


Upcoming events:
Pembina Pipeline annual Golf Tournament, September 7, 2023. Our friends at Pembina Pipeline Corporation have hosted a fundraising golf tournament for many years are have scheduled their 2023 tournament on September 7, 2023, at Kingswell Golf Course in Petrolia. We thank Pembina, and all the community-minded employees for their support. To register, or for more information, please click here.
Enbridge Pipelines United Way Classic Car Show. This car show keeps getting more and more popular. Every year, admission is just a donation to the United Way to see hundreds of classic cars right here in Sarnia Lambton. Special thanks to Enbridge Pipelines, employees, and family members who put on such a great family friendly event.!
United Way NHL, regular season hockey draft. We are so excited to announce our first ever NHL hockey draft, open to 23 teams, and up to eight people per team. Thank you Shawn Dickey, our Hockey Draft Chair, and Lambton Sanitation for being our lead sponsor. Already, many local businesses have already contributed prizes to our event.
The United Way of Sarnia Lambton funds emerging needs throughout Lambton County and supports the success of local agency programs and services. Our funding assists people as they become healthier, empowered, safe and independent. We are change makers for our community.
Thank you to everybody who has made a charitable donation to the United Way of Sarnia Lambton.
It’s never too late to make a difference. Contributions made before December 31st will be eligible for a charitable donation receipt for the 2022 tax year. Contributions made in January or later will be eligible for a charitable donation receipt dated 2023.
Every dollar donated is put to work locally helping those who need it most. When you invest in our Community via the United Way you fund …What Matters!
From Poverty To Possibility
United Way is helping people move out of, or avoid, the cycle of poverty with access to nutritious, affordable and appropriate food security and with supports to access emergency shelters and to maintain safe and stable housing.
All That Kids Can Be
Investing in kids so they can succeed in school and develop supportive relationships. Giving children and youth the support they need to make healthy choices and to better handle life’s challenges.
Healthy People, Strong Communities
United Way is creating a strong, inclusive community connecting people of all ages to supports for their personal wellbeing – from addiction and mental health supports to helping seniors live independently.

English | Anglais :
United Way of Sarnia-Lambton takes part in the Community Services Recovery Fund – a $400 million investment in charities and non-profits
Now more than ever, charities and non-profits are playing a key role in addressing persistent and complex social problems faced by all Canadians. The Community Services Recovery Fund is a $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support charities and non-profits as they build resilience by making investments in their people, organizations, and program innovation.
The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton is proud to be taking part in the Community Services Recovery Fund, a collaboration between United Way Centraide Canada, Canadian Red Cross, and Community Foundations of Canada to provide funding to Community Service Organizations, including non-profit organizations, Indigenous Governing Bodies, and Registered Charities located across Canada. The Community Services Recovery Fund responds to what charities and non-profits need right now and supports organizations as they adapt to the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The deadline for applications was February 21, 2023. Applications are now being reviewed, and successful applicants will be informed by summer.
Visit www.communityservicesrecoveryfund.ca for more information.
Français | French
United Way of Sarnia-Lambton participe au Fonds de relance des services communautaires, un investissement de 400 millions de dollars visant à soutenir les organismes de bienfaisance et les organismes sans but lucratif
Plus que jamais, les organismes de bienfaisance et les organismes sans but lucratif jouent un rôle de premier plan pour offrir des solutions aux problèmes sociaux persistants et complexes qui affectent les Canadiens et Canadiennes. Le Fonds de relance des services communautaires est un investissement de 400 millions de dollars du gouvernement du Canada visant à aider les organismes de bienfaisance et les organismes sans but lucratif à bâtir leur résilience en investissant dans leurs gens, leurs organisations et l’innovation de leurs programmes.
United Way of Sarnia-Lambton est fier de participer au Fonds de relance des services communautaires, une collaboration entre Centraide United Way Canada, la Croix-Rouge canadienne et les Fondations communautaires du Canada pour fournir du financement aux organismes communautaires, incluant les organismes sans but lucratif, les corps dirigeants autochtones et les organismes de bienfaisance enregistrés situés partout au Canada. Le Fonds de relance des services communautaires est une réponse aux besoins actuels des organismes de bienfaisance et organismes sans but lucratif. Il les aidera à s’adapter aux effets à long terme de la pandémie de COVID-19.
La date limite pour présenter une demande était le 21 février 2023. Les demandes sont en cours d’évaluation et les organismes retenus en seront informés d’ici l’été.
Pour en savoir davantage, visitez le site fondsderelancedesservicescommunautaires.ca
2023 – 2024 Community Investments
United Way of Sarnia-Lambton volunteer Board of Directors has announced the 2022 campaign achievement of $1,426,000. Thank you to all our volunteers and donors who made this campaign such a success.
United Way Announces 2023-2024 Community Investments
For Immediate Release – January 17, 2023
Falling short of the 2022 campaign needs target will result in some changes to the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton funding portfolio in order to fund as many local priorities as possible.
Last evening the volunteer Board of Directors approved the 2023 – 2024 Community Investments to 28 programs in Sarnia-Lambton. This funding portfolio maintains 25 existing funded programs, an increase to 1 funded program, a decrease to 1 funded program, the elimination of two funded programs and funding to a new program through the Critical Services Grant Fund.
The volunteer United Way Board of Directors with the assistance of the volunteer Community Investment Committee changed its local Community Impact agenda after Covid 19 struck. “The needs in our community changed quickly with the pandemic and the United Way had to position themselves to respond as quickly as possible”, said Gerry Whitcombe, Community Investment Committee Chair. “Poverty and housing issues have been on the rise over the years and Covid made those issues even worse”, he added. As a result, the Board set the following 3 priority areas for the volunteers to follow during their review of funding requests.
Poverty to Possibility – approximately 44% of available funding
Healthy People, Strong Communities – approximately 31% of available funding
All That Kids Can Be – approximately 25% of available funding
The volunteers identified which programs fit into one of the priority areas and then had to work within the Board approved budget of each priority area. “The volunteers also review the future measures for success of the programs and review the past successes of those programs which received funding during the last funding cycle,” said Whitcombe. “Collaboration and partnerships with other service providers is a very important part of our review process, even more so with reduced funding available. Working together not only avoids duplication and inefficiencies but creates more of a possibility of success for the clients when service providers work together. All of the volunteers deserve a big thank you for their time and dedication to this process, and we want to thank the thousands of Donors as well” Whitcombe added.
Youth Life Skills (John Howard Society), and Transitions Facilitator (Community Living) will not receive funding for 2023-24. The Youth Life Skills program withdrew their application as their services were being duplicated through the opening of the youth wellness hub and other drop in type centers which are now available in our community. The Agency will still support youth through partnerships with these other service providers and will offer their expertise should any community agency need it. Community Living (Transitions Facilitator) unfortunately had to be cut from the funding portfolio. “Although this program does amazing work, our available funds and funding priority targets just does not allow us to continue to fund this program,” said Whitcombe. The United Way is committed to working with this Agency to assist them in finding other funding for this program.
The sole increase of $8600 was awarded to the YMCA Resource Houses program. This program services children in geared to income housing neighborhoods with before and after school snacks and in some instances, lunches to take to school. The increased need and cost of food both contributed to the need for additional funds. The YMCA Autism Summer Camp will see a decrease of $13,000.
The Board of Directors also approved a one year Critical Services Grant of $15,000 to River City Vineyard for the purchase of 50 hospital grade mattresses for their shelter expansion. “This expansion will be for the “hard to house” homeless population that generally live on the streets and have no other options of where to sleep,” said Whitcombe. They generally suffer from addiction, mental illness, or both and have a hard time securing and staying in long term housing. We want to keep them safe and off the streets not only for their own good but the communities as well.
United Way of Sarnia-Lambton is proud to be taking part in the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund, a collaboration between United Way Centraide Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and Community Foundations of Canada. The Community Services Recovery Fund will support a vast array of Community Service organization’s as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Community Services Recovery Fund aims to support the adaptation and modernization needs of non-profits and charitable Community Service Organizations facing immediate and long-term impacts of the pandemic as they continue to support communities. Community Service Organizations can apply from January 6, 2023 until February 21, 2023. Locally, $332,814 will be available through this funding stream. For more information or to apply, visit www.theunitedway.on.ca or contact Pamela Bodkin at [email protected].
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Local Community Investments 2023 to 2024
Big Brothers Big Sisters Matching Program $80,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Bunch $20,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters Go Girls & Game On $30,000
BGC (Boys & Girls Club) Out of School Programs $81,667
BGC (Boys & Girls Club) Summer Program $12,000
Canadian Red Cross Meals on Wheels $31,000
Canadian Red Cross Transportation $58,000
Canadian Red Cross Homeward Bound $30,000
County of Lambton COVID-19 School Food Delivery $16,650
Family Counselling Centre Counselling $87,000
Family Counselling Centre Distress Line/Tel Check $50,782
Family Counselling Centre Suicide Prevention $20,000
Habitat for Humanity Handyman Program $15,000
Inn of the Good Shepherd Income Tax Clinics $28,000
John Howard Society Rapid Housing $70,000
Lambton Elderly Outreach Transportation $55,000
Lambton Elderly Outreach Meals on Wheels $16,600
New Beginnings, ABI & Stroke Recovery Community Integration $20,000
North Lambton CHC Opening Doors (Sarnia & Forest) $60,000
Rebound Early Intervention & Prevention $50,000
Salvation Army Rent/Utility Assistance $40,000
Salvation Army Dental Assistance $17,000
Salvation Army Medical & RX Assistance $10,000
Salvation Army Hearing Aid Assistance $10,000
YMCA Resource Houses $93,600
YMCA Autism Summer Camp $30,000
Walpole Island First Nation Warming Shelter $55,000
Additional Community Investments
United Way Direct Community Services $170,000
Donor Option to Other Agencies $90,000
River City Vineyard Critical Services Grant $15,000
Federal Government Community Services Recovery Fund $332,814