On the eve of a milestone anniversary, United Way Simcoe Muskoka (UWSM) has launched new online tools to help local residents and businesses understand how their donations and volunteer support are making a difference in local communities. In this digital age, we're identifying that ongoing...
We didn’t want to get it wrong. Earlier this year, we decided it was time to start opening our events with a Land Acknowledgement Statement. Our Women in Leadership Luncheon, held in Barrie last June, would be the first. As an organization mandated to serve the...
Poverty goes beyond income. Hunger and homelessness. Education inequality, unemployment and social isolation. Mental illness and domestic violence. Why are United Ways across the country launching a new publicity campaign about local poverty, in all its forms? Because our neighbours are struggling and we need your help in...
Guest blogger: Tracy Wood Tracy Wood is the Senior Coordinator of Community Programs for Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County. Her portfolio includes overseeing the UWSM-funded Muskoka Youth Trustee Program, for which she was recently recognized as an Outstanding Community Contributor by the District Municipality of...
AJ says he should have been successful, but wasn’t. By his 11th birthday, he’d been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). That led to diagnoses of general anxiety and depression, too. “Growing up, I was in the gifted program at school, but I got into shouting matches...
In 2017, Wendat Community Programs wanted to help its community better understand the programs they had to offer, but – like many community-based charities – lacked the resources necessary to bring in a professional marketing team to get the job done. Luckily, Wendat’s Executive Assistant Linda...
Wendy learned about United Way through her workplace, and immediately knew she wanted to get involved. - In her own words.. I came home from school one day and my mom was in the kitchen. I looked in the living room and noticed our couch was missing. I...
With United Way's help, Zoe got a chance to start again. - In her own words...
Moving to Canada was a difficult adjustment for Nuhaa. An after-school program funded by United Way helped her feel more comfortable. In her own words...
As a newcomer to Canada, Samantha was super shy. Her English wasn't very good and she couldn't leave the house at all. "Canada was just completely different from Uganda. I remember our first Christmas here - it was the first time I saw snow. The weather was...
