The City of Kingston continues to provide COVID-19 support
In response to Victoria's recent circuit-breaker restrictions, the City of Kingston has provided $50,000 in grants to our Local Emergency Relief Service providers – as part of our ongoing commitment to support the community to get through the impacts of COVID-19.
Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said that the snap lockdowns have created additional demand on local welfare agencies which provide food relief to community members experiencing disadvantage.
"We have provided an emergency relief payment of $5,000 each to ten local charities, which will enable them to do their important work providing critical food relief – utilities bills payments, and other emergency supplies – to vulnerable community members," said Cr Staikos.
The following charities have received this one-off emergency funding:
- Pantry 5000
- Bayside Community Care – Emergency Food Relief
- Bayside Community Care – Matt's Place
- Emergency Resources (Kingston City Church)
- Make a Difference Dingley Village
- Mentone Community Assistance and Information Bureau Inc.
- Chelsea Community Support Service
- Community Care - (Churches of Christ Community Care Auspice)
- Bayside Community information and support services
- Longbeach Anglican Church - Chelsea
This is just one of the ways the City of Kingston is supporting our community throughout the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. "Even when lockdowns are in place, we continue to provide a number of critical services to community members in need: from food deliveries through our Meals on Wheels program, to home care services for residents over 65 and those living with a disability," said Cr Staikos.
"We also offer a number of opportunities to connect and engage, through online workshops run from AccessCare, Kingston Libraries and Youth Services. And for those who enjoy sending and receiving letters, we have a local letter writing project that aims to address loneliness and isolation in our community."
In 2020, Kingston's Community and Business Support Package put all overdue rates' collections activities on hold for almost a year and a half. "We have not had any collections activities now for 16 months," said Cr Staikos. "Moving forward, Council will continue to provide rate relief to pensioners, and work with ratepayers who are on approved hardship arrangements, who are still eligible to catch up on their rates interest free."
Kingston Council also regularly provides 'Quick Response' grants to community groups in need of extra support. On top of this our Annual Grants program provides a pool of around $1.6 million in funding for community groups, businesses and charities. Council will decide the recipients of this year's Annual Grants at the July Ordinary Council Meeting.
