Northumberland United Way 2024

Alicia asked what we knew about the United Way?  R Dan Thompson gave an excellent and detailed answer.
 
Alicia advised that the current chair of the United Way board is a Rotarian, Rick Riley of the Cobourg Rotary Club.  They have a Board of Directors and a great group of volunteers.  There are 87 United Ways across Canada.  They are rebuilding after COVID. Last year $875,000 was raised and spent in Northumberland County by the United Way.  This year is their 55th year. 
The focus for the United way includes:
  1. Community
  2. Kids
  3. Poverty
The United Way is supporting 7 organizations with substantial donations each year:
  1. Big Brothers Big Sisters
  2. The Help Centre
  3. Community Councelling Resource Network
  4. Community Care Northumberland
  5. Rebound youth
  6. Salvation Army
  7. Wrap Around Northumberland
The United Way also run their own programs (not just funding other organizations) including:
  1. 211 – National Help Line – for community services.  It is a website and community help line.
  2. Day of Caring – providing volunteers for organizations such as building shelves for a value store
  3. Period Promise – providing feminine hygiene products
  4. Backpacks for Kids Program – last year provided 1100 backpacks for kids from kindergarten to grade 12
  5. Northumberland Eats – voucher program for redemption for meals, $25 to $100
NUW has 5 new streams for grants
  1. Feed – to assist with immediate needs
  2. Grow – to fund from farm to table initiatives
  3. Seed – to pilot new and innovative ideas for current providers
  4. Thrive – to fund projects that are currently in operation and help to sustain them.
  5. Learn – things like community gardens
Challenges faced by the United Way:
  1. Increased need through Northumberland County
  2. Disappearing media
  3. Age demographics
  4. Seen as Cobourg Centric
How can you Help?
  1. Donate
  2. Spread the Word
  3. Volunteer and Connect
  4. Partner
This is the 55th year for the United Way, and they impact 1 in 4 people in Northumberland County.
Alicia Vandine - Executive Director - Northumberland United Way
 
Alicia has been working in not-for-profits for 23 years. Before starting her tenure with the United Way, she was the Director of Donor Relations at Community Care Peterborough and before that, with Community Care Northumberland as their Regional
Community Relations Coordinator.  Alicia has also worked in fundraising and programs for children and the arts.  Fundraising and communications are her specialties.
 
While working in not-for-profits, Alicia has also worked as a freelance writer, contributing to the Northumberland News, and Brighton Independent, and as a segment producer for the local radio station, 100.9 Oldies and 93.3 Oldies.  She continues
to be a contributor to the local Brighton Beacon magazine.