The Social Planning & Action Tables with Eva Marie Clarke
The local nonprofit sector has seen big strides in collaboration over the past year with the Social Planning & Action Tables! If you want to learn more about them, we interviewed our newest staff member Eva Marie Clarke (who helps facilitate the Tables’ weekly virtual meetings) to get her take on them. 1. Welcome to...
The Most Important Meal of The Day
Chatham-Kent is home to many active service clubs doing amazing things out in the community. Their deep-rooted history within our communities can be seen on plaques, parks, and buildings to commemorate their commitment to improving the community. Some service organizations are known for their fundraisers, while others have a legacy of community change makers. Clubs...
Small towns have big heart.
It has been said that small towns have big heart. If you look closely, you will see how helpful neighbours, local change makers and everyday people are coming together to make sure no one is left behind. One small town doing just that is Dresden where a caring collective of volunteers can be found twice...
Activity Boxes, Virtual Fundraisers, and Warm Lines
Even outside of a pandemic, there are urgent needs in the community that our friends and neighbours are facing. Combined with restrictions on gatherings, social distancing, and stay-at-home orders, the work of non-profits, charities, and community organizations becomes more important, but also more difficult to do. On our latest podcast, we spoke with representatives from...
What is a Third Party Fundraiser?
While it’s difficult to hold fundraisers the way we used to, there are so many ways that you can give back to the community and help those who need it most. One great example of this is Mainstreet Credit Union and their Dress Down Fridays. Before many of us started working from home, the staff...
Peer to Peer Table receive COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund
There is a phrase that is said often around the United Way of Chatham-Kent office -- “Nothing About Us, Without Us.” The phrase has become a mantra for the UWOCK team which reminds them that leadership does not come from dictating, but rather by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with frontline social service providers and listening to...
Helping the Hungry, Homeless, and Hurting
The Coldest Night of the Year event is returning to Chatham-Kent for a fifth year, though it’s no surprise that 2021 will be much different. Taking place virtually, participants can now walk any time this month, rather than on one day as in previous years. According to their website, “The Coldest Night of the Year...
Rebuilding Wheels Application Now Open
We've all been in a situation where we need to get somewhere but don't have a ride. This is the reality for many people living in Chatham-Kent - relying on public transit, rides from friends and family members, and using taxis or ride sharing apps. Rebuilding Wheels Rebuilding Lives (RWRL) is a program that provides...
Chatham Hope Haven & St. Andrew’s Residence
Nearly one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, non-profit groups and charities continue to face challenges every day. On our latest podcast (linked below), we spoke with Loree Bailey who is the General Manager of Chatham Hope Haven and Lynn McGeachy Schultz who is the Board Chair at St. Andrew’s Residence. As winter settles in and...
Helping Problematic Substance Use in a time of COVID
In June 2020, Ontario’s Chief Coroner announced a 25% increase in suspected drug-related deaths between March to May 2020 compared to 2019*. This statistic may sound alarming, but local frontline social service providers saw this as a possible problem in Chatham-Kent and alerted the Mental Health and Problematic Substance Use Social Planning & Action Table...