The United Way of Bruce Grey is 100 backpacks away from its 2008 total!

August 6, 2009

The United Way of Bruce Grey is once again seeing an unprecedented increase in need in the community due to economic pressures.

This will be the 5th year that the United Way has sought to provide back to school supplies to low income families throughout the region. In 2008 the United Way saw a tripling of the need, when the back to school allowance was removed from families on government assistance.

At that time, it was hoped that the peak had been reached and the need would stabilize.

But the economy is challenging and jobs paying living wages are difficult to find, so the need is increasing.

The number of requests is already at 1105, in 2008 a total of 1240 backpacks were required to meet the need. The United Way anticipates a need of at least 1500 with the possibility of reaching 2000.

“The agencies in the region provide us with a list of what they need for their clients, we know these families are in need,” Francesca Dobbyn Executive Director of the United Way of Bruce Grey states. “We’ve been also fortunate to have the two county social services departments communicate to their clients that this is a service they can access.”

The United Way has heard directly from teachers that the program is significant in reducing bullying and the marginalization of poor students. “The kids show up on the first day of school with all the tools they need, no one stands out as poor” Dobbyn asserts, “our goal is to have a backpack in these kids’ hands prior to the Labour Day weekend.”

The United Way is looking for support from the community for this project. “We were fortunate this year to get a summer student grant and Michael Hay is running the project for us. It’s very labour intensive, but it also means that all the donations go directly to providing the supplies, not to administration,” Dobbyn adds.

Donations can be made at Staples in Owen Sound, any TD Bank or Meridian Credit Union in Bruce and Grey Counties, or at by visiting the United Way at 380 9th Street East Owen Sound. Mastercard and VISA donations can be made by calling 519 376 1560 during regular business hours.

For more information please call Francesca at 519 376 1560

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United Way of Bruce Grey
380 9th St. East
Owen Sound, Ontario, N4K 1P1
ph: 519-376-1560 fax: 519-376-5458
www.unitedwayofbrucegrey.com
www.informationbrucegrey.ca
www.volunteerconnection.ca
www.211brucecounty.ca
www.211greycounty.ca

Written by Deb · Filed Under Community, Participation, Press Release, The Area