Presentation of Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant To Village of Hope Niagara For Electric Van
Lincoln, ON – On Friday, local MPP Sam Oosterhoff met with the team at Village of Hope Niagara to hear more about the $78,200 Capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was used to purchase a new electric service van to facilitate their operations.
"As a local nonprofit organization, Village of Hope Niagara has been providing food security and support programs for residents in the Town of Lincoln since 2008,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West. “This provincial grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation to purchase a new electric cargo van will help Village of Hope Niagara increase capacity and capability in serving the needs of our local community in Niagara West.”
The OTF grant, which was awarded in June 2024, was used to purchase a new 2023 Ford E-Transit 350 Electric Van to facilitate the pickup and delivery services which are core to their anti-poverty programs. Serving a 150 square kilometre area in rural Lincoln, Village of Hope Niagara’s services rely on having access to a safe, reliable, and efficient vehicle with the capacity and capability to serve the needs of their community. The replacement of their well-used van with an electric van will contribute to a reliable, healthy, and safe presence in the community.
Village of Hope Niagara provides walk-in access to food, cleaning, and personal products for those able, and provides complimentary delivery services to those with mobility needs. They also collect food and other resources from various local donors and partners in the community. The organization now serves more than 2,000 Lincoln residents every month – a 150% increase since 2019.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
Photo: Village of Hope Niagara's Joe McCarthy, Operations Manager and Cheryl Keddy-Scott CEO with George Mitges (OTF) and MPP Sam Oosterhoff
