United Way KFL&A COVID-19 Update – September 21, 2020

Good afternoon! Hope you’re staying safe and healthy and easing into fall and the cooler weather.

In this week’s update you’ll find information about a couple of articles published recently featuring 2020 Campaign Chair Antje McNeely and the Social Services Recovery Taskforce led by United Way KFL&A, continuing your legacy of giving through the United Way Eternity Fund, the most recent Women United Panel discussion, and an update on the campaign so far.

UNITED WAY KFL&A IN THE NEWS

Our 2020 Campaign Chair and Police Chief, Antje McNeely, was featured in an excellent Kingston Life article this month. The article highlights Antje’s commitment to this community, her long tenure as a United Way volunteer and highlights her leadership. The United Way is honoured to have her represent United Way KFL&A as campaign chair.

As mentioned in a previous update, the Social Services Recovery Task Force was established earlier this year in response to the pandemic. The task force is being led by the United Way, with representatives from 17 of the area’s larger social service agencies and non-profits, and includes the City of Kingston and Public Health.

The task force has been meeting once a month since May and is busy working in three areas:

co-ordinate and collaborate their services
redesign appropriate services for virtual use to ensure safety
increase their marketing and advocacy strategy

The work of this task force was recently covered in a Kingston Whig-Standard article. Please give it a read if you have a chance. You can find the full article here.

WOMEN UNITED PANEL DISCUSSION

Last year, four Women United receptions were hosted through the year focussing on issues like mental health, addictions, homelessness, trafficking, abuse and violence that face women in KFL&A.

This year, Women United continues to engage with women Leaders of the Way on these important issues; however, they are doing so virtually. The first virtual panel discussion was held on June 17^th and focused on how local agencies were addressing challenges during the time of Covid-19. You can view the facilitated discussion with leaders from Kingston Interval House, L&A Interval House, Sexual Assault Centre Kingston and Resolve Counselling.

Women United hosted their second panel discussion this past week on September 16^th. The second panel focused on resilience and empowerment of women, featuring discussions with both agency staff leaders and women with lived experience from Kingston Immigration Partnership, Dawn House, and Kingston Community Health Centre -EarlyON. Chief McNeely spoke about women in the police force.

Recording of both panels can be found at www.unitedwaykfla.ca/womenunited/

The collective goal of Women United has been to increase awareness and further education of the issues faced by our community’s most vulnerable members, most especially women and their dependants.

If you are interested in learning more about Women United and how to get involved visit https://www.unitedwaykfla.ca/womenunited/

ETERNITY FUND – LEAVE A LEGACY

Continuing your tradition of giving with a gift to United Way’s endowment fund is an extraordinary statement of your generosity and commitment to your local community.

When you make plans to leave a legacy gift, you are acknowledging the issues that impact our community today and ensuring that those issues continue to be addressed tomorrow, benefitting future generations.

Currently, income from the endowment fund directly supports programs to help people move from poverty to possibility. Through a bequest, your legacy gift to United Way’s endowment fund can continue to help the most vulnerable members of the community now and well into the future

Learn more about United Way KFL&A’s Endowment Fund here

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

2020 Campaign Goal: $2,900,000

Raised to Date: $1,382,298

Percentage: 48%

Our annual campaign kicked off on Friday September 11 and will run until November 26. In case you missed it, all of the videos featured during kick-off are available on our website at www.unitedwaykfla.ca/kickoff2020

This year’s goal reflects the growing needs in our community. It is also ambitious, as United Way is unable to raise funds through community events this year. Workplace campaigns, where the bulk of our target is raised, may also be limited. Many businesses and workplaces have been affected by the ongoing pandemic and will modify their campaigns.

“So far, 2020 has been unprecedented, with added challenges brought on by the pandemic. This has altered the landscape as to how we can support our community,” says Campaign Chair Antje McNeely. “However, new opportunities arise from crisis; this year’s campaign will find new ways to connect with our community, with virtual platforms widely practised. By utilizing video, teleconferencing, and other workplace platforms, speakers will continue to share their stories on how United Way funding has impacted their lives.”

“The needs are great as our agencies work hard to meet the complex issues faced by their clients,” McNeely added. “In times of crisis, we need to come together and work to make sure immediate needs are met and the most vulnerable members of our community are taken care of. We are asking people to continue to show their local love, continue investing in their community if they can and, if possible, to consider increasing their gift.”

You can always stay up to date by following our social media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and of course, you can find regular updates on our website at www.unitedwaykfla.ca

Thank you! Your support is changing lives impacted by this pandemic.

Take care. Stay safe and well!