United Way East Kootenay has been extremely fortunate since 2001 to have had office space and utilities generously provided by HSBC and for the past two years by REMAX at 930 Baker Street.

The board, staff, volunteers, community agencies and entire community have benefitted with shared use of space and ability of our United Way to keep operating costs low which allows community investments to be higher. Investments over the past 10 years have averaged $72,000 per year with an additional $300,000 plus per year in the East Kootenay in United Way provincial initiatives.

Since mid-March this year in response to COVID-19, the United Way office has remained closed with our Executive Director, Donna Fields, working from home. This has proven to work well with community relationships, daily work requirements and Zoom meetings being done successfully.

Therefore, the Board of Directors after careful deliberations and recommendation from the Executive Director and United Way mentors, has decided not to continue seeking alternative office space at this time.

Earlier attempts have revealed suitable office spaces to be costly and not viable for our United Way if community investments are to be kept at previous levels. The annual United Way campaign determines the level of investments and the budget allowed; both would be adversely affected if occupancy costs were incurred.

Over the next four weeks, a United Way team will take stock of what we need to keep in file retention, supplies and furnishings; secure a storage space on a no-cost or minimal cost basis; prepare for move and lastly, move to a secure storage space.

This process will involve letting some furniture go as we consider the eventual probability of a smaller office.

If you are a charitable organization in need of office furniture, please contact Donna Fields at [email protected] or cell #778-687-3426 for more information.

United Way East Kootenay

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