United Way Oxford Campaign Kickoff this Thursday

Wednesday, 14 September 2022 05:50

By Brad Kraemer

United Way Oxford will be hosting its campaign kickoff event at the Upper Thames Brewery this Thursday and you have to register online if you want to attend.

OXFORD - The United Way Oxford community campaign kickoff is coming to the Upper Thames Brewing Company.

The event will be this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Mike Crabbe Resource Development Coordinator at UW Oxford explains how you can take part.

"Anyone is welcome to join us, there is limited registration though so you have to make sure that you sign up before you come, you just [visit our website] to register and we'd love to have you and your friends."

At the event, Jade Davies from Oxford County Community Health Centre's Transitional Housing program will be a guest speaker. Everyone who attends is going to get an opportunity to build "welcome home" kits. These kits will include things like towels, dishes, and cutlery and will be given to the homeless seeking a home.

Title sponsor TD Bank will help provide resources for these kits. The other in-kind sponsors are Upper Thames Brewing Company, Giant Tiger Woodstock, and Canadian Tire Woodstock.

United Way Oxford is also proud to announce the new campaign Chair Brad Janssen, who recently retired from his position with the City of Woodstock.

United Way is always happy to fundraise, but they typically focus their efforts in the fall. To get involved, you can set up with your workplace to donate a small portion of your paycheque. You can reach out to Mike Crabbe if you're interested in hosting your own fundraiser for United Way Oxford, and there are also plenty of different ways to give on the United Way Oxford website.

Executive Director Kelly Gilson says all of the money raised in Oxford County, stays in Oxford County.

“We are 100% local – all of our funding and efforts go to help our neighbours, friends, family and coworkers right here across Oxford County. We do this by raising money – one dollar at a time – to ensure that we have the financial resources needed to invest in programs that make a difference. Programs that provide youth mentorship, build resiliency and self-esteem; or ensure local timely mental health supports are available, and that people have places and spaces where they feel safe and they belong; or programs to help build employment readiness, housing supports, and basic needs. If you’d like to learn more about our work, or about the growing needs in our community, please take a few moments to check out our website or listen to our ‘Let’s Talk Local, Oxford’ podcast.”

Tim Horton's will be launching its Smile Cookie campaign next week and all of the money raised at the locations in Woodstock and Ingersoll will be split between United Way Oxford and VON Sakura House.