“We had a mom come to the United Way supported Food Bank for help; she had just lost her job in the East Wellington area and had three kids she was supporting on her own. She was working on getting EI assistance, but while waiting for the paperwork to be processed she found herself out of money and food for her children. On top of this, she also was in a car accident and was dealing with some injuries to her back. The mom knew that work in the future for her would have to be modified to fit her needs, which added more stress to her life. Her daughter was also turning 19 and she was worried they wouldn’t be able to properly celebrate this special day. A United Way Community Partner provided the mom with food for her family, including a cake mix and decorations, as a gift for her daughter to help her celebrate and make the day special for the family. It’s these little extras that we do our best to provide families throughout the year. We want to help give them a sense of normalcy, even in times of stress.”
A community is only as strong as the sum of its parts. Strong, supportive, and inclusive communities are vital for all of us to thrive. At United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin, we are committed to ensuring our communities are great for everyone, by creating a sense of belonging, building connections, and improving overall well-being through our “Healthy People, Thriving Communities” Impact Area.