CHANGE A LIFE
When COVID hit, there was a lot of fear, there was a lot of isolation. People lost their jobs; people lost their food security, and people lost their ability to connect with each other. For a community to be great, it needs to be great for everyone, so we worked quickly to pivot, develop and adapt our programs. During the
COVID-19 had a tremendous impact on our mental well-being. Almost two-thirds of 15 to 24-year-olds reported that COVID-19 has negatively impacted their mental health. 41% were likely to report symptoms consistent with moderate or severe anxiety.* We know there is a crisis in our communities surrounding substance abuse. United Way British Columbia looks to partner with organizations and
“How are we changing lives?” This is the question that Chilliwack Healthier Community (CHC) has been trying to answer since its inception in 2010. Chilliwack Healthier Community (CHC) is a network for over 45 stakeholders in government, non-profit, private and volunteer sectors with the mission to address Chilliwack’s most complex issues which include housing,
Thanksgiving may be over, but it’s no time to stop giving thanks – or giving back – to your neighbours. Your community needs your local love now more than ever. During the time of COVID, food security remains the number one issue facing our community and it is one way we are giving back to those in need. Over
As we pass Thanksgiving, United Way Local Love Food Hubs have served 1.2 million meals. That’s because more British Columbians than ever are struggling to keep food in their cupboards due to COVID-19 and the economic fallout from the crisis. About 15% of British Columbians are now food insecure. For families with children, it’s even higher at about 19%. “It has been a difficult situation,” says Marta, a South Vancouver resident, who lives with
Twenty-seven-year-old Sage is a Ceramics student at Selkirk College’s Kootenay School of the Arts in Nelson in Southeastern BC. As a former youth in care, she held off pursuing post-secondary education for many years. “When it came to college and university, I kind of freaked out. School is so expensive, it didn’t seem like a realistic option for me,” she says. Along
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
Community food programs continue to face tremendous pressure as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. To help address the shortage of both funds and volunteers, FortisBC stepped up: they provided funding to the hardest hit food programs across B.C. and their Street Team staff were reassigned to assist with food distribution in the Lower Mainland. The FortisBC Street Team delivers The eight-person Street Team spends two to three days a week sorting and delivering food
It’s Labour Day. In any other year, many of us would be planning gatherings with friends, sharing hugs and food, and enjoying the final stretch of another beautiful BC summer. Someone may say, “Hey, why do we get a day off for Labour Day anyway?” Normally local Labour Councils would be hosting events in parks around the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley to help us answer that question, but this
Hea Nay spent the majority of her young life growing up in a refugee camp in Thailand. She and her family, who are members of the Karen minority, escaped Myanmar fleeing civil war when she was just two years old. After 14 years in the camp, where she went to school, Hea Nay, her parents
Making the lives of older British Columbians better strengthens the social fabric that creates healthy, caring, and inclusive communities for all ages. At no time has this been clearer than in the face of the devastating COVID-19 global pandemic. When the crisis hit, British Columbians readily stepped up to support seniors. From volunteers to community organizations
Like so many others, COVID-19 is impacting Shannon’s life and family. For the past 12 years, the Clayton Heights’ resident has co-owned an event planning business. When events over 50 people were banned in March, Shannon and her partner lost 90% of their annual business overnight. But like many across the Lower Mainland and Fraser
On a recent July Saturday Evena visited a Guildford school parking lot, one of four designated Local Love Food Hubs especially for children and families attending inner city schools in Surrey. She was there to pick up much-needed supports from volunteers at the City Dream Centre – a grocery hamper filled with bread, fresh produce,
The Do Good Recklessly project aims to bring smiles to Chilliwack residents who are feeling the emotional strain of current events. Started by Chilliwack resident, K.J. (pictured above) in April, residents are nominated by friends and family, and every Sunday, every nominee receives an anonymous bouquet at their doorstep. Thanks to a Local Love Fund grant, Do Good Recklessly delivers
Your acts of local love did not go unnoticed. Indeed, in light of recent events, they’ve been more important than ever before. Your incredible generosity and support allowed us to pivot in a time of crisis. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to respond to immediate, emerging needs in our community and help our most vulnerable and isolated neighbours through these unprecedented times. Now, as the situation seems to have stabilized
When Emilianna’s roommate moved out during COVID-19, she was left to cover the full cost of her rent. The comedy club she worked at also closed at the same time. As a former youth in government care who is now studying Social Work at Douglas College, Emilianna doesn’t have the safety net of her parents
Every year, about 6,500 British Columbians have a stroke. Around 75% of them are over the age of 65. A stroke survivor may spend days or weeks in acute care, and then days, weeks or months in rehabilitation whether as an inpatient, an outpatient, in a community-based setting, or some combination of those. This is
Don’t let the distance fool you, Kelowna residents Mary-Ann and Glen are becoming fast friends. That’s one of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic – newfound connections and appreciation. “The first time I met Glen, he looked me straight in the eyes and there was a connection there,” says Mary-Ann. “It hit me really
Every day, food needs for thousands of people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside remain unmet. A unique new partnership aims to support people with lived experience from within the community to deliver healthy meals where they are needed most to address this gap. Hundreds of free meals are being delivered to people who live and work
COVID-19 has dramatically changed how seniors go about their daily lives. It’s also changing how United Way partner agencies and those delivering services to seniors work too. “As difficult as COVID-19 has been for all of us, we are witnessing the resilience of seniors and the creativity of the community-based seniors sector shine in so