International movement coming to Belleville

Loyalist students with past and present staff of the United Way of Quinte. Photo courtesy of Loyalist College.

By Becky McMullen

BELLEVILLE – The United Way of Quinte is asking for community members to sacrifice their weekly coffee and donate to the cause this coming Tuesday.

That’s the day called “Giving Tuesday”. It’s an annual day dedicated to helping non-profit organizations and charities reach their fundraising goals. The point of the event is to surrender a nonessential commodity, like a weekly lunch out, to donate to a local charity.

“It’s that sort of community boost rather than an economic boost, so it’s a day to really give back to the community that you live in,” said Jodi Cooper, marketing and communications manager at the local United Way.

“We’re using it as an opportunity to really showcase the power of collective giving.”

This will be the local United Way’s first time participating in the movement. The United Way plans to track every dollar donated. The following Thursday, the United Way will detail how much was raised and where the money will go.

The organization currently helps approximately 45,000 people by funnelling donations into various programs. Money is raised through several fundraising events, including the end-of-year “Bootleggers Bash” , and “All Shook Up”, which is an Elvis themed night.

So far in 2017 , Quinte United Way has received 35% of it’s $1.97 million dollar goal.

Canadians claimed over $12 billion in charitable donations on their taxes in 2004. In 2015, a $3 billion decline could be felt nationwide, hitting Ontario the hardest.

“It’s a challenge to raise the money but the need is so high,” said Kathy Murphy, executive director of the local United Way.

The local United Way spends the money it raises through three pillars that support local programs and organizations; “From Poverty to Possibility”, “All that Kids Can Be” as well as “Strong Communities”. Funds are divided among the many programs in each pillar based on what the community needs at that point in time.