United Way of Chatham-Kent CEO Steve Pratt with Joe Presutto and Aimee June from Mainstreet Credit Union in Chatham.

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 at Chatham’s Mainstreet Credit Union would pay a small amount each week to wear casual clothing to work every Friday.

This fundraiser helped to raise over $4,000 for the United Way of Chatham-Kent!

The staff combined a fun and easy initiative for their coworkers to participate in while also collecting small donations that will make a big impact in people’s lives.

This is what we call a Third Party Fundraiser.

Any individual, business, school, or organization can host a fundraiser with or for the United Way.

In Mainstreet Credit Union’s case, they organized the fundraiser on their own with proceeds supporting United Way of Chatham-Kent.

In other recent examples, United Way staff assisted with the fundraisers to help get the word out.

For example, Baking With Will donated a portion of breads sales last December and United Way helped put him in touch with local media to help spread the word.

If you are looking for ways to support and give back to the community through a third party fundraiser, you can contact Patricia Peters, Director of Resource Development at [email protected].