Our Community Builders have been showing Local Love throughout the Lower Mainland since COVID hit.
Our most vulnerable and isolated citizens, those who were already struggling before the pandemic struck, have been hard hit by the global crisis: facing unforeseen job losses, food scarcity and increasing mental health issues. On top of that, many others are finding themselves newly vulnerable too. One in five local residents don’t know a neighbour well enough to ask for help.
That’s why United Way launched the Community Builder Program in 27 communities across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. United Way Community Builders connect their most vulnerable and isolated neighbours with the help they need – whether that’s arranging a United Way volunteer to help pick up prescriptions or groceries, or whether it’s providing access to newly adapted, life-changing programs and services for kids, youth, families and seniors. Community Builders work with local residents and community partners to help strengthen our communities and work towards recovery and greater resilience.
COVID-19 changed everything, including how communities came together to help our most vulnerable neighbours. “People have lost their jobs, people have lost their food security, people have lost their ability to connect with each other,” says United Way Community Builder, Vrindy.
“Community Builders were called in by the United Way as neighbours, as members that are part of the community already, as people that have knowledge of the community and individuals and organizations that could use support and that could help.”
You can help before they ask. Together we can make our community stronger. Show your local love. Donate today.