One of the things I love about the United Way is how easy it is to make a difference, especially when we work united.
The thing about the United Way and all giving, is every little bit counts and even the smallest organization can make a big impact. Take Wainfleet, for example. The region’s smallest municipality has revitalized its United Way campaign. Over the few years the community’s United Way campaign lapsed we missed that contribution to south Niagara. Now that they’re back we’re very appreciative of the support Wainfleet offers.
We owe Wainfleet’s return to Mayor April Jeffs, who was asked by Port Colborne team chair Dave Hawkins if she, or someone she knew, could lead the Wainfleet part of the campaign. She said yes, and started at town hall.
“Basically I just reminded everybody,” says Jeffs of her involvement in the United Way of South Niagara campaign in Wainfleet, explaining sometimes you just get away from things and they get forgotten.
“Everyone seems quite willing to help,” she says, noting the municipality isn’t doing a payroll deduction this year, but staff is supportive of the events they have planned.
Recognizing her township may be the smallest in Niagara, Jeffs says she grew up learning every little bit helps and if everyone took that attitude there is a lot that can be achieved.
“It’s the same here, anybody can make a difference,” she says. “I applaud the staff for helping out. It’s a community-based group,” says Jeffs of the United Way of South Niagara, explaining it’s important to give because the funding truly does go back into every community.
In another of south Niagara’s smaller communities, staff at the Town of Pelham have increased their campaign by 63% over last year. “I certainly appreciate staff getting involved,” says Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn. “Certainly staff and council recognize the important of the organization in our community.”
Not only do Pelham town hall staff members authorize a payroll deduction for the privilege of dressing down on Fridays, Augustyn says even the mayor’s youth advisory committee looks for ways to help the United Way.
Augustyn says his community is generous in supporting many good causes and town hall’s involvement is just one more indication how generous Pelham is.
Payroll deductions or taking part in employee campaigns are among the simplest ways to give, but make a big impact. In the past, we’ve relied on big companies with hundreds of employees for payroll deduction campaigns, but Pelham and Wainfleet staff have demonstrated even smaller organizations can get involved and make change happen.
I think Wainfleet and Pelham are great examples of how smaller organizations can help and they should also be an inspiration — or maybe a challenge — to bigger companies to take part as well.
Dolores Fabiano is director of communications for the United Way of South Niagara.
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The UWSN is a professional team of community volunteers and staff committed to supporting community agencies to improve quality of life of people.
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