Steps Together Foundation has adapted its programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community Service (Hospitals)
The Steps Together Foundation along with our sister organization YLSBC, has responded to COVID-19 by delivering ready to serve meals to frontline health care workers in local hospitals. We delivered over 2363 meals in April-June and planned to provide an additional 250 meals by July.
Community Service (Schools & Community)
YLSBC and STF have begun working with local school districts, community centers, and First Nations to donate much-needed food items for distribution to low-income families and students pre-identified by these institutions. Between April- June, we delivered emergency food to fifty families, or about 330 persons.
We plan to expand, commensurate with additional funding, donations, or grants we receive, our food donations to other remote BC school communities and First Nations, where it is harder to find needed funds or food donations. We will work with the local school boards, First Nations Friendship Centers and Community groups to bring the required relief to the Community.
Our Supporters
We are thankful for:
Parents of our member youth, family, and friends for their generous donations and Thank You cards, posters, poems, friendship cards, and bracelets.
Vancity Credit Union, Maple Ridge, BC.
Rotary Sunrise, Coquitlam, BC
FoodReascue.ca for their generous grant towards the cost of our Community Meal program.
Good Food Access Funds for their generous grant to support our Emergency Food supplies to needy BC communities.
We are grateful to @aplaceforfood and The Sprott Foundation for their generous support of the #GoodFoodAccessFund. Because of you, we can bring hope to the community members and assurance that someone is looking out for their well being in these difficult circumstances.
We would also like to thank our food partners for supplying discounted meals/food items
Quiznos – Coquitlam (Store #695) & Mission (Store #691)
Subway- 3278, King George,Surrey & Vancouver ( 683 Abbot St. & 1288 West Broadway)
Local food stores such as Fruiticana, Port Coquitlam, No Frills Port Coquitlam, Real Canadian Super Store, Chilliwack, and Loblaw organization
Any donations to this cause are most welcome and much appreciated.
Our Programs
STF had moved all of its programs to an online format using Zoom. Our students and instructors quickly adapted to the online form and technology. All our programs were completed as planned, and students benefit from them. Our youth are now engaged in identifying pressing community needs of students, families, and members and undertaking service projects through grants received from Rising Youth/ Canada Service Corps. The projects vary as per the Community’s needs. Among others, some of the projects are backpacks with educational supplies, internet connection to low-income families, active sports items, care packages for homeless, digital gadgets for isolated seniors in hospitals and senior homes, nutritious food, school lunch program, seniors engagement activity books, etc.
STF & YLSBC as BC partner of Rising Youth is mentoring youth and training them to be a Community Leader. They learn to identify the need and find ways of fulfilling the needs they identify. Each youth can apply up to $1500 grant for each project. The entire program is youth-driven and Community-oriented.
Our Gratitude
Our members, parents and youth have prepared gratitude poems and poster to uplift the morale and show their support to front line health care workers.