Community Foundation Awards $32,820 for Summer 2026 Microgrants

Summer has brought a new round of Community Microgrants! This cycle, the Community Foundation of Central Alberta is proud to support seven organizations across Central Alberta with a combined $32,820 in funding for projects that reflect the creativity and resilience of our region.

From continued care coordination for those transitioning out of homelessness and family recovery supports, to inclusive access programming, a growing Meals on Wheels service, and even a community antique show, this round of funding speaks to the breadth of need and innovation happening right here in Central Alberta. Here’s a look at who received support and what they’re working on:

PARC Navigation Hub – Safe Harbour ($5,000) This grant will support PARC — Prevention, Access, Recovery & Coordination, which is Safe Harbour’s care coordination initiative for vulnerable individuals and families across Central Alberta. The request builds on lessons from Safe Harbour’s Under-Housed Encampment Initiative, which moved more than 140 people into stable housing. The initiative found that continued follow-up support after placement was one of the strongest predictors of long-term stability, with 82% of those housed remaining stably housed at six-month check-ins. Funding will go toward client transportation, mobile coordination tools, resource materials, and staff capacity for this program that helps to close the gap that often opens after a crisis is resolved but before someone is truly stable.

Family Recovery – PEP Society ($5,000) This grant will help cover meeting room costs for PEP’s Family Recovery Groups, which offer evidence-informed, trauma-aware support for families and caregivers of people struggling with addiction. Facilitated by trained professionals, the two-hour sessions combine a focused topic with peer support, backed by a support line open every day. The program also includes a restorative-justice component, pairing families with individuals in recovery who share their own journeys to help break stigma and build hope.

Inclusive Access for Adults with Disabilities – Olds ASC Association ($5,000) Funding will support ASC’s Inclusive Access Initiative, a program offering subsidies to offset participation and staff accompaniment costs for adults with disabilities joining community programs like aquatics, fitness, and creative classes. Many ASC clients live on fixed incomes and are priced out once support costs are added. The subsidy gives participants a low-risk way to try new activities and plan for continued participation within their own means.

Meals on Wheels – West Country Family Service Association ($5,000) This grant will help WCFSA sustain its rapidly growing Meals on Wheels program, which delivers affordable meals to seniors and vulnerable residents in Rocky Mountain House and area through an income-based subsidy model. Since a May 2025 revitalization, monthly deliveries have jumped from 41 meals for 3 clients to 400 meals for 37 clients, with every meal subsidized. Funding will help the program to keep pace with demand.

Meaningful Moments Day Program – Mountain View Hospice Society ($5,000) This grant will help Mountain View Hospice Society expand community-based programming for older adults, caregivers, and individuals facing social isolation, cognitive decline, or grief in Mountain View County and surrounding rural communities. Funds will cover activity supplies, refreshments, transportation, and facilitator costs, creating welcoming spaces where participants can connect and access support close to home. The program will roll out over the next 6 to 12 months with MVHS staff, volunteers, and referral partners.

2026 Community Performance & Parade Program – Red Deer Royals ($5,000) Funding will help offset the rising transportation and participant-support costs behind the Red Deer Royals’ 2026 season, which includes roughly 28 parade and community performances across Red Deer, Calgary, Canmore, and surrounding communities. This grant will help keep participation affordable for the 65 to 80 youth members, aged 12 to 21, who take part alongside more than 100 volunteers.

Antique Show 2026 – Lacombe Museum ($2,820) This grant will help the Lacombe Museum host its second annual Antique Show on October 3, 2026, an event that drew nearly 900 visitors in its debut year and has become the museum’s largest community gathering. Free to attend, the show gives local vendors a platform to connect with the community while drawing out-of-town visitors into Lacombe. Funding will go toward venue rental, marketing, and vendor meals, helping keep the event financially sustainable as it grows into a signature tradition.

We are grateful to each of these organizations for the meaningful work they do every day. Their projects remind us that when communities invest in health, connection, and opportunity, the impact reaches far beyond any single grant.