The United Way kicked off its 2023-24 fundraising campaign Oct. 19 with an event at the Haliburton library.
“We are excited about the upcoming campaign,” co-executive director, Shantal Ingram, said before the reading of a land acknowledgement recognizing that in Haliburton County, they are on Anishinabek land.
Board chair Paul Murphy was unable to attend but said he was proud of the United Way team, which he said embraced change in the past year while delivering great results. One of those changes saw long-time executive director Penny Barton Dyke retire.
“The team continues to support our community with initiatives that include the launch of two new grant streams, their ongoing great work at the (Edwin Binney’s community farm and education centre) supporting our food security initiative, and participating and putting on several events to enhance our presence in the area,” Murphy said.
He added he continued to be motivated by the dedication and generosity of the community, thanking donors, volunteers. agencies and supporters, as well as his board, all “who have made a positive impact on the lives of those in need throughout the past year. “
Looking to the coming year, Murphy said he is excited about the possibilities. “With your continued support and our collective determination, we can build an even stronger, more inclusive community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.”
Ingram and Beall talked about how grants for not-for-profits had benefitted the Highlands.
Programs supported in 2022-2023 by the community capacity grant included Big Brothers Big Sisters KLH, providing services for families and connecting them to appropriate community services.
Point in Time Centre for Children, Youth and Parents received money for its ‘coming full circle’ program, to engage people who are disenfranchised and or marginalized and disconnected from community and services due a variety of factors.
SIRCH Community Services received funding to support their Community Kitchen program which prepares, packages and freezes nutritious meals and soups for residents most in need. The grant will allow them to fill a funding gap from mid-October until the end of December.
Point in Time also got a matching collaborative grant for the VOICE peer advisory group. And SIRCH received funding to support the Community Kitchen under that grant.
Ingram and Beall noted that since 2015, LCBO stores in Haliburton, Gooderham, Minden and Wilberforce had raised $160,770.45 for children and youth programming in Haliburton County, such as EarlyON Child and Family Centre, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Point in Time Food for Kids.
Other money went to emergency pandemic support for the Central Food Network, Rotary Club of Haliburton, SIRCH and the Minden Community Food Centre. Other agencies benefiting included Point in Time, HHHSF and SIRCH, BBBS and Kawartha Haliburton Victim Services.
In addition, the Edwin Binney’s Community Farm & Education Centre harvested and donated 17,579 lbs of fresh produce, with HHHS and SIRCH receiving 2,607 lbs of fresh produce. “With rising food prices due to excessive increases of inflation, this produce has a financial impact of $7,684 for the community,” Ingram said. Further, the nutritional benefits of these donations equate to nearly 300 meals, she added.
