreed to provide $20,000 in ‘bridge’ funding for a social services organization to carry it over an expected rough patch as it works at creating a stable funding source.
Busy establishing a new charity bingo funding initiative, Community Connections Society of Southeast B.C. (CCSSBC) contacted the city with a request for help and council replied in the affirmative.
“The have to find ways to become self sustaining,” said Mayor Scott Manjak, calling the organizing “a valuable social service group. “This is an opportunity for us to partner with them and help them get off the ground.”
Coun. Jim Wavrecan, who made the motion to provide $20,000 in council contingency funds for the CCSSBC, said he fears some people who rely on the organization’s support, would “fall through the cracks” if there was a break in service.
“Our society is working very hard to establish the Rocky Mountain Charity Bingo. We are hopeful that the bingo initiative will become a social enterprise and a long-term funding source to support and enhance the valuable work we do in the community and region,” stated Gwen Noble, CCSSBC executive director, in a Sept. 1 letter to the city.
However, in the meantime the society is facing a “short-term resource gap that will affect continuity of our services to the community,” Noble pointed out before asking the city if it would consider waiving rent for their building at 46-17th Avenue South for one year, or consider providing a grant-in-aid “as bridge funding assistance while we work to get our enterprise initiative operating successfully. This is a short-term, one-time request crucial to avoiding a disruption in our ability to support the many families and individuals who appreciate and benefit from our programs.”
Coun. Angus Davis, while pointing out he agreed with providing support, warned fellow councilors that there are plenty of other worthwhile groups in the city that need funding.
“Every one of them is vital to the life of the city” and it is likely that many others will come to the city for ‘one-time’ help.
“Times aren’t getting any easier,” Davis said. “In fact, I think they are tightening up even more.”
Wavrecan said he understood Davis’ concern.
“There are a number of organizations in our community who are looking at shortfalls,” he said. “We may be seeing those applications come in.”
And if the applications show that the groups will be able to parlay city support into sustainable funding, like the CCSSBC intends, council would take them into consideration, he added.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
