Dakota Halfpenny, Author at United Way Elgin Middlesex

United Way launches region’s most important fundraising campaign

by Dakota Halfpenny on September 28, 2020 Comments Off

United Way Elgin Middlesex just launched the region’s most important fundraising campaign, rallying neighbours, friends and colleagues to pull together, now more than ever, as our community continues to face uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, thousands answered the call to buy a meal for a neighbour in need at the organization’s first virtual 3M Harvest Lunch & United Way Campaign Launch. Instead of gathering in person at Budweiser Gardens, every $10 ticket sold bought a meal for a local youth, senior or family, safely prepared and delivered by local businesses to United Way partner agencies in the region. Final numbers are still coming in, but indicators say the event is on track to smash all prior records for ticket sales.

“If you’re able, please give what you can. Every donation, no matter the size, helps ensure United Way funded programs and services are there when people in our community need them most.”

Trevor Squires, United Way 2020 Campaign Chair and Chief ChangeMaker & General Manager, McCormick Canada

It’s a fitting start to the United Way 2020 Campaign at a time when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

This region has the third highest child poverty rate in Canada. One in five kids live in a home that struggles to pay rent and put food on the table. In some neighbourhoods, it’s one in four. Add COVID-19 and we’re all feeling more vulnerable, socially isolated and fearful for the future.

“We know that this crisis is going to push some people further into the margins,” says Kelly Ziegner, President & CEO, United Way Elgin Middlesex. “People already facing barriers—poverty, hunger, mental illness, and social isolation—need our help more than ever.”

“We’re calling on everyone to show their local love,” Ziegner adds.

This year, United Way’s goal is to mobilize the community to fight deepening poverty and mental health issues due to the COVID-19 crisis, issues that were already unignorable before the pandemic hit.

South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre, for example, reports that 1,000 people per month are accessing their emergency food cupboard and other basic needs supports. This is 10 times the number of visitors pre-COVID.

Requests for mental health support are also up. The Canadian Mental Health Association has seen a 43% increase in calls to The Support Line since the pandemic started, many from seniors who don’t have supports in the community and call every day just to talk to someone.

“If you’re able, please give what you can,” says Trevor Squires, United Way 2020 Campaign Chair and Chief ChangeMaker & General Manager, McCormick Canada. “Every donation, no matter the size, helps ensure United Way funded programs and services are there when people in our community need them most.

Hear real talk about the need in our community and learn about this year’s Campaign plans with Kelly Ziegner, President & CEO, United Way Elgin Middlesex, Trevor Squires, United Way 2020 Campaign Chair and Chief ChangeMaker & General Manager, McCormick Canada, and Penny Wise, President of 3M Canada.

Kelly from Neighbourhood Resource Association of Westminster Park breakfast program

3M Harvest Lunch is on track to smash all prior ticket sales

by Dakota Halfpenny on September 25, 2020 Comments Off

Thanks for paying it forward together.

This year we couldn’t be together, but that didn’t stop the community from coming together virtually for 3M Harvest Lunch and to launch the United Way Campaign.

When COVID-19 struck in March, it impacted everyone, pushing people already experiencing barriers further into the margins. Families and individuals need help, perhaps more now than ever before.

That’s why this year, in lieu of gathering with over 2,000 DoGooders at Bud Gardens for the annual lunch-time event, every ticket purchased provided a meal for a neighbor in need at one of five partner agencies working in the community. Agency partners included Next Wave Youth Centre in Strathroy, Inn Out of the Cold in St. Thomas, Neighbourhood Resource Association of Westminster Park, Anova and Horton Street Seniors Centre in London.

The week featured online stories and videos available on social media and the United Way website that shared the powerful impact of donors support. Each day a local expert discussed the impact COVID-19 has had on their clients and how United Way has helped them to pivot to new ways of helping people in this difficult time.

Ticket sales allowed United Way Elgin Middlesex to purchase meals from locally owned and operated businesses and have them delivered safely for distribution. Local business partners included Big Fat Food Truck, Bifana Boys, Roy’s Family Restaurant, Big Daddy Bacon and Catering by James Meadows.

The week wrapped up with a special presentation, hosted by Pure Country’s Dave and Rachel, and featured local DoGooders Kelly Ziegner, CEO & President, United Way Elgin Middlesex, Trevor Squires, United Way 2020 Campaign Chair and Chief ChangeMaker & General Manager, McCormick Canada, and Penny Wise, President of 3M Canada. The guests discussed the upcoming launch of the United Way 2020 Campaign and the impact COVID-19 has had on the community.

Didn’t have your chance to purchase a ticket? You can still buy meals for our community until Oct. 2.

Buy meals now!

Please note that online ticket purchases are not compatible with Internet Explorer. Please use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox.

Shelley Wood, Seniors’ Program Manager at Horton St Seniors Centre

Keeping connected at Horton Street Seniors’ Centre

by Dakota Halfpenny on September 21, 2020 Comments Off

When COVID-19 struck our community in March, Horton Street Seniors’ Centre (HSSC) was forced to close its doors, leaving 1,200+ members without access to the supports they rely on for connection and personal relationships.

“It all happened so fast,” said Shelley Wood, Seniors’ Program Manager at HSSC. “One day the Club was bustling with activity, and the next, we were locking the doors.”

According to Wood, this left people who rely on HSSC for there activity and community involvement in a potentially isolated and vulnerable spot. Often, people participating in the programs report living alone, sometimes choosing between food and other living expenses. They come to HSSC looking for physical activity or to fill their time, and then find themselves getting more involved as time goes on.

“People were beginning to feel more and more isolated. Many of our seniors were becoming extremely lonely.”

Shelley Wood, Seniors’ Program Manager at HSSC

“Food is a big part of what we do at HSSC,” continued Wood. “People come to the club for swimming or another activity, and suddenly we find them laughing with new friends in our café.”

Food is a vital part of programming at the Club. It brings people together and helps reduce isolation while creating new social connections and relationships.

When HSSC was forced to shutter its programs due to the pandemic, Wood and her team knew they needed to respond quickly, in a tried and true way.

“We knew a lot of people out there were going to need support,” said Wood. “Many of our clients don’t have computers or emails, so we just started calling people. I think we called over 1,000 people, and have continued those calls throughout the shutdown.”

“People were beginning to feel more and more isolated. Many of our seniors were becoming extremely lonely,” said Wood.

Knowing they needed to do something quickly, Wood and her team initiated several new social programs, calling them the HSSC Senior Centre Without Walls program. Individuals could connect by phone and Facebook with the weekly focus including friendly chit-chat, the occasional game of trivia, and sometimes tip-time, an opportunity for members to share advice and personal experiences.

“We had to move fast to acquire some new technology,” said Wood, “but once we had what we needed in place, we began connecting people immediately.”

And for the more physically inclined, the Club initiated an online exercise program, available weekly on Facebook Live.

“The response was incredible,” Wood shared. “People were sharing they especially appreciated the social calls and phone programs. It allowed them to stay safe, but connected, during a difficult time. We could tell their spirits were improving.”

HSSC re-opened under an adapted model on September 8. Wood shared that HSSC will maintain its new programs to continue to help reach people who are feeling isolated or alone.

“Things are going to look a little different, but we are excited to get people back together and into the community,” said Wood.

United Way launches London for All recommendations, insights

by Dakota Halfpenny on September 15, 2020 Comments Off

Last week, I was part of a small delegation presenting the London for All Impact Assessment Report to the Community and Protective Services Committee at City Hall, United Way’s final task in our three-year journey as lead agency for our city’s roadmap to end poverty in a generation.

Continuing the work to end poverty in our city couldn’t be more important. Poverty, hunger, mental illness and social isolation–the social challenges that have always existed in our community–have been exacerbated by COVID-19.

As lead agency for London for All, United Way convened over 60 organizations and 160 volunteers from all corners of the community to complete 112 anti-poverty recommendations over three years. We wrapped up this summer with 92 completed projects, everything from simple, practical solutions to system-wide changes.

The Impact Assessment Report is where the impact and the scope of the project comes to life by attempting to answer the question: Has London changed as a result of London for All?

“Coordinating, collaborating and bringing diverse voices to the table are essential skills we’re going to need as we work through the challenges ahead. We know some populations are disproportionately impacted by poverty so having their voice at the table is more important than ever.”

Kelly Ziegner, President & CEO United Way Elgin Middlesex

I’m proud to say yes. United Way staffer and London for All project manager Roxanne Riddell tells me that the project’s collective impact approach changed how we work as a community. Organizations and key players made connections where before there were walls. Multiple times, they found instant solutions because the right people were at the table–those who understood the issues and those who could ok the solutions.

United Way’s top recommendation is that City Hall continues to fund a collective impact approach to poverty reduction. London for All proved that it’s the best way forward.

Another key recommendation from United Way is to strengthen and increase opportunities for individuals with lived and/or living experience to participate in future poverty reduction work. London for All included and supported 38 people, making up 50% of the Leadership Table.

What does this mean for reducing poverty in our community? Marci Allen-Easton, a Community Member on the Leadership Table, says it best. She told me that her experience was totally different from other projects where she’s felt like a token participant. With London for All, she was a decision-maker. Her voice was necessary, not just complementary. For the first time, she says she felt included and heard, an integral part of making solutions happen.

Coordinating, collaborating and bringing diverse voices to the table are essential skills we’re going to need as we work through the challenges ahead. We know some populations are disproportionately impacted by poverty so having their voice at the table is more important than ever.

Next steps for London’s poverty reduction strategy are up to the City of London, our other government partners and organizational leaders in our community. We’re hoping they’ll take our recommendation to identify a single issue aligned with local, provincial and national poverty goals and to keep working on it until significant impact is achieved.

The work to solve poverty here at home, whether that’s London, St. Thomas or Strathroy, belongs to all of us. United Way will be there to work with governments, with the social services sector, and most of all, with you.

Together, more than ever, our community is counting on us.

Thank you for improving lives locally,

Kelly Ziegner, President & CEO
United Way Elgin Middlesex

P.S. We’re up for an award! London for All lead agency United Way Elgin Middlesex, along with partners City of London, London Community Foundation, London Poverty Research Centre and rTraction, is a finalist in the Community Collaboration category for the 2020 Pillar Community Innovation Awards happening on November 19

Read our Impact Assessment Report!

Can we have a round of applause please?

by Dakota Halfpenny on September 15, 2020 Comments Off

United Way-led project nominated for Pillar Community Innovation Award

London for All has been named as a finalist in the Pillar Community Innovation Awards in the Community Collaboration category. As lead agency for the project, United Way Elgin Middlesex mobilized over 60 stakeholders and 160 volunteers from across the community to tackle poverty in our community. Other partners involved in the project included City of London, London Community Foundation, London Poverty Research Centre and rTraction.

“Continuing the work to end poverty in our city couldn’t be more important. Together, more than ever, our community is counting on us.”

Kelly Ziegner, President & CEO, United Way Elgin Middlesex

Referred to as a road map to end poverty in a generation, London for All aimed to eradicate root causes of homelessness and poverty by addressing issues like health, food security, transportation, education, income, systems change and more.

Underway from 2017 to 2020, London for All worked collaboratively with community leaders and stakeholders, including individuals with lived and/or living experience of poverty and homelessness, to implement 112 recommendations outlined by the Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Poverty.

“Continuing the work to end poverty in our city couldn’t be more important,” said Kelly Ziegner, President & CEO, United Way Elgin Middlesex. “Together, more than ever, our community is counting on us.”

3M Harvest Lunch is going online, all week long!

by Dakota Halfpenny on August 26, 2020 Comments Off

Buy a ticket and donate a meal!

This year at 3M Harvest Lunch, we’re paying it forward. You can help 3M and United Way Elgin Middlesex reach their goal of providing 2,000 meals to our neighbours in need when you buy a ticket for 3M Harvest Lunch.

For every $10 ticket sold, a meal will be donated to a person living in our community. Meals will be purchased from locally owned and operated businesses and delivered safely to our neighbours in need through our partner agencies working in the community.

Join us online all week long to see stories about the impact of your support in our community. Each day we will feature a United Way funded partner who is improving lives locally. Follow us on social @unitedwayemca and tune in September 21 – 25 to catch the action.

Meals will be provided at Next Wave Youth Centre in Strathroy, Inn Out of the Cold in St. Thomas, Neighbourhood Association of Westminster Park, Anova and Horton Street Seniors’ Centre in London will receive either delivered meals or gift cards, depending on their need.

The week will wrap-up with a special presentation, hosted by Pure Country’s Dave and Rachel, and featuring local DoGooders Kelly Zigener, CEO & President, United Way Elgin Middlesex, Trevor Squires, United Way 2020 Campaign Chair and Chief ChangeMaker & General Manager, McCormick Canada, and Penny Wise, President of 3M Canada. Speakers will talk about the upcoming United Way 2020 Campaign and the urgent needs our community is facing.

This year, we can’t be together, but we can still buy lunch for a neighbour in need.

Buy a ticket and donate a meal today.

Please note that online ticket purchases are not compatible with Internet Explorer. Please use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox.

Talbot Teen Centre Cultivate group image

Virtual Farmer’s Market teaches local youth about running a small business

by Dakota Halfpenny on August 19, 2020 Comments Off

Talbot Teen Centre, Cultivate volunteer group

Helping local businesses AND teaching youth about running a small business? That’s what the Ignite Youth Centre in St. Thomas is doing with the Cultivate Virtual Farmer’s Market.

Pre-COVID-19, the Ignite Youth Centre (formerly the Talbot Teen Centre) had a plan for creating a farm-to-table program that included gardening, planning, planting, harvesting, cooking, and creating items to sell at a farmer’s market. Unfortunately, the centre was forced to close mid-March, and had to re-evaluate their programming ideas.

Program manager Vicki Asher, thought it made sense to shift gears, and come up with a new way to bring youth back into the building. She tapped into her history with farmer’s markets and friendships with local farmers, and connected with many local vendors who were very supportive of the youth initiative.

Today, the Cultivate Virtual Farmer’s Market is an online, one stop, mid-week shopping solution offering an amazing selection of fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits, cheese, fresh meats, honey, preserves, fish, breads, baked goods, prepared foods and more from St. Thomas and area farmers, growers and artisans.

Cultivate runs on the power of 18 youth volunteers, all of who applied to be a part of the market, were interviewed and received feedback from the Ignite Youth Centre staff. The youth volunteers have the opportunity to learn anything and everything associated with running a small business and each youth can decide how much they want to be involved. Asher notes that there’s a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, and some kids are more interested in the planning, some doing receiving and merchandising, and some meeting vendors and sorting orders.

Two “natural team leaders,” Seth and Darien, have been volunteering since the beginning and know everything that needs to be done, and can direct other volunteers.

Darien got involved because he wanted to get back into the community and help rebuild the local economy, as much as just wanting to get out of the house. Seth mentioned that his mom strongly encouraged him to volunteer, and once he had, he really enjoyed the opportunity to interact with customers. When asked what they had learned over the few months volunteering, Seth described working with spreadsheets, improving customer service, and marketing a business as his biggest takeaways. Darien added that he’s learning how a small business operates, as well as flexing his problem-solving skills.

Both are working on updating their resumes, and are excited to be able to add these new leadership skills to help them going forward.

There’s been an overwhelming response from the community. Customers love the convenience of shopping online and then picking up their produce, and love the smiling faces of the youth. Of course, community members also love helping the youth and local farmers.

One vendor, Chris Devries of Common Ground Farm, says that: “The Virtual Farmer’s Market has really helped fill the gap when the St. Thomas market had to close. It’s a really great platform that allows us to sell to a wide range of customers without the overhead” He has also had great experiences interacting with the youth volunteers: “Having the youth pitch in and help to get the market running is amazing.”

The market is open for shopping each week from Sunday 8:00am until Tuesday 11:59pm. Orders are then available for pick up on Thursday afternoons at The Talbot Teen Centre. Visit https://openfoodnetwork.ca/cultivate-virtual-farmers-market/shop to shop now!

The Cultivate Virtual Farmer’s Market is supported by United Way Elgin Middlesex’s Local Love in a Global Crisis Fund.

United Way flows $2.2M in COVID-19 relief to frontline services

by Dakota Halfpenny on July 22, 2020 Comments Off

On May 19, United Way Elgin Middlesex launched a call for applications for the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). This fund provides financial support to charities and other qualified donees adapting their frontline services to support vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ECSF is funded by the Government of Canada and is being administered locally in collaboration with United Way Centraide Canada, Community Foundations of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.

Today, United Way Elgin Middlesex is pleased to share an update on the recipients of this funding. From May 19 to June 12, United Way received 60 applications requesting grants of up to $150,000 to meet high priority needs related to COVID-19 across our region. Funding requests totalled nearly $4.5M.

“This critical investment will ensure rapid relief reaches those who need it most. It’s just one way we’re working together to keep our region strong through an uncertain recovery.”

Kelly Ziegner, President & CEO, United Way Elgin Middlesex

Priority was given to frontline social service organizations who provide services to vulnerable Canadians, including low-income seniors, women, children and youth living in poverty, persons with disabilities, newcomers, members of racialized communities, people experiencing homelessness and more.

In total, 23 organizations received approximately $2.2M in grants, including:

John Howard Society of London and District – $150,000 – Wrap-around supports including counselling, housing, reintegration supports and basic needs for individuals in London facing homelessness following release from prison during the pandemic.
Central Community Health Centre – $61,677 – Primary care services, harm reduction supplies, and basic needs to people experiencing homelessness through a Mobile Unit in Elgin County
Addiction Services Thames Valley – $69,000 – Access to technology to facilitate personal and professional supports, including housing stability support, for participants of the Street Level Women at Risk program in London
Learning Disabilities Association – London Region – $55,324 – Literacy and mental health support for children/youth across Elgin and Middlesex with learning disabilities to address academic and social-emotional gaps widened by distance learning and the COVID-19 pandemic
London Cross Cultural Learner Centre – $110,400 – The Healthy Pantry program will provide newcomers in London with access to food and information resources

See the full list of grant recipients

United Way Elgin Middlesex is proud to support the Government of Canada’s important investment of almost $2.2M into our local communities. This investment meets just over half of the nearly $4.5M requested from frontline agencies to respond to COVID-19 in our region.

United Way Elgin Middlesex initially received $1.3M in ECSF funding. In June, United Way Centraide Canada requested applications for additional ECSF funds to respond to local, evolving, unmet needs related to COVID-19, including economic impact and geographic costs. United Way was successful in attaining almost $1M more funding.

United Way Elgin Middlesex was one of nearly 40 United Way Centraides across Canada who submitted applications requesting over $31 million in additional funding.

“We are proud to administer the Emergency Community Support Fund locally on behalf of the Government of Canada, alongside the London Community Foundation and their peers in Elgin and Aylmer,” says Kelly Ziegner, President & CEO, United Way Elgin Middlesex. “This critical investment will ensure rapid relief reaches those who need it most. It’s just one way we’re working together to keep our region strong through an uncertain recovery.”

United Way Elgin Middlesex solicited ECSF grant applications through an open call May 19 to June 12 to frontline social service agencies serving Elgin and Middlesex counties. All grants will be disbursed by July 31, 2020.

About our community’s coordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis

United Way Elgin Middlesex, London Community Foundation, Aylmer Area Community Foundation and Elgin-St. Thomas Community Foundation worked together to maximize more than $3.2M in local Emergency Community Support Fund investments. Granting decisions were coordinated to avoid duplication and meet our region’s most pressing needs during the coronavirus outbreak. Together, we are keeping our community strong.

About the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF)

The Government of Canada’s $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund aims to help charities and non-profit organizations adapt and increase frontline services for vulnerable populations during COVID-19. Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, community-based charities and non-profit organizations have been working tirelessly to provide emergency support of all kinds, in particular, to individuals and communities experiencing continued or heightened vulnerability. Demand for their services has increased dramatically. The Fund is designed to help organizations carry out their vital work to ensure no one is left behind.

Emergency Community Support Fund grant recipients

United Way Elgin Middlesex’s COVID-19 grant summary

Summer fun activities for kids and youth

by Dakota Halfpenny on July 15, 2020 Comments Off

Summer is here!

While many regularly scheduled summer events and programs for kids are not running this year, there are still lots of options for kids to get active and enjoy some summertime fun.

London and Middlesex County

Boys and Girls Club of London*

Summer Day Camps

• Available at two sites, the main building on Horton Street and at Kidscape

• Runs weekly from July 6th – September 4th

• Ages 6-12

• More info and registration here

Jays Care Virtual Camp

• Interactive and fun virtual camp experience

• 90-minute Zoom session each day with two camp counsellors and children of the same age

• Runs weekly from July 6th – August

• Ages 8-12

• More info and registration here

Kid Tech Nation

• Kids can learn digital skills, coding concepts, internet safety, and computational thinking

• Weekly Zoom meetings for kids in grades 4-8

• Begins August 4th

• More info and registration here

Plus! Free activities to do at home here

City of London

Modified summer day camp programs

• Many locations around the city

• Ages 4-12

• Running weekly July 13th – September 4th

• More info here

• Register online here

Modified summer swimming lesson program

• Program starting July 6th at select pools

• More info here

• Register online here

Community Living London *

Summer Connections Virtual Camp
• a specialized online camp for school-aged children and teens with developmental disabilities
• Half-day, weeklong sessions starting July 17^th• Click here for more information and registration

Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre*

Summer Child and Youth programming

• Half-day programming from Tuesday to Friday

• Runs weekly starting July 14th

• More info and registration here

Preschool home learning kits available

• Contact preschool@crouchnrc.org

Weekly activity kits for children and youth are available

• Contact childandyouth@crouchnrc.org or send a message on the Crouch Facebook page

Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre*

Youth summer day camp

• Ages 12-24

• Runs weekly Monday to Thursday, July 6th – August 20th

• More info here

• Register here

Online youth programs•
Includes cooking, ukulele, and an online girl’s group
• More info here
• Contact Justin at jmcguire@gccrc.ca for registration and more details

London Public Library

Summer online programs for kids and youth

• More info here

• Programs

Summer of COVID-19 Zine
• Share your creative expressions during this singular summer and be part of documenting history
• More info and submission guidelines here

LUSO Community Services

Daily virtual programming for kids and youth

Breakfast program

• Monday-Friday

• LUSO Portable, 1100 Victoria Drive

Breakfast & Snack bags – Literacy kids

More information here

Middlesex County Library

Camp STREAM

• Fun and engaging virtual programming that encourages campers to

explore, navigate and discover over the summer months

• More info and registration here

Neighbourhood Resource Centre of Westminster Park (NRAWP)*

Virtual and in-person summer programming for youth

• More info here

• To register for in-person programming, contact Serena at nrawp.youthleader@gmail.com or 519-680-0991

Weekly breakfast bags

• Pick up every Thursday from 12-4pm

• Westminster Optimist Centre, 650 Osgoode Drive

South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre*

Virtual and in-person summer programming for youth

• Programs include photography, art, coding & engineering, music, kindness and more

• More info here

• Contact Justine at jmiles@slnrc.ca or 519-686-8600 x7384 to register

YMCA of Southwestern Ontario*

Summer Day Camps

• Limited spaces available for day camp at several locations. At this time spaces are restricted to families who have parents/guardians working outside of the home.

• Runs weekly July 13th – August 28th

• More info on locations and registration here

YCamp
• Free virtual camp program for children and youth across Canada
• Delivered by YMCA camp staff across the country, campers will receive weekly challenges and a YCamp Passport to complete over the course of the summer. Campers can earn badges for every activity they complete.
• Runs July 6th – August 28th
• To get started visit here
Community School Programs Resources booklet
• The Directors of Community School Programs have created a booklet filled with crafts, games, activities and challenges
• See it here

St. Thomas and Elgin County

Jabez Therapy Ranch*

Summer therapeutic riding

• Programming beginning mid July

Pearce Williams Camp & Retreat Facility *

Camp It Yourself virtual camp

• Week-long sessions running July 27th – August 14th

• More info and registration here

Talbot Teen Centre*

Free, fun, safe, inclusive and supportive resource and drop in space

• For all youth 12 to 19 years of age in Elgin County

• Open for drop-in Monday, Tuesday and Friday 12pm-4pm
Cultivate virtual farmer’s market volunteering opportunities

•More info here

YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin*

Summer Day Camps

• Limited spaces available in St. Thomas and Aylmer

• More info here

*These organizations receive funding from United Way Elgin Middlesex

Toilet paper donation to local food banks

Local agencies now have squares to spare

by Dakota Halfpenny on June 30, 2020 Comments Off

15 skids of toilet paper and facial tissue land at London Food Coalition

An impressive donation of toilet paper and facial tissue by Kimberly-Clark will go a long way to helping people and families struggling to meet their urgent basic needs. The donated products will be distributed to families through a variety of social service agencies across Elgin and Middlesex Counties, including Neighbourhood Resource Centres in London and St. Thomas.

“Working together with Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre we are serving 240 households. That is over 700 individuals receiving support through our deliveries each week.”

Dorothy Monster, Advocate and Community Development Worker, Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre

Toilet paper has become difficult to find at grocery stores since COVID-19 struck, making it less likely to be donated. Conversely neighbourhood resource centres are feeling the increased need as more people, including first-time users, are seeking support from emergency food cupboards due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The increased need is being felt across the community and Neighbourhood Resource Centres are seeing more people seeking help, including first time users and their families.

“Working together with Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre we are serving 240 households. That is over 700 individuals receiving support through our deliveries each week.” shared Dorothy Monster, Advocate and Community Development Worker, Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre. “Before COVID-19, Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre was serving about 85 households per month. We have been able to meet this need because of the support of community donations through United Way and other community partners.”