Sarnia Observer Saturday, October 23, 2021
The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton campaign has reached and surpassed the one-third mark of this year’s $1.75 million campaign goal.
Most, if not all, of the industrial campaigns have commenced their fundraising.
“While we are glad to be over the one-third mark, the campaign is about 2% behind last year’s pace at this point in time,” said Campaign Chair Vicky Ducharme, “so we are monitoring the situation closely.”
Ducharme said over 1320 donors have raised $610,000 to date, as the campaign completes six of 16 weeks of fundraising.
As always, the United Way campaign will run until the end of the year, so all donors are eligible for a 2021 charitable gift receipt that can be used for tax purposes when donors file their 2021 income tax returns.
Several community events are happening now including one dollar from every dozen bagels sold at The Bagel Factory in Sarnia will be donated to the United Way.
Dattolo’s Bake Shop will also donate one dollar from every pizza sold beginning now and running until the bake shop closes on Halloween night. The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton’s monthly 50/50’s continue with the next Jackpot on November 15. Tickets are available online at www.united5050.ca.
The LCBO just wrapped up its employee and point-of-sale campaign. In addition to the LCBO employee pledge drive, LCBO employees asked customers at the till if they would donate to the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton. Although the numbers have not been finalized yet for this year, the district in our area led the province during the three-week promotion and at least one of the stores finished in the top ten province wide.
“We would really like to thank the LCBO, and all of the employees for all their hard work and support during this year’s promotion. We very much appreciate all donations, and I can assure you that all those contributions made by employees and customers will fund the 20 local agencies, “said Ducharme. Ducharme said last year about $30,000 was raised through this event, which is a significant contribution to our fundraising efforts.
Several of the non-industrial campaigns have also already begun there for fundraising.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Canada Coast Guard have also commenced their fundraising this week and will run a four-week campaign until November 10, 2021. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Canada Coast Guard have several fun events planned for this fall drive including Early Bird draws for those people who donate through the federal government workplace giving program, a photo contest, and a trivia night planned for October 29 among others.
The St. Clair District Catholic School Board is in week three of the four-week campaign, and already, more donors have supported the drive so far this year than all of last year. This is the second year that the local Catholic school board has Board has utilized the online giving portal.
I would like to remind those who run employee campaigns in Sarnia Lambton, or are considering one, that a personalized online giving platform is available, at no charge, to any workplace that chooses to use the online giving program. Employees have a choice of how they want to donate including cash, payroll deduction, cheque, etc., and can select which agencies specifically they would like to support addition to the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton.
Support the campaign online, please visit www.theunitedway.on.ca
-30-
Dean Pearson, Operations Manager at Cabot Canada in Sarnia is served up some apple crisp by Kim Craigman, HR Specialist and United Way volunteer at the annual United Way lunch. All donations by employees and retirees at Cabot are matched by the company.
