SPECIAL EDITION 6
Waterloo is a community where people help each other
Welcome to the 6th edition of Neighbours helping Neighbours, a weekly newsletter from the neighbourhoods team, with a focus on good news stories, important community updates and an ever growing list of support resources.

Thank you to local volunteers that give their time, energy and efforts in meaningful ways across the community.

If you have ideas for resources to share or shareable stories of kindness, please send them to: [email protected]

P.S. Was this email forwarded to you?  You can get your own !
Adding some love
Brie Pointer started a small chalk wall project with her daughter and it inspired her to grow the project. This joyful art is much loved in the Mary Allen neighbourhood.

Thanks to Erin G. for sharing this photo!
Stay Connected: journal + activity book
COVID-19 is keeping many people at home and many on the frontlines as essential workers. Everyone’s experience is different but we have something in common - we’re all neighbours!
 
The neighbourhoods team collaborated with local multi-disciplinary artist Allie Brenner to create the Stay Connected: stay at home journal + activity book . This journal + activity book is great for kids and adults alike. Connect with the world around you in creative ways and document your experiences. 
 
If you feel comfortable, share your pages on Facebook or Twitter and tag @citywaterloo and #neighbourloo.
National Volunteer Week - engaged volunteers create a vibrant Waterloo!
The theme for National Volunteer Week, April 19 to 25, 2020 is “ It's time to applaud this country's  volunteers ." The City of Waterloo applauds our thousands of volunteers every day who share their talents, skills and time to make Waterloo a wonderful place!

Thank you to the direct and affiliate volunteers who help lift our community:
  • 3743 volunteers involved with our affiliated Kitchener-Waterloo Minor Sports organizations
  • 342 Neighbourhood Association executives and Outdoor Rink and Community Garden volunteers
  • 103 City of Waterloo Arts, Culture, Festivals and Events volunteers
  • 225 volunteers involved with 55+ Programs and Senior Services
  • 124 members of our Committees, Working Groups or Advisory boards
  • 233 Waterloo Public Library volunteers who support many vital user services
  • 47 youth volunteers in our youth leadership program and camp programs
  • 92 volunteers involved with our Environmental and Stewardship Programs and Events
  • 7 Friends of Waterloo Park volunteers who help raise the profile of Waterloo Park
  • 4 volunteers involved with Inclusion Services
  • 43 volunteers who assisted with our Aquatics programs
  • 41 Waterloo Fire Rescue volunteers who make this a safer community
  • 9 City of Waterloo Museum volunteers who make our heritage accessible to all

We also send many thanks to the thousands of other local volunteers who contribute to many great causes and organizations to help make this a great place to live, work and play and to the hundreds of enthusiastic individuals who participate in stewardship activities such as litter clean ups, planting and mulching trails throughout the community each year.

We celebrate and applaud all of our volunteers and salute those nominated for our Community Builders Awards Program this year. Names of these volunteers are in our Volunteer Salute .
  • 330 volunteers received milestone pins
  • 45 of these volunteers received milestone pins for 15 years of service or more; three of these were 40 years of service

You are invited to visit our website on a regular basis to find out what meaningful direct volunteer opportunities are available at waterloo.ca/volunteer , or contact Volunteer Services at [email protected] or (519) 888-6488 for more information on these or how to find out about other opportunities.
Neighbourhood Matching Fund changes for round 2 applications
Applications accepted for the second round of NMF grants will be limited to time sensitive projects (e.g. any continued neighbourhood construction) and projects that follow public health guidelines appropriate at the time of implementation (e.g. online connections, contact free ideas) due to COVID-19 conditions. The grant deadline has also been modified to reflect the changes and uncertainty occurring in the community. Eligible applications will be reviewed following June 3 rd  (the original grant deadline) and on an ongoing basis until September 1 st . Applications submitted after September 1 st  will be considered at the October 21 st  deadline. 

Contact  [email protected]  to discuss your unique plans and visit waterloo.ca/nmf to learn more about the NMF grant. 
Cheery discoveries in Eastbridge
The Eastbridge community may have come across an extra source of brightness on a neighbourhood walk recently. Local resident and maker , Brandi, painted rocks to leave around the community with familiar characters, creatures, and creative designs. Neighbours were encouraged to share on the Eastbridge Facebook group if they came across one on a walk, ride, or stroll around the neighbourhood. 
Coordinated COVID-19 Response Newsletter - April 17, 2020
These weekly newsletters keep everyone informed about
the coordinated response to the evolving COVID-19 situation. The Region, area municipalities and local community partners are meeting regularly to make sure pandemic response efforts
are coordinated and aligned.

Art popping up around MacGregor Albert
Neighbours in MacGregor Albert have experienced messages of support and connection through window art and sidewalk chalk over the last few weeks. The MacGregor Albert Community Association shared some photos of this positive neighbourliness on the community Facebook page. The photo above shows an example from a home on Fountain Street with changing animal art in their window.
Resources:
 Stay tuned for the next edition of Waterloo Neighbourhoods.
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Waterloo Neighbourhoods is published throughout the year to keep residents informed about the good things happening in neighbourhoods across Waterloo. If you have any questions or comments, please call 519-747-8515 or email [email protected] . If you’re reading Waterloo Neighbourhoods as a non-subscriber, visit our subscription page to sign up for future editions.

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