United Way column for December 30, 2022.
The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton Campaign has now reached the 80% mark thanks to a number of employee workplaces wrapping up this week and a few surprises along the way.
“I hope everybody in Sarnia-Lambton had a terrific and safe holiday season,” said Vicky Ducharme, 2022 United Way Campaign Chair.
Currently, the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton campaign has reached $1,326,000, thanks in large part to some very positive surprises. “We had a couple of individuals make large personal contributions leading up to Christmas and we are so appreciative of their support,” she said.
In addition, CF Industries in Courtright and Cabot Canada announced their final employee figures, both will include corporate matches from the companies.
Ducharme said there are still a few campaigns yet to come in, and she pointed out that the direct mail and the online contribution portal as part of the local United Way website always brings in additional contributions as the New Year approaches.
“Last year for example, 20 per cent of the entire year’s online donations came through our portal in the last week of the year, with most of that coming in the last 48 hours of the year,” she said.
To donate online to the Sarnia-Lambton campaign, please visit www.theunitedway.on.ca and click “Donate”.
Locally, 18 agencies receive funding from the United Way to provide 30 programs and services.
The Sarnia Family YMCA for example is funded by the United Way and runs two programs, the Summer Autism Camp, and three Youth Resource Houses. Joe Cebulski who spoke at the United Way/Sarnia Family YMCA fundraising breakfast said that those two programs simply could not run if it were not for the funding it receives from the United Way. At the Breakfast, he thanked the United Way and raised $500 for the local campaign.
The Summer Autism camp provides recreational and educational programming during the summer months consistent to a regular day at school keeping children with Autism in their routine and ready to learn when school resumes in September of each year.
The Youth Resource Houses provide healthy snacks before and after school, homework help, and in general, a safe place for young children to go before and after school while moms and dads are at work.
In total, the YMCA was approved to receive over $113,000 from the United Way for the year beginning April 1, 2022 until March 31, 2023.
“We are really putting the push on now for anybody who had considered making a donation to the United Way, or contributed last yet, and not yet in 2022 to please get their donations in. The website is always open for contributions, and for those who like to make their gifts in person, can stop by the United Way office at 1362 Lambton Mall Road.” Ducharme added that if the office is closed, donations are accepted through the mail slot at Kumon, just two doors down from the United Way front door. “The mail slot at Kumon is about 40 feet from the United Way office and is well marked,” she said.
The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton campaign will run until he end of the year, but will officially close during the first week of January to ensure all of the mailed in donations are received and counted.
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Photo caption:
The United Way funds the Autism Summer Campaign, and three Youth Resource Houses in Sarnia provided by the Sarnia Family YMCA. Summer Autism Camp Counsellor, Taylor, works with Lucas, a summer camp camper. The United Way campaign will run until the end of the year and financially supports 18 agencies that provide 30 programs and services locally. The campaign has reached the 80% mark of its $1.65 Million Needs Target.
