Several groups in Dryden are applying for $140,000 to support youth across the community.

Members of city staff have applied for the annual $100,000 contribution from the Moffat Family fund, which aims to ‘support and advance the social, physical and intellectual well-being of children and families.’

The Moffat family invested $100 million with the Winnipeg Foundation in 2001, with 20 per cent of that investment’s revenue to be returned to communities in which the family conducted businesses – which includes Dryden.

But this year, as Council didn’t use their entire contribution last year, an extra $40,000 will be available for community groups in 2023.

At their Committee of the Whole meeting earlier this week, the city’s Community Proposal Selection Committee recommended five groups and seven projects to receive the funds, including:

– $50,000 to the Dryden Food Bank for milk and calcium-rich foods to be delivered,
– $26,856 for now cooler and freezer units at the Food Bank,
– $4,000 to support the Food Bank’s Home Delivery Program,

– $20,000 to Making Connections for Children and Youth for recreational programming,
– $18,000 to the NWHU’s Nutrition on Weekends program,
– $13,894 for child and youth programming at the Dryden Public Library,
– $10,000 to the Dryden Community Table Council for their Meal Program,

Councillors will vote to approve the list of recipients and send the applications to the Winnipeg Foundation at their Council meeting later this month.

In 2022, the Dryden Food Bank received $15,000 for a new refrigeration unit, $3,000 to support home delivery services and $46,750 to distribute fresh food across the area.

Elsewhere, Making Connections for Children and Youth received $11,750, the Northwestern Health Unit’s Nutrition on Weekends program saw $16,750 and the Dryden Library Board received $6,750.