Local United Way exceeds Giving Tuesday goal of $5,000

United Way Hastings Prince Edward – headquartered at 55 Harriett St. in Belleville – is just under the halfway mark of its campaign goal of $2 million. Photo by Syerra Turry, QNet News

By Syerra Turry

BELLEVILLE – The local United Way’s first Giving Tuesday was a success, says the executive director. 

The annual global event is held after Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is a chance for the community to come together and raise money for their favourite causes.

United Way Hastings and Prince Edward raised over $6,400 in donations on Tuesday. 

Cathy Rushton and Liz Knuude, two community leaders for United Way called Women United, matched $5,000 worth of what was raised. 

“We were very pleased with the results, given it was our first year and we were expecting a modest response. We were thrilled, in fact, to surpass the goal and with the matching – that makes close to a $12,000 day,” says Kathy Murphy, executive director of the organization.   

In asking for donations, members of United Way are hoping that the community will remember the most vulnerable people as the holiday season approaches. 

Melanie Cressman, director of donor relations at the local United Way, says small donations go a long way in the community. Photo by Syerra Turry, QNet News

“The thing with Giving Tuesday is that it’s a way that everybody can participate, and if everybody does a little bit, it adds up to a lot,” says director of donor donations Melanie Cressman.

This is the first year United Way had a strategy for donations, whereas in the past it’s just been a general call, she says.

Anyone who donated to United Way on Giving Tuesday was also automatically entered to win a $100 iTunes gift card. 

Donations remain within the local community, supporting 75 programs and 38 partner agencies.

“It’s a gesture to ask people to rethink the whole shopping and retail consumption we’re usually faced with at this time of the year,” says Murphy.

Kathy Murphy, the executive director of United Way Hastings and Prince Edward, says Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to give back to the community after the frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Photo by Syerra Turry, QNetNews

Rather than buying a gift someone may already have or not need, Murphy encourages donating to be sure your money is well-spent. 

“If you want to make sure your donations are going far, in one fell swoop you can reach a lot of need in the community by going through the United Way,” she says. 

All donations given on Tuesday will go towards United Way’s final campaign goal of $2 million, which the organization has just under half of right now.

“It’s big and it’s lofty but the community has raised that amount in the past and the need is certainly there. So we’re really looking forward to meeting that,” Cressman says.

The organization is slightly ahead of where it was this time last year in its campaign goal, despite challenges with labour disruptions at Canada Post, says Murphy, adding that its goal is bigger this year. 

“We’re optimistic that if we don’t meet our goal, we’ll be very close,” she says.

Another target for the organization is to see 60 new donors during the 60^th year of community campaigning.

“Our goal is to give those who need a hand help when they need it. And our community is certainly willing to step up and do that – so we’re grateful,” says Cressman.