Letter to the Editor

Our United Way exists to support services that address social service needs of people in our communities. We have been able to do this good work thanks to the generosity of our many donors.

By recognizing the growing need in their community, donors are helping us work with agencies to meet needs addressing our focus areas of: All That Kids can be, Poverty to Possibility and Strong Communities. We are also able to go beyond helping one person at a time by getting to the root causes of existing social issues and partnering to ensure community impacts are achieved.

Your donation to United Way supports the combined efforts of a network of programs that provide a wide-range of care for individuals or families in need, and helps find longer-term solutions for local, community-wide social issues.

In 2016, 16 agencies received United Way program funding. In addition, funds have been directed to bc211 a province-wide online information/referral service (available in our region in 2017) and towards our Success by Six initiative that provides support to children up to the age of six in eight East Kootenay communities including the Ktunaxa Nation. If you would like more information, please contact our office or the agency office directly.

Community investments address priorities and ensure that the lives of many are being positively impacted. Agencies provide United Way with statistics and real stories on their successes throughout the year. The stories are encouraging: Children from single parent homes who have mentors helping them to be all that they can be, Young Parents gaining access to support services ensuring that their children receive a strong start in life, Seniors receiving more than just a place to live, more importantly, a place to be happy and connected to their neighbors, while staying productive in their community. In all cases not a handout, but a hand up.

The needs are great and that is why we are asking caring people like you, to help us with a donation. United Way does not receive government funding or money from United Way Canada, it is only with community support that we are able to make community investments. Your donation big or small, is crucial to United Way providing adequate, sustainable community investments, investments that make a real difference.

The Canada Revenue Agency (https://www.cra-arc.gc.ca) mandates that a minimum 80% of donated dollars be invested back to the community. Our investments each year are higher than 80% as encouraged by United Way Canada.

Every year funding applications total far more that what is available to invest and that is why it is important to have conversations with all residents to secure support for our United Way that will benefit everyone in our communities. It is the hope of United Way East Kootenay that you will make a donation today.

For more information visit [email protected]

Lead image: United Way East Kootenay recently held its always successful Park on Us Campaign in downtown Cranbrook. e-KNOW photo

United Way East Kootenay

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