A new report issued by the City’s Community Development department for 2014 suggests the number of residents who volunteer with Airdrie’s various social and community agencies is on the rise, according to Social Planning Co-ordinator Cathy O’Donoghue.
The 2014 Annual Community Social Report was released Sept. 18.
“The highlight, I think, was the amount of time volunteers spend in the city of Airdrie volunteering for various agencies,” O’Donoghue said.
In 2014, agencies such as the Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie and the Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society benefitted from 47,882 hours of volunteer time valued at $1.2 million, according to the report. This is an increase from 2013 when the total volunteer hours reported was 45,055 with a value of $1.04 million.
A total of 13,324 Airdrie citizens participated in 139 unique programs, courses and activities offered by seven agencies in 2014. Funding is provided by the City and through the provincial Family and Support Services (FCSS) program to help support these agencies. In 2014, the total contribution from the City and FCSS was $862,828.
FCSS is a partnership between the Province, municipalities and Metis settlements in Alberta aimed at improving the social well-being of communities. Funding is provided for programs that offer a preventive element.
O’Donoghue said the report is put out each year to provide important information to the community.
“It’s important to let the citizens, council and staff members know what the FCSS dollars do for our community, and what a difference we’re making with these funds,” she said.
New this year, the report includes information about the work the City does on the community development side. The City provides funding through its Neighbourhood Matching Funds (up to $500/neighbourhood) to support events hosted by individual communities, and through the Community Investment Funds (CIF) to festivals, events and neighbourhood projects that enhance Airdrie’s arts, culture and recreation.
In 2014, $42,597 in CIF funding was provided to events such as the Airdrie Food Bank’s Empty Bowls Arts Festival and the Airdrie Festival of Lights.
“We’re the same team so we felt it was important for the citizens of Airdrie to know what we do in that area,” O’Donoghue said.
“(The report) will have more statistics (moving forward) and more of what the community told us.”
