The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton has announced its funding commitments for 2024-2025.
“After a successful 2023 campaign that reached 105% of its needs target — or $1,472,000 — [we] can increase some program funding as well as fund two new programs,” the agency said in a news release this week.
That includes new funding for a security guard at River City Vineyard, and the in-school mentoring program through Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton.
“River City Vineyard recently expanded their shelter with 40 additional beds: 25 more for men and 15 for women,” executive director Dave Brown stated, pointing to $71,938 in funding for the new position. “These beds are for the more difficult to house who have nowhere else to turn, which presents the need for increased safety and security measures for both staff and guests.
“The security guard is highly trained and has experience dealing with unique shelter environments.”
Meanwhile, the in-school mentoring program, which provides one-to-one support to children ages 4-15, will receive $18,000.
A total of 29 programs were approved for the 2024-2025 Community Investments funding by the United Way’s board of directors; the funding portfolio maintains existing funding to 23 programs, increases funding for two programs, decreases funding for two programs, and eliminates funding for one program.
New funding for one program was also announced through the Critical Services Grant Fund.
An increase of $13,240 was also awarded to the BGC Sarnia-Lambton (Boys & Girls Club) Out-of-School programs, which have expanded to four new locations to better serve youth in need in more rural areas of Lambton County.
Meanwhile, the Inn of the Good Shepherd received an increase of $5,000 for their Income Tax Clinic program, which continues to grow. Some 3280 income tax returns were completed last year for those who would otherwise not file, generating more than $9.5 million in income for these households, the United Way added.
The new critical services grant funding ($26,800) was awarded to the Sarnia-Lambton Children’s Aid Society for trauma-specific therapies for clients in their Family Support Services program who have unresolved past trauma(s).
“These traumas left untreated can manifest and surface as symptoms such as having skewed world views, skewed views of themselves, severe anxiety, explosive anger, depression, battling intense mental health, drug misuse, repeating unhealthy parenting cycles within families, etc.,” the agency added.
Meanwhile, the Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention group will not receive funding for 2024-25.
“The recent roll out of the federally funded 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline along with suicide loss support groups being offered by Rapids Family Health Team led to this decision,” the agency noted, adding that funding decreased for the Family Counselling Centre and Salvation Army.
“The Family Counselling Centre reduced their funding request by $37,800 for their Distress Line/Tel Check,” the United Way said, adding that the centre was chosen as the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline Hub and therefore will receive funding for the Distress Line side of the program. The United Way will continue to fund the Tel Check side of the program $13,000 annually.
Funding was also reduced for the Salvation Army Dental program because of the recently announced federally funded Canadian Dental Care Plan which came into effect in December of 2023.
The board of directors worked with the volunteer Community Investment Committee and changed its local Community Impact agenda following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The needs in our community changed during and after the pandemic. As a result, the largest of our three funding priority areas is now ‘Poverty to Possibility’ (47%of available funding) which funds programs geared to help those living in poverty or homeless,” said Gerry Whitcombe, community investment chair.
The other two funding priority areas are ‘All That Kids Can Be’ (30%); and ’Healthy People, Strong Communities (23%).
The volunteers identified which programs fit into which priority area and then had to work within the Board approved budget of each priority area, the United Way noted.
“The volunteers also review the future measures for success of the programs and review the past successes of those programs which received funding during the last funding cycle,” said Whitcombe.
“Understanding the root causes of our community issues is the first step in working towards lasting change.”
“Collaboration and partnerships with other service providers is also a key part of our review process — working together not only avoids duplication and inefficiencies but creates more of a possibility of success for the clients,” he added.
“All the volunteers deserve a big thank you for their time and dedication to this process, and we want to thank the thousands of donors as well.”
A breakdown of the funding is below:
Community Investments 2024 to 2025
Big Brothers Big Sisters Matching Program 80000
Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Bunch 20000
Big Brothers Big Sisters Go Girls & Game On 30000
Big Brothers Big Sisters In School Mentoring 18000
BGC (Boys & Girls Club) Out of School Programs 94907
BGC (Boys & Girls Club) Summer Program 12000
Canadian Red Cross Meals on Wheels 31000
Canadian Red Cross Transportation 58000
Canadian Red Cross Homeward Bound 30000
Family Counselling Centre Counselling 87000
Family Counselling Centre Tel Check 13000
Habitat for Humanity Handyman Program 15000
Inn of the Good Shepherd Income Tax Clinics 33000
John Howard Society Rapid Housing 70000
Lambton Elderly Outreach Transportation 55000
Lambton Elderly Outreach Meals on Wheels 16600
New Beginnings, ABI & Stroke Recovery Community Integration 20000
North Lambton CHC Opening Doors (Sarnia & Forest) 60000
Rebound Early Intervention & Prevention 50000
River City Vineyard Security Guard 71938
Salvation Army Rent/Utility Assistance 40000
Salvation Army Dental Assistance 10000
Salvation Army Medical & RX Assistance 10000
Salvation Army Hearing Aid Assistance 10000
VON COVID-19 School Food Delivery 16650
Walpole Island First Nation Warming Shelter 55000
YMCA Resource Houses 93600
YMCA Autism Summer Camp 30000
Additional Community Investments
United Way Direct Community Services 170000
Donor Option to Other Agencies 90000
Children’s Aid Society Critical Services Grant 26800