Menu

 Your Impact March 2023

Spring is finally here! Hope you are finding ways to enjoy the longer days and are looking forward to warmer temperatures.

As we move into Spring, events are gearing up again too and this includes Seeing is Believing Tours. Earlier this month, the first bus tour of the year took place, focusing on services to support the unhoused. A few City of Kingston councillors and volunteers had an opportunity to visit One Roof Youth Hub, the new Kingston Youth Shelter, In from the Cold Emergency Shelter and the Concession Street Warming Centre. They heard from Addictions & Mental Health Services to learn more about outreach services and mental health services, and how agencies work collaboratively with each other, focusing on the people they serve.

No matter how many tours I attend, I am always humbled by the stories I hear and amazed by our agencies who go above and beyond. As needs continue to increase as we move out of the pandemic, these agencies continue to work collaboratively to help individuals in any way they can. Thank you to all the frontline workers doing this important work. And thank you for your support to help this work continue.

On the Radar

Response to Health and Homelessness

London Ontario has engaged in an audacious proposal to create “the whole of community system response to health and homelessness”. Here’s a link to an article about this plan.

There are a number of initiatives in this plan, including the concept of multiple hubs to provide low-barrier shelter and services 24/7 with a coordinated multi-agency intake and outreach. The making of this plan was bringing developers, merchants, business leaders, hospitals, social services, police and others to create a better system. 

Members of Homelessness Collective Impact Committee (HCIC), convened by United Way KFL&A, know only too well the challenges in the current system, the need for change, and the requirement to have key players at the table to help with a local solution for Kingston. We are coordinating a special meeting in April to develop an outline of a local model, incorporating some of the evidence-based approaches that have been successful in a number of communities and are incorporated in the London plan, and the voices of local service providers and people with lived experience.

Once a straw model is developed, the next step will be to plan a larger forum this spring that would bring together economic development, merchants, business leaders, healthcare professionals, as well as members of the HCIC to co-create and confirm a local master plan.

Have your say…

The United Way of KFL&A Board of Directors periodically reviews its strategic direction with community consultations. Collective and diverse opinions will be critical to the creation of the strategic direction.

The United Way KFLA understands that the needs in the community are more complex and have changed significantly since the last plan was developed in 2017 and renewed in 2021. As a result it is critical that a renewed strategic direction be created to serve the region. 

The KFL&A community has continued to be a caring and giving community and as a result this United Way ranks in the top 2 of all United Ways across Canada in revenue per market million and is among the Top 100 rated charities in Canada.  The United Way was able to secure pandemic-specific funds that helped to support a rapidly changing landscape in the social service sector. We are looking at a renewed focus to ensure that all community members continue to have an opportunity to live with hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging.

Please reach out to me if you would like to participate in this exercise. Call me at 613-929-4828 or email me at bvarma@unitedwaykfla.ca

United Way KFL&A Grants

United Way volunteers make funding recommendations to the Board of Directors about programs that address the growing areas of need in the community, such as food security, mental health and addictions support, and homelessness. United Way KFL&A continues to work closely with local partners to tackle the immediate needs of many different community members.  There are a number of funding streams that are disbursed through this process – annual allocations to partner agencies, grants, Reaching Home funds, as well as emergency assistance funds, Covid-19 funding, and, this year, United Way is reviewing applications for the Community Services Response Fund.

For a list of agencies and programs that are approved for funding in 2023 visit https://www.unitedwaykfla.ca/grants/

In the News

 Wondering what your United Way and the United Way network has been up to in the past month? Here are some media highlights you may want to check out.

Science Formal raises funds for United Way KFL&A  – Thanks to the amazing Queen’s students for showing their commitment to their community through this annual event.

Local organizations launch KFL&A Human Trafficking Protocol – United Way KFL&A is proud to support this important local initiative. 

United Way seeking menstrual item donations for ‘Tampon Tuesday’ campaign – There is still time to donate products or funds to support individuals in the community!

Thank you for changing lives and for making a difference in the lives of your friends, family and neighbours through the United Way.

Please feel free to reach out if you would like more information or just want to chat – I can be reached at 613-929-4828 or by email bvarma@unitedwaykfla.ca

Take care and stay safe.

Bhavana

 

 

Your Impact: February 2023

Check out this month's newsletter featuring a message of thanks, a shoutout to amazing agencies for Nonprofit Appreciation Week, a Tampon Tuesday reminder and information on United Way KFL&A's work with EDII experts and agencies to create roadmaps and provide guidance to partner agencies.

Tampon Tuesday donation drive

Starting March 1 and running until March 31, 2023, community members are encouraged to donate pads, tampons, liners and other menstrual hygiene products. The donation drive aims to fill a gap in the Kingston Frontenac, Lennox & Addington area.

Homelessness Collective Impact Committee

In October/Fall 2021 the Homelessness Collective Impact Committee was convened by the United Way KFL&A with the goal to design, develop and adapt a system of care for people who are experiencing chronic homelessness.

211

211 is Canada’s primary source of information for government and community-based health and social services. The free and confidential service can be accessed 24 hours a day, in more than 150 languages, by phone, chat, text, and web. 211 helps connect people to the right information and services, making their pathway to care and resources a guided and trusted one. Visit 211.ca for more information.

Share

United Way of KFL&A would like to acknowledge this traditional territory’s longer existence and its significance for the Indigenous people who lived and continue to live on Turtle Island.

We are situated on traditional Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat land. There are Métis and other non-status First People from many Indigenous Nations present in our community today. This acknowledgement symbolizes the United Way KFL&A’s first step, of many, along this path toward Indigenous reconciliation, in a respectful manner.

TOP
×