The West Country Family Service Association in Rocky Mountain House will receive $25,000 from a federal grants and contributions program.
The New Horizons for Seniors Program provides up to $25,000 in funding per year for senior related projects from non-profits, networks, community based coalitions and ad hoc committees.
New Horizons seeks to increase senior engagement with the community. As such, the projects they fund must follow certain criteria and be led by or incorporate seniors.
The West Country Family Service Association will use the funds towards plans for a new drop-in centre for seniors.
“We’re so excited about this funding as it was our first big application for this new project,” said Michelle Narang, executive director for the association.
The new space will aim to increase the social participation of isolated seniors, said Narang, and will offer respite and day care as well as music, crafts, games and other workshops on topics of interest.
Blaine Calkins, MP for Wetaskiwin, made the announcement on Thursday on behalf of the federal Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley and Alice Wong, minister of state (Seniors).
New Horizons plans to provide more than $35.6 million in funding for almost 2,000 community projects for 2012.
Local organizations that work with seniors have until June 29 to apply for New Horizons funding. For more information, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.