Thank you for providing our group the NSG grant last fall. It provided us funds to purchase needed supplies to help our small group get set up to host some information events on how to be better prepared for an emergency. To not only help connect and meet our neighbours, but to help them to fully realize the importance of being prepared.

Thank you so much for the generous $3680 grant for 2022-23, which funded our 'Art of Health & Recovery' Project. This project saw us producing two different art calendars, highlighting each one of our programs: Mental Health and Addiction Recovery. Work from twenty of our clients was displayed in these calendars, along with client quotes and information about Forward House and our events. We were also able to buy necessary art supplies and materials for mixed media - photography, painting, drawing etc. Parks West Business Supplies printed both of our calendars at a very reduced rate, which allowed us to purchase and give away more than the 50 of each that we had planned.

In 2022, the Foundation graciously approved DPAC for an Annual Grant that we put toward an accessibility bike project, and we are very grateful. We will be working with our School District to get this bike into our our school district inventory for use. Thank you and to the others who approved our grant application and supported this project.

A big thank you to the Community Foundation for rewarding us a Neighbourhood Small Grant; we used it for advertising. It was the first time we were able to offer our free meditation classes virtually via zoom. To begin with, it was a challenging learning experience, but in the end we managed it. As an added bonus, we could extend our classes beyond our local community and connect with people from all over Vancouver Island. What helped us put the word out was our advertising budget (thank you!) that was spent on promoting our virtual classes on Meetup, Facebook and other avenues. Now we are finally back to in-person meditation classes, but we still keep offering the occasional online event.

With the help of a $350 Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grant, Junior Curling Coaches at the Qualicum Beach Curling Club hosted a fun-filled 'Try Curling' day on Oct. 5th. The event trained 12 new curlers aged 9-14 to learn the skills of curling and get a true feel for the sport.

C-Streets Emergency Response Organization (CERO) was able to schedule a first aid training course for 11 residents on August 24, 2021. The course was provided by Alert First-Aid Inc. of Victoria through their Nanaimo branch. The course was a full day and covered the basic elements of first aid.

Oceanside a Cappella Chorus is one of the choirs of the Qualicum Beach Seniors Activity Centre. They have used their Neighbourhood Small Grant to produce and share a virtual video of members singing 'Blackbird.'</a.

During these difficult times, it has been heartwarming to witness the level of community support given to SOS. PQCF grants have assisted us in continuing to provide services to local residents through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The contribution of $3,230 through Community Foundation of Canada's Emergency Community Support Fund directly impacts the lives of animals and the people who love them throughout Parksville Qualicum.