Women & Girls Grants Support Two Impactful Programs
In honour of International Women’s Day, the Community Foundation of Central Alberta is pleased to announce two grants from the Women & Girls Fund, which support initiatives that uplift and empower women and their families in Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House.
A grant of $4,180 will be awarded to the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter for their new Collective Kitchen – Healing Through Food program. This innovative project aims to bring women together to increase knowledge about nutrition, food safety, budgeting, meal planning, food shopping, and traditional Indigenous cooking. Running for 14 weeks, this project also incorporates support for system navigation and building connections with family and the community, while sharing stories and addressing the systemic barriers the clients may face. The Collective Kitchen recognizes the profound connection between nourishment and well-being, offering women a space to gather, learn skills, and share meals. This will ensure that the women will have a supportive network even after they graduate from the 2nd stage shelter and empowers participants to reclaim their independence and cultivate community ties that can last beyond their time at the shelter.
Additionally, a grant of $4,500 will go to the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society to provide free summer day camp spots for children fleeing domestic violence. Working with the Central Alberta Outreach Centre, the project will identify families that need support in having their children attend day camp at Kerry Wood Nature Centre. This program will benefit women who have minimal resources, while giving their children an opportunity to play, learn, and explore nature in a child-centred environment. The grant will cover the cost of 24 kids attending camp, and will also include camp-use items for the children, such as backpacks and water bottles.
“The adjudication committee was inspired by this year’s applications, and the transformative projects that are being created to help women and their children in our region,” said Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director. “Both the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter and Kerry Wood Nature Centre have created much-needed programs that meet participants where they are, with the understanding that opportunities for growth and connection are crucial to fostering resilience and self-sufficiency.”
Both of these grants demonstrate how thoughtful support can create meaningful change in the lives of women facing adversity, and their families. By investing in programs that highlight the importance of collaboration, we are taking steps toward fostering hope, resilience, and a more equitable future for all.
