‘Tis the spirit of the season and the spirit of giving…in fact, Tuesday, December 2nd is Giving Tuesday. This is the time of year when we focus on how to give help and how to get help. There are millions of ways we can help others – from making donations, giving products (food, gift cards, Christmas gifts, winter coats, toys, etc.), volunteering, speaking up to help educate and inform, and more. Not only are there a million ways to help, but we truly need all those options to make a meaningful difference. As we say all the time, ‘it takes a village,’ and we all need to be a part of the solution. With so many wonderful organizations doing something extra special this time of year to best serve the needs of children, youth, families, individuals and seniors; they too would be so grateful. If you want some great ideas, please check out our 12 Days of Giving event.
With winter upon us, it is also time to talk Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY). Once again, we were selected to host the Ingersoll and Tillsonburg Walks, which are an amazing way to bring community members together to raise money AND awareness on the issues of homelessness, hunger and hurt. Please consider joining us on Saturday, February 28th for Walks that will directly support our 2 Light House programs. Transitional housing offers a safe and affordable space with on-site supports. We know that the way out of homelessness is housing, and that transitional housing helps people get back on their feet and move toward a stable future. Did you know that nationally, families with children are now the fastest growing population experiencing homelessness? And the proportion of seniors experiencing homelessness is rising at a significant rate. These trends also show the connection to higher levels of food insecurity, stress and low income. This is a complicated situation with no one solution, and United Way Oxford is proud to be a part of the local efforts to support those in need. Consider supporting our CNOY efforts through sponsorship or team participation – together we can change lives!
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Maglin Site Furniture, we continue to offer our Leadership Challenge Grant. Double your gift and double your impact! All new Leadership Donor gifts ($1200+/year) will be matched by the Grant, as will any Leadership Donor gift increase over the 2024 amount. What a special way to make a difference in the lives of your neighbours.
In our United Way world, the fall is a whirlwind of activities, from workplace campaigns to presentations and special events. We are grateful to all who were involved – those of you who invited us into your business to speak and to our many volunteers and impact speakers who shared their personal story to show that every donation really does make a difference. November closed with a bang from the 2nd annual Ultimate Burger Battle…so many delicious burgers, so little time! Thanks to all the amazing restaurants that joined in the friendly battle. To all of you who supports our campaign efforts, thank you. We couldn’t do what we do without you. If you’d like to learn more about our work, or how you may be able to support it, please reach out to us or follow us on social media. We are thrilled to share stories of hope and impact!
As we close out the year, our small but mighty team would like to invite you into our home for a casual holiday get-together. Join us for cookies, cider, coffee and a chit-chat – let’s cherish a moment to relax and enjoy the spirit of the season together. Please pop in to our Holiday Open House on Wednesday, December 17th from 2- 4 PM to say cheers to the holidays.
Our United Way Family wishes you and yours a Christmas and Holiday season filled with love and joy. May 2026 bring you health and happiness.
With all our love,
Kelly Gilson
Executive Director
United Way Oxford