Options Emergency Fund

Options is doing what we do best – helping people who need a hand up.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, putting strains on families across our community, we are continuing to offer our programs, remotely wherever possible, and in-person where essential.

We are launching a special appeal so that we can continue our critical work and also respond to the urgent and unique needs arising from the pandemic and the collective measures we have all taken to slow the spread of the virus.

You can help make sure that we are there for our neighbours now and when the pandemic is over.

Here are just a few examples of the kinds of emergency supplies we need:

• Hampers filled with food and household cleaning/hygiene supplies for families who have lost income and are sheltering in place with children and may only have access to transit for transportation

• Grocery store gift cards to provide for food and other necessities for individuals and families while trying to make their rent payments

• Laptops for school age children so they can access online schooling

• Welcome packages for essential agricultural workers filled with toiletries and other personal items so they can avoid the need to go out during their mandatory 14-day quarantine period after their arrival in Canada

• House cleaning kits for housing residents so they can keep their units clean and sanitized during the pandemic

• Grocery gift and delivery gift cards for families whose children have autism/ developmental disabilities. Some of our families are having financial challenges and a really hard time maintaining much needed routine for their child(children) while also attending to basics such as grocery shopping, cooking, and homeschooling children with special needs.

• Sensory toys or items such as weighted blankets and fidget spinners as well as craft kits for families whose children have autism/developmental disabilities. For children with sensory needs, these can be very calming, lessening the stress on the whole family.

The coronavirus has created so much upheaval in such a short time. People have lost jobs or income, suddenly have to home school their children, lost access to daycare, and everyone has tried to figure out how to keep their families fed and sheltered as safely as possible. In these extraordinary times, please give generously.