At the Parksville-Qualicum Community Foundation, we are proud to administer the Oceanside Prosperity Fund, which provides support to local charities and nonprofits so they can expand their services and meet community needs. One of the organizations benefiting from this fund is the Oceanside Stroke Recovery Society (OSRS), which is making a powerful difference for stroke survivors and their caregivers.
Expanding Counselling Support
When OSRS received funding from the Oceanside Prosperity Fund, one of their priorities was to increase counselling hours. With our community’s support, they were able to grow from just 2 hours per month to about 5 hours per month. This counselling has been described by caregivers as “a lifesaver,” providing a safe place to process grief, stress, and the challenges of caregiving.
Growing Speech Therapy
Speech therapy is another area where the Prosperity Fund is creating meaningful impact. Group sessions have been very popular, and OSRS has begun increasing one-on-one therapy hours to meet the growing demand. In May alone, the society was able to provide 8 extra hours of speech therapy, an investment of $1,380 above their usual budget. For the year ahead, they plan to increase therapy hours from 4 per week to 5.5 per week.
Stories of Transformation
The real impact of this grant is seen in the lives it changes. One stroke survivor shared:
“On Mother’s Day in 2021, I experienced a stroke that left me with aphasia. I often gave up on speaking altogether. In August 2023, I saw an ad for the Oceanside Stroke Recovery Society. Walking into that first group session, I was frightened and unsure if I belonged. But instead, I found a safe, supportive place where no one cared if words were missed or mispronounced. I finally felt like I had a voice again.”
Over time, she regained confidence and the ability to express herself, and found a community that feels like family.
Supporting Caregivers
Strokes do not only affect survivors. They also deeply impact family members and caregivers. Thanks to the Prosperity Fund, OSRS has been able to offer counselling to caregivers as well. These sessions are helping them manage stress, grief, and even new challenges such as dementia diagnoses. One caregiver, already living with her own physical disability, now feels more confident in her ability to support her husband because of the counselling she received.
Building Strength Together
The Oceanside Prosperity Fund is helping stroke survivors and caregivers in our community find hope, healing, and belonging. At PQCF, we are honored to support this important work and to ensure that local giving continues to create real, lasting impact for our neighbours.
Support the community fund to make more stories like this possible.