With the world not anywhere close to normal because of COVID-19, the push is on from the local United Way to begin a radical recovery.
The United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin kicked off their 82nd campaign at CTRL-V in Guelph Wednesday.
And unlike previous years, there was no set goal announced in terms of a dollar figure.
The goal officials said they're focused on is addressing root causes impacting people, and urging residents to use the same sense of urgency they had at the start of the pandemic toward that benchmark.
"We're focused on addressing root causes of poverty, and shifting our solutions to create systemic change," Glenna Banda, the executive director of the United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin told the audience.
"We're ensuring that families have the financial, social and personal assets that they need to improve their quality of life."
Hope House executive director Jaya James was the guest speaker, and put an emphasis on the term "change takes energy."
"Right now, and for a long time, people and organizations have been lacking the energy to make the change," she said.
A strategic plan was put together over the last year or so, after meetings involving people from all walks of life, and a commitment was made to collectively bring funding to the table over the next five years.
On top of community partners helping out, there's also a push to attract new donors.
"The big dollars are very important," said Lesley Christodoulou, VP of corporate financial services at The Cooperators, the co-chair of the insurance company's United Way campaign and sits on the local United Way's women united committee.
"But a small donation from a new donor that now recognizes the impact that small donation has, as it multiplies through our community is critical."
Patricia Tersigni, the 2022 campaign chair, said action needs to be taken now.
"We cannot just go back to normal or simply recover," she said. "We need a radical recovery.”
Donations, as always, will stay local according to the organization.
You can donate at participating workplaces in the area, as well as by phone or online through the United Way office.
