Radio script second round of emergency grocery vouchers for Elders

November 12, 2020

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Hi all,

My name is ___(your name)_____ I am your Community Director/Community Liaison Officer for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

I want to tell you about how QIA is rolling out a second round of emergency grocery vouchers for Elders. This is to assist Qikiqtani Inuit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working in partnership with Arctic Co-operatives Limited, QIA has budgeted an additional $1.8 million help Qikiqtani Inuit Elders.

The money will be distributed as $250 vouchers every other week for a total of six vouchers per Elder. That is a total of $1,500 for each Elder.

All Qikiqtani Elders are automatically on the list. The process is the same as the last round.

You can collect your grocery voucher at your local Co-op store starting November 10, 2020.

In Clyde River, QIA is delivering this program through Ilisaqsivik and Arctic Co-ops Limited as grocery hampers delivered to Elders.

Urban Inuit, originally from Qikiqtani communities, registered with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., will receive a one-time payment of $750 via cheque.

These vouchers will be for Qikiqtani Inuit Elders who are 60 years and above as of January 31, 2021.

This emergency financial support will help Elders access healthy food, necessary cleaning supplies, and other household essentials.

The vouchers will be distributed on:

• November 10 and 24
• December 8 and 22
• January 5 and 19.

The funds for QIA’s COVID-19 response plan come from the Indigenous Community Support Fund (ICSF) announced by the Federal Government.

It is very important that you continue to protect yourself, your family and community against COVID-19.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever, cough or difficulty breathing.

The best protection from spreading or catching the virus is:

• physical distancing,
• wearing a mask,
• handwashing for at least 20 seconds,
• coughing and sneezing into an elbow and
• staying home as much as possible.

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Please visit our website at qia.ca for more information and daily updates.

You can also get the latest news and updates from our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Thank you very much for your time. Have a good day and stay safe.