United Way Launches “Local Love in a Global Crisis Fund”

March 19, 2020 / by United Way

United Way Launches Local Love in a Global Crisis Fund for the Most Vulnerable in Greater Victoria during the COVID-19 Crisis

VICTORIA, BC – United Way Greater Victoria (UWGV) is launching a fundraising appeal to rally support for the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 crisis. A new website uwgv.ca/covid19 provides information and referrals, and invites people to make a donation to support those most in need through the Local Love in a Global Crisis Fund.

UWGV is asking the community to help support the vulnerable and the frontline agencies serving these populations through a special fund, as it continues to coordinate community and social service supports in response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our region.

As the situation evolves, so too will the many needs in the Greater Victoria community. Working with community partners, UWGV will focus on the following through this special fund:

  • Help for seniors – ensure this precious population who is predisposed to isolation, is supported during this extraordinary time.
  • Basic needs – ensure people have access to life’s essentials, such as food, bottled water, and hygiene products like soap, cleaning supplies and menstrual products. UWGV’s own Period Promise product drive held recently raised almost 70,000 individual pads and other menstrual products. Distribution is underway.
  • Mental health support – enable crisis lines and system navigation services like bc211, the free help service available by calling or texting 2-1-1 or visiting bc211.ca.

UWGV is working with its network of frontline agencies from Victoria to Sooke to Sidney to the southern Gulf Islands, to prioritize urgent needs and then execute on the delivery of essential products and services.

“These are unprecedented times and all of us are extremely concerned.  We are working on creative ways to adhere to the imperative for social distance and ensure the safety and well-being of all as we deliver on programs.Help and support is already urgently needed, and we are committed to partnering with health authorities, community organizations, frontline agencies and the local business community to do what United Way has always done – meeting the emerging needs in our community,” said Mark Breslauer, Chief Executive Officer, UWGV.

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For more information, please contact:

Heather Skydt
Director, Marketing and Communications
United Way Greater Victoria
Cell: (250) 686-3606
Email: heather.skydt@uwgv.ca

Or

Jennifer Young
Project and Content Manager
United Way Greater Victoria
Cell: (604) 309-3937
Email: jennifer.young@uwgv.ca

BACKGROUNDER: United Way ‘unites’ the generosity of people – business, labour, government and individual donors – with the skills, knowledge and expertise in the community to help ensure those in need reach their full potential. This collaborative approach is building a stronger, more resilient community to serve current and future generations.

As one of the region’s largest annual funders of local social service programs, we assist charitable organizations by identifying and funding programs to address immediate needs and underlying causes of our community’s most #UNIGNORABLE social challenges.

United Way is a year round fundraiser and community builder, and provides funding to create a strong and stable network of local services. For 83 years we have served the community and raised over $170 Million. Our work, as a community leader, is as relevant today as it ever was.  And with the ongoing support of our donors, we will continue to positively changes lives.