On Thursday, local MPP Sam Oosterhoff and Deputy Mayor Tony Brunet met with the Happy in my Home, Community Support Services of Niagara team to learn more about the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s $52,000 Capital grant which ensured the Transportation Program within the Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln communities continues to be available for seniors who utilize the service. 

“I applaud the work of Community Support Services of Niagara in supporting local seniors and adults living with disabilities in Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln.” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West. “This provincial grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation to purchase a new van will help ensure safe and reliable transportation for local residents when attending medical appointments.” 

The grant replaced an older van, ensuring safe and reliable transportation for clients when attending medical and other critical appointments. Prior to the successful grant application, Happy in my Home, CSSN was faced with rising maintenance costs, which also resulted in a loss of programable hours for clients. 

“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be underestimated,” said Carolyn Askeland, Executive Director of Community Support Services of Niagara (CSSN). “It will ensure seniors and adults with disabilities maintain health by supporting them with rides to important medical appointments. Often clients do not have the social supports to assist them in accessing transportation and/or have health and mobility issues that impede their ability to do it independently.” 

Carolyn continued to say, “This grant made it possible for CSSN to purchase the infrastructure needed to ensure long term sustainability and success for those we serve. We would also like to congratulate the Ontario Trillium Foundation on 40 years of providing grants and creating healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario.” 

If you would like more information about how their programs provide support for seniors and adults with disabilities allowing them to live independently in their own homes, please visit the website at: https://happyinmyhome.ca/services/ 

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s largest granting foundations, is celebrating 40 years of Ontario grantmaking and community impact. Last year, OTF invested $209M in 2,042 community projects and partnerships, including funding for the Ontario government’s Community Futures Fund. Visit the otf.ca to learn more.