CHANGE A LIFE
Food for vulnerable children, families and seniors during COVID-19 means food rescue and food redistribution is more important than ever. Long-time United Way community partner, SOURCES Community Resources in Surrey is building on their expertise to help ensure area residents are getting the support they need. Since June 2019, the SOURCES Food Hub has rescued
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 pm, between 70-90 people from all walks of life gather at the Cloverdale Community Kitchen. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from – dinner is served. The meals not only nourish, they help build community and friendships among everyone who enters from single moms
On a crisp Winter evening recently in the Fraser Valley, the commercial kitchen at the Sardis Community Church was filled with a flurry of activity and a bouquet of aromas. Chef Rim, her 15-year-old daughter Jennifer and her good friend Sand spent an afternoon and early evening preparing a Syrian banquet for local residents and
Hundreds of B.C. youth formerly in government care are receiving money when they need it most, thanks to the Youth Futures Education Fund. This year 811 former youth in care are eligible to receive funds while they pursue their post-secondary education. The funds help them pay for part of their living expenses while they study,
For four hours one Saturday last November, the Vancity community room at The Junction Shopping Centre was buzzing with activity as locals participated in a ‘repair café’, fixing a wide range of items otherwise destined for local landfills. Janet Chalmers, a local resident and member of Building Resilience in Mission, says it all started when a few passionate individuals began discussing the concept of a transition
The health benefits of knitting are many – stress, anxiety, pain and memory loss reduction, and creative fulfilment. Another benefit: community building. Every Monday, Lower Lonsdale’s Knitting Kittens, a group of 12-15 women gather at North Vancouver’s John Braithwaite Community Centre for conversation, friendship and charitable works. “When I came here I was very depressed.
Over 350 advocates are set to descend in at the Provincial Summit on Aging November 6 to 8, hosted by Healthy Aging by United Way and the Community-Based Seniors’ Service Leadership Council. The second biennial summit will bring together leaders from local organizations, older adults, family and friend caregivers, academia and government. The diverse group
On October 8 a crowd of community champions gathered at the Woodward’s building in Gastown for Better Together by United Way. Better Together was an event designed by donors, for donors. After consulting with United Way supporters earlier this year, event organizers heard there was demand for something simple, with major impact. There was a call to
According to new research released today by United Way British Columbia, almost half (46%) of British Columbians say they sometimes feel lonely – but there is an upside. The same poll also found that giving back as part of a group, whether you donate time or money, makes us feel better than doing it alone.
Who doesn’t love a block party? They’re fun, simple, inexpensive, and a great way to get to know your neighbours! That’s precisely why residents of the Clayton Heights neighbourhood in Surrey took to the streets this weekend, for the area’s first Block Party Day. The more the merrier What helped make this weekend such a
Have you ever heard of “community care?” Earlier this year, an article on Mashable.com made waves among progressive do-gooders and community builders. In it, author Heather Dockray makes the provocative case that when trying to overcome burnout, relying on self-care may not be as helpful as it seems. She advocates for community care instead. What is community
Congratulations to the class of 2019! Twenty-one changemakers from the non-profit sector in B.C. have all just graduated from this year’s United Way Public Policy Institute (PPI). The Institute is a professional development program designed to help leaders from the non-profit sector create lasting social change. Through PPI participants to deepen their understanding of public
Today the Government of British Columbia announced a contribution of $250,000 in 2019-20 to the Youth Futures Education Fund. The funding will provide students formerly in foster care with access to funding for costs beyond tuition such as buying books, groceries, paying bills and rent. “Former youth in care pursuing their educational dreams don’t always
The beginning of a new season can mean many things: a fresh start, a time to reassess, and for many, a chance to try something new. It’s also often a time when individuals prioritize mental and physical well-being, with many signing up for gym memberships and meditation classes. The great news? Getting involved in your
January can be a hard time of the year. While the days are slowly getting lighter, the pink cherry blossoms of spring are still far away, and depending on the weather, the sun can set before 5 o’clock in the afternoon. This makes it hard – as both a family and an individual – to
On September 20, 2018, residents from across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley celebrated United Way Day by showing us something we’ve known all along: that they’re one in a million! In recognition of this fact, we formally launched an ambitious new goal: to inspire 1 million people to engage in acts of local love,
For three straight hours on Wednesday, September 12, locals “paid it forward” in a Gastown coffee shop, buying a coffee for the person behind them. In total, 140 people participated in a continuous, unbroken chain, buying the coffee for the person behind them when they learned theirs had been gifted by a stranger. The generous
Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod said it best: keep fit and have fun. As the brains and muscle behind the immortal public service announcement “Body Break”, they helped thousands of Canadians of all ages embrace exercise, teamwork, and nutrition, and for that, we salute them. At United Way British Columbia, we take this philosophy one
“The long weekend in September.” “The last, big hurrah before going back to school.” “Your last chance to wear white this season.” There are many ways to think about Labour Day. Unfortunately, they are often far-removed from the day’s origins and the outstanding achievements of the Canadian labour movement – principally, its commitment to building
Sometimes it takes the worst in community to showcase its very best. Earlier this year, there was a local outcry when vandals torched the Little Library at Wellington Park in Port Coquitlam. Amber Gregory is the Community Connector with United Way Avenues of Change Coquitlam River. She is a long-time Port Coquitlam resident and a