Community Impact – Investing for Lasting Change!
Since 1958, the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton has been investing community dollars into organizations, programs and services that improve the lives of those in need in Lambton County.
But it’s not enough. Needs in our community continue to increase and change, new issues develop. As society, technology and our own local community continues to evolve, circumstances emerge surrounding these economic conditions, innovations and growth.
While most of these changes serve our community and keep it moving ahead, others have led to issues that plague individuals and families living right next door to all of us. There are still those without jobs or with low paying jobs, children who read or write below grade level, seniors who need supports in order to avoid hospital stays. These issues affect all of us right here in our own community, where we live, work and play. They are not isolated instances, involving only disadvantaged families and individuals. They are issues that matter to us collectively. We all have a personal stake in creating viable solutions that connect and motivate us as community partners to not only address the problems and needs, but rather, engage ourselves in lasting, sustainable transformation. United Way of Sarnia-Lambton is addressing our community’s issues in order to have long-term results within our community; we are coming together and forming partnerships to develop lasting solutions.
This approach is called Community Impact.
What is Community Impact?
It means more than just delivering a hot meal. It means equipping people with the skills necessary to become financially stable. It means helping others help themselves. It means more than just skill teaching. It means children enter school healthy and ready to learn. Youth achieve academic success. It means more than just raising money. It means everyone coming together to share interests, build relationships, utilize talents, expertise, passions and leadership skills to not only improve individual lives, but also to build a stronger community for everyone in Lambton County.
What exactly does this mean?
Improving lives by mobilizing communities to create lasting changes in community conditions. It is a new way of thinking – getting to the root causes of community problems and finding solutions together.
How will the Community Impact work?
The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton through experts, partners, donors, service providers and residents along with statistics and community consultations have identified three Key Strategy Areas that serve as the focus under which issues in our community fall. They are:
- From Poverty to Possibility
- Healthy People, Strong Communities
- All That Kids Can Be
The United Way will also carefully consider the root causes of the impact areas while working to understand all that is needed to create lasting changes in our community. Get involved in an Impact Area. Work with others to create lasting change. Give of your resources to improve lives. Maximize the impact of community dollars. To find out how, email Pamela at [email protected] or call 519-336-5452 Ext. 5.
