While many people are eager to get back to pre-pandemic living, that ‘normal’ life that is craved by some was not good for everyone.

For Niagara’s most vulnerable, ‘normal’ often meant struggling to make ends meet and to put healthy food on the table, experiencing homelessness or near homelessness, or living in fear of an abusive partner.

Brock University’s 2021 United Way campaign, which launched on Tuesday, Oct. 19, aims to change that.

This year’s campaign has set a goal to improve the lives of 3,200 people in Niagara through employee financial contributions, and will support 242 local United Way Niagara programs and initiatives.

Faculty and staff can support the campaign by giving a one-time donation or an ongoing payroll contribution through Workday. Contributions can be designated to a United Way in any city or community in Canada, or to a registered charity of the donor’s choice.

“By donating, the Brock community helps to mobilize the United Way in its efforts to address key social issues in Niagara and give back to a community that gives us so much,” said Colleen Whyte, Brock’s United Way Campaign Faculty Co-Chair.

Employees who donate before Sunday, Oct. 31 at 11:59 p.m. will be automatically entered into an early bird draw to win a $100 gift card donated by Brock’s Campus Store. This includes donors who give through payroll contributions with no end date. New donors will also be entered into a new donor draw for a $100 Campus Store gift card.

The impact of employee contributions will be elevated through two matching programs this year:

• First-time donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000 through the MNP New Donor Match.
• First-time leadership donations of $1,200 or more will be matched through the Wineries of Niagara Leadership Challenge. This challenge will also match increases of more than 10 per cent for those giving $1,200 or more.

“Every donation matters,” said Jocelyn Titone, Brock’s United Way Campaign Staff Co-Chair. “If everyone at Brock gave even a small amount, it would have an incredible impact in our local community.”

One in seven Niagara residents is currently living in poverty, including one in four children. For at least 60,000 local people, ‘normal’ means regularly struggling to afford healthy food and more than 7,500 local children rely on food banks to have enough to eat.

COVID-19 has profoundly impacted the region’s most vulnerable and any donation — no matter the size — can make a difference to those in need.

• Giving $1 per week ($52 a year) helps one person secure and maintain an income.
• Giving $5 per week ($260 a year) can provide five children with a one-on-one literacy program.
• Giving $1 per day ($365 a year) gives 50 people access to immediate crisis support.
• Giving $10 per week ($520 a year) provides emergency food for 17 families.
• Giving $100 per month ($1,200 a year) provides a family with transitional supportive housing for six months.

The Brock community has raised more than $2.2 million for United Way since 2003. Last year’s campaign raised $158,000.

To learn more about Brock’s United Way campaign and to make a contribution, visit the United Way campaign SharePoint site. Any questions can be directed to Whyte at cwhyte@brocku.ca or Titone at jtitone@brocku.ca