12 Days of Giving
Join us from December 1 – 12 as we share a variety of creative ways to give back to your community and directly support those in need. We’ll offer opportunities to learn more about our community needs, share in ways to make someone’s day a little better, and donate to directly support local organizations, and people, in our community through United Way!
Tune in to Local Love
What better way to learn about the power of #LocalLove than to take a moment to subscribe and listen to our “Let’s Talk Local, Oxford” podcast. Join host Kelly Gilson and special guests as they chat about the needs of our community and how working together creates lasting, impactful change for thousands of people in Oxford County.
Spread holiday cheer
Many children and families in our community may not look forward to the holidays in the same way their peers do due to financial restraints and barriers. Please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy or gift to Operation Sharing’s “The Christmas Place” and help families that could use a little holiday cheer this season. You can drop off donations at Huron Park Baptist Church, located at 199 Berwick St, Woodstock, or support the Stuff a Bus campaign at the 104.7 Heart FM Studio on Norwich Ave.
give a year of joy to someone special
A community is only as strong as the sum of its parts. Strong, supportive, and inclusive neighbourhoods are vital to a thriving community. The Social is a therapeutic recreational program for individuals living with dementia. For a donation of $50, you can provide access to this program for an individual for an entire year, helping improve their quality of life and offering weekly respite time for their care partner.
Discover the power of mentorship
The power of mentorship is something that changes a person forever. Whether you’re the young person receiving that support, or the one stepping up to offer your time and care, programs like Big Brother Big Sisters provide connections and relationships that have impact for years to come. With their wait lists growing, please consider becoming a mentor or donating. There are lots of different ways to give back and get involved. All it takes is one caring adult to change a child’s life.
Open a book, open a future
Young children experiencing reading difficulties at the end of Grade 3 almost never achieve average reading scores before leaving primary school, without special intervention. For a $75 donation to United Way, you can support a child with a free, in-school tutor who will help them build reading skills and their confidence in the classroom.
Wrap someone in warmth
The days are getting colder, and the nights even more so. There are many people in our community that struggle to stay warm in the cold winter season. Sharing a gift of some warm winter items like hats, mitts, scarves, boots and sleeping bags can mean the difference between struggling and getting by. Today, drop by Oxford County Community Health Centre at 35 Metcalf St. in Woodstock and donate winter warmth items to help stock the Mobile Outreach Bus, as they visit and connect with people in communities across Oxford County.
Fuel Young Minds
United Way works to address the immediate, basic needs of today, while striving to reduce those needs in the future. With food insecurity on the rise, we are seeing increased numbers of individuals and families accessing programs that provide healthy and affordable food. Please consider making a $10 donation to provide a week of nutritious snacks/meals to a child at school, helping them feel prepared and ready to learn.
Join the conversation for change
Our Community United Conversation Series is a great way to learn more about the needs and services in Oxford County. Each conversation focuses on a specific topic or issues that touches our community. United Way, along with a team of panelists from local organizations, chat about how this relates to Oxford County and how we can work together to make a difference. Topics include The Journey to Truth and Reconciliation, Harm Reduction, Transgender Awareness and Education, Intimate Partner Violence, Food Insecurity and many more.
Provide Safe, Affordable Housing
With inflation, the rising cost of living, and lack of affordable housing, we know that many people are struggling to make ends meet. A recent survey finds that 42% of people living in Canada could cover expenses for less than a month if their income was lost. There are programs available that help people who may be facing eviction or homelessness, working to keep them in their homes or find affordable, supportive housing options. Your $25 donation will provide an hour of eviction and housing support for someone in need.
Celebrate Local Love in Action
We couldn’t support the incredible programs and services that are on the ground, making a difference every single day, without the generosity of our community. We have amazing donors, local businesses, and volunteers who step up and help ensure that programs and services are there for the 1 in 5 people in Oxford County who are impacted by United Way funding each year.
Send a Smile this Season
The holidays can be a lonely time for many people in our community. Today, take a moment to write a greeting card to a senior and deliver it to a local retirement home or nursing home. They would love to share your card with the seniors in their care who may be feeling isolated and alone this time of year. A thoughtful message can make all the difference in sharing kindness and helping ease the isolation that some seniors might be feeling during the holidays.
Make Your Impact Last All Year
It may feel that making a donation to United Way can be difficult to budget for, but by making a monthly donation, it’s much easier to plan, and ensures that funding is available year round. Today, you can begin a monthly donation that suits your budget, by visiting our donation page. Your donation of just $10 a month can help an individual in Oxford County find safe and affordable housing. What an incredible gift to share this holiday season. And with the Leadership Challenge Grant, presented by the Maglin Site Furniture Team, your Leadership Gift of $100 a month will be matched, doubling the impact of your investment!
Give the Gift of Hope
Looking for something to get that special – hard to buy for – person in your life this holiday season? Why not share your Local Love and make a donation to United Way Oxford on their behalf? It’s a thoughtful gift that gives back by supporting a network of programs and services across Oxford County. Every dollar helps make a difference!