Dear Editor:
The year 1940 was a pivotal one for Guelph. Amid the Second World War, local businesses and the community came together to support wartime efforts. It was also the year that a local man named Bill Hamilton (later MPP and Guelph mayor) started the Community Chest for War and Welfare Services to coordinate local charities through a single, annual campaign.
Over the past 85 years, the organization has been known by many names – Red Feather, United Community Funds and now, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin (UWGWD). But the goal has remained the same – as a funder and collaborator, unite all parts of our community to improve lives and build community.
Hundreds of thousands of local lives have been changed because of the generosity of donors, the dedication of volunteers, the commitment of workplaces and the tireless work of agency partners.
Every year, millions of dollars are raised by our local community and invested in our local community to support important and life changing supports like food pantries, emergency shelter, mental health crisis lines, mentoring and after-school programs for youth, day programs for seniors – the list is long. Our community would look much different without the many programs funded by United Way there to support people each and every day. We are lucky to work and live in a community that continues to be recognized for its strong community spirit and generosity.
Today, our community continues to face challenges – some more complex and more urgent than ever before. We are surrounded by uncertainty, facing a rising cost of living and more frequent mental health struggles. Almost one in four households in Guelph Wellington face food insecurity. Agency partners are dealing with a demand for services they’ve not seen ever before.
After 85 years, United Way is ready for better. We are still here, working in partnership with those on the front lines of issues like poverty, homelessness, food insecurity and mental health, to ensure that the network of supports that our community has come to rely on continues to be there moving forward.
But what happens next depends on you. Our work and our investments are fueled by community donations. Small acts of kindness, even giving just a few dollars, can change a life. Don’t believe your contribution won’t matter or is too small. Pooled together, each contribution and action will make a difference. That’s the power of a United Way.
Better is possible and there’s no better time than now.
Glenna Banda,
Executive director, UWGWD