Funding for a program that links volunteers with community groups has been restored.
NexusBC will receive a $41,000 gaming grant after successfully appealing a government decision earlier this spring to cancel funding for the volunteer service.
“It’s good news,” said Lynn Belsher, NexusBC executive director.
Belsher isn’t sure what led the government to reverse its decision.
“It may have been all of the (media) attention paid to it,” she said.
“They thought it wasn’t providing a benefit to the community as a whole but it does.”
Through the program, Nexus recruited volunteers and referred them to non-profit agencies in the community needing help.
Without the gaming grant originally, two employees were laid off.
Belsher is talking to the former staff now about bringing the program back.
“I hope this will happen within the next couple of weeks,” said Belsher.
While she is pleased that the gaming grant has been restored, Belsher admits the government could withhold the money in future years.
“I will send in another application but who knows if it will be accepted,” she said.