Empowering Rural Communities: Fifth Annual Community Fund By Do More Agriculture And FCC
Saskatoon, January 18th 2024 - Do More Agriculture is excited to announce the fifth year of its Community Fund, proudly presented by Farm Credit Canada (FCC). The Fund offers free mental health education to rural communities throughout Canada. The goal is to empower these communities with the necessary tools to support themselves and others.
Applications for the Community Fund are open from January 18th, 2024, to February 15th, 5:00 PM CST. This year, the initiative offers a broader selection of workshops than ever before.
“FCC has been a proud founder of the Community Fund since its inception 5 years ago,” said Justine Hendricks, President and CEO at FCC. “Over the past five years, FCC has been pleased to partner with Do More Agriculture to improve access to mental health resources, training, and workshops which we hope have helped to ease some of the mental health challenges faced by many rural Canadians. Looking ahead, FCC is firmly committed to providing ongoing support to mental health programming to meet the unique challenges faced by Canadian farm families.”
"We are thrilled about this year's Community Fund and would like to express our sincere gratitude to FCC. Their unwavering support of mental health in agriculture is instrumental in bringing awareness and connecting individuals to resources in rural communities," states Megz Reynolds, Executive Director of Do More Agriculture.
In our continuing efforts, we recognize the importance of mental health education and are committed to expanding our reach to support individuals, families, and communities even more effectively. As a result, the fund continues to grow with several new workshops, initiatives and even more community engagement.
"We believe in the power of conversations, knowledge, and community to transform mental health in the agricultural sector. This year, we're not just continuing our work, we're building upon the past four years by holistically evolving our offerings and increasing the number of rural communities to receive programming," says Reynolds.
New program offerings include a virtual peer-to-peer grief support group, to provide a nurturing space for individuals coping with grief.
Another significant addition is the SafeTALK workshop, designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and ability to extend effective help to someone considering suicide, connecting them to the necessary support.
In line with our existing efforts, our specialized AgCulture courses will continue to provide mental health professionals with an in-depth understanding of the specific challenges unique to the agricultural sector.
The fund welcomes applications from all agricultural communities across Canada. Whether you're an individual, business, or association, we encourage you to apply. For further details and to submit applications, please click here.
Stay tuned for future updates and workshop details. Together, through industry-wide collaboration, we have the power to positively impact the mental health of all who live, work, and play in agriculture.
Media Inquiries
For more information about the Community Fund or to schedule an interview with Megz Reynolds, Executive Director at Do More Agriculture, please contact:
Eugenie Officer, Media Relations
About FCC :
FCC is Canada’s leading agriculture and food lender, with a healthy loan portfolio of more than $47 billion. Our employees are dedicated to the future of Canadian agriculture and food. We provide flexible financing, AgExpert management software, information and knowledge specifically designed for the agriculture and food industry. As a Crown corporation, we provide an appropriate return to our shareholder, and reinvest our profits back into the industry and communities we serve. For more information, visit fcc.ca.
About The Do More Agriculture Foundation:
The Do More Agriculture Foundation is the national voice and champion for mental health in Canadian agriculture and is changing the culture to one where all are encouraged, supported, and empowered to take care of their mental wellbeing. By collaborating with industry, government, and those working to address mental health, we can and will make a substantial Impact.