The United Way of Bruce Grey is highlighting some key stats in its latest report called ‘Strength In Our Numbers.’
The report is part of Capacity Canada’s Creative Day for Social Good (CD4SG) and highlights funding, projects, programs and other notable things by the numbers in the last 9 months.
Local United Way Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn says the report details almost $3.3 million in supports to the community.
Some highlights include 34 food security organizations working together in Grey Bruce due to the pandemic.
They include food banks, community meal programs, community gardens and good food boxes. Meal programs have provided over 100,000 meals to those with low income, no transportation, mobility issues, negative health status, medical issues, and more. Over 600 hampers were packed and delivered by the United Way, Zehrs Owen Sound, Grey County, Bruce County Housing and volunteers.
The report says, from April to November, 5,185 meals were delivered to people without housing who are sheltering in motels. They receive a daily hot meal and a lunch for the next day. That’s made possible through a Grey County Social Services Relief Fund grant, OSHARE doing the cooking, Habitat for Humanity delivering, and YMCA Housing & M’Wikwedong and Women’s Centre for assessment managing it.
The United Way says at least $633,500 in grant money has gone towards shelter for people in the area. The report says during the pandemic, YMCA Housing and Safe N Sound volunteers, provided 4,555 nights of shelter to people without housing. Almost 700 people accessed homelessness services at Y Housing during the reporting period. They have been able to track 172 people into housing from homelessness, knowing many more were able to find housing through their own connections.
The United Way has provided 59 beds (including a mattress and bedding) to people who in need of housing during the pandemic.
PPE donations are also enumerated in the report, including Bruce Power’s 2 million pieces of PPE donated throughout the community.
Other categories you can see highlighted in the report include, social inclusion and learning, information and community navigation, mental health & wellness, and health & hygiene.
The report can be downloaded from the United Way’s website at: https://unitedwayofbrucegrey.com/the-strength-in-our-numbers/
Dobbyn also notes, “While we celebrate all of these efforts, we recognize that the pandemic has exposed the underlying weaknesses in our society with its income inequity, classism and racial discrimination. We recognize the ‘working poor’ and the precariously employed who have played such a pivotal role as essential workers i.e. PSWs, grocery store clerks, etc.”
She adds, “We are all so grateful for the many organizations, community leaders, volunteers and donors who are doing their best to help everyone feel safe and comfortable during this pandemic. This report only scratches the surface of the Bruce Grey pandemic response. We know there are many more stories to be told.”