Your Impact
At United Way we raise money to fund local charities & non-profits to make sure people have support when they need it most.
Thank you for making our work possible.
The big picture
United Way invests in the community on a quarterly basis and receives reports on the impact of that funding every 6 months. The following reflects the reporting period of April to September 2021.
Lives being changed
Meeting Basic Needs
Meeting basic needs means investing in agencies and programs that are providing access to safe and often permanent shelter, secure food, and education and skill building. Learn more about our basic needs focus area.
The following are examples of impact of your donations from funded agencies and their programs.
- 1,168 women were supported through Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region’s community Outreach program. This means that these women received a domestic violence risk assessment, a safety plan, emotional support as well as assistance with affordable housing and referrals to other needed community supports.
- 140 seniors were provided with supportive housing (Supportive Housing of Waterloo Region ie. SHOW).
- Successfully averted 22 youth overdoses, including through the use of CPR and administration of Narcan (oneROOF)
- 195 Indigenous women and children were supported via shelter provision or outreach supports (Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region).
- 1440 meals served as part of a community program serving – and served by – people experiencing poverty, including those from marginalized populations (Community Kitchen Cooperative KW, sponsor: St. John The Evangelist Church)
- Over 3000 First Nations Metis and Inuit (FNMI) peoples were connected with local vaccine clinics (The Healing of The Seven Generations).
The following are quotes from funded agencies letting you know the impact of your support.
- “Over the course of the pandemic, our Housing Worker team has successfully housed over 150+ individuals into affordable, appropriate, permanent housing.” – (Cambridge Shelter Corp.)
- “Having the support of United Way Waterloo Region Communities for general operating expenses made sure we could continue to meet demand for essential services like Meals on Wheels, transportation to medical appointments, and grocery delivery to isolated and at-risk clients, at a time when specialty cleaning and sanitization of our vehicles and other equipment is increasing. Our demand has increased significantly, with our drivers delivering over $148,000 in groceries to clients’ doors, as even more of our local seniors were unable to get out themselves with the risks the pandemic presented to them individually.” – Community Support Connections
- “Funding from the United Way gave us capacity to invest in a functional infrastructure to provide 600+ meals a day… [without United Way investment it would be] impossible to prepare the increasing number of meals needed to serve those who were unsheltered, and those who had housing but were unable to prepare meals.” – The Working Centre
The following are stories and messages from people supported by United Way-funded programs. Names have been changed for confidentiality.
A story from The Social Development Centre from their Eviction Prevention Program
“It continues to be made known that a program with a focus on 2SLGBTQ+, BIPOC, Newcomers, Refugees and low-income community members will be in high demand and is very much welcomed. Eviction Prevention Kitchener Waterloo was recently successful in retaining tenancy for a queer physically disabled community member who was being evicted from a Co-operative housing complex. With support through in person advocacy and negotiation, the tenant was able to enter into a new mediated tenancy agreement.” – Social Development Centre
A story from The Literacy Group
“Because of COVID, Fatima was doing online literacy upgrading. But when her son needed her laptop for his college studies, Fatima’s own studies came to a halt. TLG was able to give Fatima a refurbished laptop, and Fatima has gratefully resumed her studies. She had no opportunity for schooling in her home country, and she is hungry for learning.” – The Literacy Group
A message from a participant in the Easy Eats program with the Pregnancy Centre
“Thank you to everyone at the center who makes this program possible. Through participating in the Easy Eats program it has definitely helped me get more confident in the kitchen and explore new things that I wouldn’t have otherwise. It also gave me a sense of food security as I always knew once a week there would be something to make without fail. Can’t wait for the next round.”
HELPING PEOPLE LIKE TRAVIS
“I realized I needed the help over the summer, when the pandemic had been going on for a few months. This support means I don’t have to wonder when I’m going to eat, or what I’m going to eat. It might be a loaf of bread or a gift card so I can do my own shopping, but it makes me feel more stable. That help goes a long way when you don’t have the means to do it yourself.”
Improving Mental Health
Improving mental health means investing in agencies and programs that are supporting more complex needs and ensuring help is available for low-income clients no matter what the financial situation. Learn more about our mental health focus area.
The following are examples of impact of your donations from funded agencies and their programs.
- 147 individuals in emergency shelter were connected to a Mental Health Manager, with the skills and abilities to assess, understand, and treat their specific mental health and addiction needs (Cambridge Shelter Services)
- Between October and December 2020, one counselling agency alone provided 1,152 hours of counselling to 465 clients (Shalom Counselling Services)
- Through collaborations between two counselling organizations, 26 program staff were trained in counselling service delivery to 2SLGBTQ+ community members. 14 community members received counselling supports as a result over a 3 month + period. (Family Counselling Centre of CND & KW Counselling)
The following are quotes from funded agencies letting you know the impact of your support.
- “Due to increased demand, without the funding we received it would be very likely for [sexual assault] survivors to languish on the waitlist for 1-2 years. We were able to take 82 clients off our waitlist and provide counselling services. By being able to respond to the needs of survivors in a timely manner it demonstrates that they are important and can also help reduce symptoms of traumatic stress responses. – Sexual Asault Support Centre
- “We were able to add another day each week for our Music Therapist to work with our clients. Throughout the pandemic the women and children we are supporting are increasingly struggling with their mental health and trauma symptoms. Music Therapy offers a safe alternative to help them process their past experiences and how they are feeling.” – Women’s Crisis Services
- “Our community has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic as evidenced by the 20% increase in request for counselling services and the noticeable change in the complexity of needs… It is clear that without [the Community Response Fund], our already overwhelmed emergency departments and police services would have been further stretched responding to the growing mental health crisis in our community.” – Carizon Family & Community Services, Enhancement of Clinical Counselling Services for COVID 19 Recovery
- Being able to provide food, clothing, harm reduction supplies, as well as mental health supports and referrals to other community agencies gives the population that we serve resources they need as well as the connection so necessary for wellbeing. United Way funding makes this connection possible.” – Sanguen Health Centre
A message to us from the Sexual Assault Support Centre:
Due to increased demand, without the funding we received it would be very likely for [sexual assault] survivors to languish on the waitlist for 1-2 years. We were able to take 82 clients off our waitlist and provide counselling services. By being able to respond to the needs of survivors in a timely manner it demonstrates that they are important and can also help reduce symptoms of traumatic stress responses.
HELPING PEOPLE LIKE Laura
“When I found United Way, I was suffering from depression and anxiety. Every night, I was going to bed praying that I would not wake up the next day. But even when my depression was at its worst, I knew there must be a different life.
Going through United Way supported classes showed me how powerful it could be to navigate your challenges. Mental health is not something that you achieve and then you forget it—it’s something that you have to maintain.
Today, I am in a much better place. I know that mental health issues are nothing to be ashamed of. Recovery is possible and there is hope for a better, happier life.”
Reducing Isolation
Reducing isolation means investing in agencies that are providing ongoing access to programs and services combatting isolation, the ability to sustain and maintain critical relationships and supports, and the flexibility to address complex and shifting needs during a complex time. Learn more about our reducing isolation focus area.
The following are examples of impact of your donations from funded agencies and their programs.
- 50 youth were served through youth programming in North Dumfries. 6 youth were trained in Youth leadership and 3 were hired as Peer Workers (Langs)
- 93% of older adult participants who had a volunteer peer mentor feel more connected to community than before accessing service (Community Justice Initiatives)
- Over a three-month period, 5000 contacts with First Nations Metis and Inuit (FNMI) peoples occurred as a result of court related supports (The Healing of The Seven Generations)
- 100 women and girls were reached through online presentations addressing social inclusion and learning opportunities, with about half of participants being from racialized communities (YWCA of Cambridge)
- More than half of the Volunteer Action Centre of Waterloo Region’s member organizations are serving marginalized communities – that’s about 100 organizations in our community.
The following are quotes from funded agencies letting you know the impact of your support.
- “Without the funding from the United Way our clients would suffer greatly as we were previously only a staff of 1 person for this program with an immensely large client base and one that is still growing.” – Healing of the Seven Generations, Court Support Worker Program
- Being able to engage and connect with participants, particularly youth who were struggling with increased feelings of isolation due to the loss of peer connections has meant that we can maintain critical relationships and supports when youth need support most.” – YWCA Cambridge
- 68% of youth that attend programs regularly, make social connections and report a sense of connection with peers and community …Without the United Way funding, Langs would not be able to offer the number of in-person and virtual programs it operated… there would be less support for youth through warm phone calls, interactive virtual programming and in-person education and recreation” – Langs, Youth Services: Cambridge & North Dumfries
The following are stories and messages from people supported by United Way-funded programs. Names have been changed for confidentiality.
A story from The Healing of the Seven Generations
We [had] a community member who had their children apprehended from the hospital due to racism and the nurses believing that because she was First Nations that she was drunk, on drugs and incapable of caring for new born twins. We successfully reunited this family and it has set a precedent to change the way Family and Children Services is involved with birth alerts and hospital apprehensions.
A story from SPECTRUM Waterloo Region
When we moved our programming online because of the pandemic we found that we were reaching a much wider audience. People began joining us from the United States, and cities across Canada. One person from Nova Scotia began attending our Transgender Peer Support Groups. They found such a sense of belonging that they have now moved to Waterloo Region and become a SPECTRUM volunteer! (Spectrum)
Volunteer, Interview Participant with Church of St. John the Evangelist
“[I like] the fact that we’re able to make a good meal. I love that fact. When we start, there’s a lot of cooking but when we finish there are a lot of meals and that’s beautiful. I feel like I can be proud of myself and I was part of something good”
A Message from a team member at YWCA Cambridge
“Being able to engage and connect with participants, particularly youth who were struggling with increased feelings of isolation due to the loss of peer connections has meant that we can maintain critical relationships and supports when youth need support most.”
HELPING PEOPLE LIKE CINDY
“As a person with an intellectual disability, it’s not always so easy for me to reach out to others. Yet, I know I have much to offer because I am sociable, friendly, and cheerful.
Since joining a program funded by United Way, I have gained more confidence. Before, I was too shy to ask for help. Today, I am learning to communicate with others, to say things in the right way and to apply my filters. With the organization, I feel safe.”