United Way issues call to action to help reach fundraising goals

With demand increasing due to COVID-19, United Way Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma District is sharing a call to action to help reach fundraising goals for this year. These funds are critical in maintaining current operation, a news release issued by United Way stated. 

Full text of the release follows:

United Way Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma District is committed to providing essential services to vulnerable people in our community. Demand for services has significantly increased as a result of COVID-19, yet fundraising has been an overwhelming challenge during the past two years. The current campaign is short of target; these funds are critical in maintaining the current operation and support of our partners.

"As we near the end of this year's campaign, we turn to those who can help support our goal and get us to our target. Many agencies and individuals are counting on United Way to be there for them, but without meeting our fundraising goals, we cannot fulfill all their needs. We need your help to reduce the gap between poverty and possibilities. Thank you," Hilda Odom Board President for United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District.

Year after year the United Way funds programs that provide our fellow community members with personal, social and financial support. For instance, the United Way is a funder of programs at John Howard Society, Algoma Family Services, Canadian Mental Health Association, and Ken Brown Recovery Home. The programs at these agencies represent just a handful of the programs that the United Way supports. United Way Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma District also owns and operates their Harvest Algoma Food Resource Centre as well as their own Essential Services division. The collective impact of these efforts on the health and well being of our community is enormous.

"I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge all our community partners and donors for supporting this year's campaign. We have seen community businesses and organizations step up in a heartfelt way. We can appreciate the many challenges and barriers businesses face in terms of the global pandemic; however, as we see the numbers coming in, it is a true testament to our community ensuring they see the value in United Way's vision here Sault Ste. Marie to reduce poverty. We are so close to our target, and I am calling on our community to help us get there," said Jonathan Boyer-Nolan, Campaign Chair. 

With only a few weeks away until this year's campaign ends, we wanted to remind our community of this critical initiative to ensure all the services and community members continue to receive the resources they need. Every donation to the United Way stays 100% local and provides support to more than fifty organizations, all working to make local issues unignorable. If you have not yet contributed to this year’s campaign, please seriously consider making a donation today. Your community needs your help.