The United Way Perth Huron (UWPH) held its annual campaign fundraising kick-off event on Thursday in Listowel, where a new goal of just over $2.68 million was announced.
United Way partnered with the North Perth Community Committee (NPCC) and held the event once again in the Ward and Uptigrove parking lot on Main Street in Listowel.
The event included a new addition this year, the 20 Minutes for Good, a hands-on community service activity in which volunteers took 20 minutes to help put together First Step kits. The kits, supported with help from Innovative Digital, are designed to support individuals in North Perth who may be unsure where to turn for help locally, and featured hygiene products, an informational packet with local services, and contact information for those services, pens and notebooks, socks and female hygiene products.
UWPH CEO Ryan Erb says he is always thrilled with how much support the community throws behind the annual campaign, which raises millions to help support many outreach programs and organizations that serve the people. That will be needed again this year with a campaign goal of approximately $2,682,720.
"Its really exciting to see how the community will rally behind that. We've been able to open new services, we're in the midst of construction right now for new housing units downtown (in Listowel), and we're just thrilled the community continues to surround us. Every year, we come back and say 'Friends, can you help us?' And they do," Erb said proudly.
Erb says the need for services and support across numerous areas continues to be great, with UWPH supporting over 15 local services spanning everything from housing support, mental health and addictions and help with utilities and food. He says the continued support of the campaign is critical to helping those who need it.
"We get to see people in this community that are sometimes struggling and needing their neighbours to help out. That's what this is all about. When you give to the United Way, you're helping your neighbour. All that money stays here, and it's helping people that need a little bit of a hand," Erb added.
With so many partner organizations being supported, including United Housing's ongoing initiatives to combat the housing crisis, Erb says a majority of the funds raised in the annual campaign go directly to those partners.
"A significant portion of the funding we're raising for the main campaign is for that purpose. We've also raised over and above that for capital campaigns for the housing projects here in Listowel, as well as the new access centre that we opened just a fews months ago here in town," said Erb.
For more information on the work done by United Way Perth Huron, including how to donate to the campaign, visit https://perthhuron.unitedway.ca/.
