The United Way Simcoe Muskoka is running “The Month of Hope” campaign in support of its Urgent Needs Fund (UNF).
It was created to fill a gap in existing services, providing timely, modest grants to those who cannot find help elsewhere, for things like food, medical tests and devices, transportation, clothing, and cell phones.
Every day in Simcoe Muskoka, more than 60,000 people are living under the strain of poverty and isolation and sometimes the immediate, most pressing needs go unaddressed.
Even though the average UNF grant is just $250, the grants go beyond meeting these immediate needs. The short-term relief overcomes seemingly small but overwhelming barriers; it provides dignity and hope for a brighter future. More than 95% of recipients say they are better prepared to handle the obstacles that life throws at them.
After a successful pilot program in 2019, the Urgent Needs Fund was relaunched in January 2022. Since its inception, the fund has assisted more than 1,500 Simcoe Muskoka residents by providing $221,000 in direct relief. The fund is implemented by 211 Ontario and the District of Muskoka.
“The pandemic and uneven economic recovery have put more people at risk, leading to an increase in requests,” says Dale Biddell, CEPO of United Way Simcoe Muskoka. “The Month of Hope is an opportunity share stories of hope the fund has provided to local residents, but also to raise awareness and encourage community support, so that we can continue to meet that need.”
For the month of March, United Way Simcoe Muskoka’s Board of Directors has offered a matching gift of $10,000, doubling the impact of each donation to the Urgent Needs Fund.
To learn more about the Urgent Needs Fund or to donate, visit www.uwsimcoemuskoka.ca/hope/.
It's the Month of Hope ❤️
When you choose to donate to the Urgent Needs Fund this month, your gift will be MATCHED thanks to our Board of Directors.
That means your donation will go further, enabling us to help more people right here in Simcoe Muskoka: https://t.co/6E5LEsRooO pic.twitter.com/fVl2j9im4B
— United Way Simcoe Muskoka (@UWSimcoeMuskoka) March 2, 2022