Letter to the Editor

United Way East Kootenay is asking for your help to raise urgently needed dollars for the community.

This year’s United Way community fundraising campaign is facing a shortfall. Donations have been declining for a number of years in all sectors (business, corporate and individuals) and this puts our community investments, social change initiatives and capacity / community building activities at risk for next year. Donations make the difference in changing many lives in our communities by helping to prevent social problems before they become a crisis.

United Way investments directly support young children, particularly those at risk, and helps older children make the right choices. Investments are directed to ensure children are not hungry at school so they can learn better.

Donations also directly benefit seniors making certain that they have recreational opportunities and to families and individuals needing a hand up, not a hand out. Investments in 2017 were made to: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bellies to Babies, Boys & Girls Club, Seniors Daybreak, Restorative Justice, Hospice Cranbrook/Kimberley and Columbia Valley, Community Living, FW Green Home, P.A.RT.Y., Friends of Children, Women’s Resource Centre, Options, Youth Centres Kimberley and Windermere Valley, Salvation Army and Food Bank.

A few agencies have received funding since 1969. Since our 1969 inception including 2017, almost $4,000,000 has been invested in our community in direct investments and an estimated $2,000,000 indirectly. These funds come from our communities, not from any level of government nor from United Way Canada, but from donors like you.

The Board of Directors and our Executive Director with our Community Impact work, are active members of the Social Planning Society, Seniors in Partnership Committee, Safe Communities and numerous other community groups. In addition, investments are directed to our regional Success By 6 Programs, Better at Home and BC211 initiatives making a substantial difference in the lives of children ages 0-6, seniors, family members and individuals.

United Way is urging everyone to give what you can afford to give. As little as $10 will help when done by many. If you share this appeal with 10 others and they do the same it will make a huge difference. Many of us can afford at least $10 to help deliver critically needed preventive services for those in need in our region. Many small contributions can make a big impact in changing lives. It is the belief of our United Way that it is everyone’s responsibility to keep our community where we live, raise our families, work and play; healthy and strong. Your donation counts.

Donna Brady Fields, Executive Director,

United Way East Kootenay

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