March: A Message from our Executive Director

Oh, what a night!  On Saturday, February 28^th, we hosted our 3^rd annual Coldest Night of the Year Walks in both Ingersoll and Tillsonburg. It is an honour to be part of a movement that aims to have a walk in every community across our County to raise both funds and awareness of the need to help those most vulnerable. It is inspiring – and heartwarming – to see so many local citizens come together to walk and raise funds for our Light House(s) transitional housing programs. From workplaces, service clubs, churches, neighbourhood groups and more, walkers of all ages came out to show how much they care and believe in United Way’s commitment to supportive housing. A big thank you to ERTH Power and GM as our Title Sponsors, along with all of the others who so generously made CNOY happen. We are so appreciative of our Team Captains, Walkers, Donors and all the Volunteers. Finally, a special thank you to The Mill Inn & Eatery for providing a delicious meal for all of our folks and those participating in the Woodstock CNOY Walk. This is the magic that happens when a caring community comes together to help their neighbours who are struggling with hurt, hunger and homelessness. Our Tillsonburg Walk has raised $52,540, and our Ingersoll Walk raised $52,930, and the online giving platform doesn’t close until March 31! All funds will be invested in our housing programs and on-the-ground services in each community. Hope to see you on Saturday, February 27, 2027!

Sunday, March 8^th, is International Women’s Day 2026. This year, the theme is: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls. We support the international demand that all women and girls have equal rights – and equal justice to enforce, exercise and enjoy those rights. We celebrate this day locally as we gather to be inspired by amazing women in our community and to learn more about their impact, achievements, and successes. It may be easy to wonder, “Why does this day matter?” or “Is it still necessary or relevant in 2026”? The answer is YES!  Did you know that, in 2026, women have only 64% of the legal rights that men hold worldwide? From harmful social norms to laws that systematically discriminate or disadvantage women, there are many obstacles and opposition to allow equality for women and girls. “Without justice systems that work for women, rights become a promise that never arrives,” from www.unwomen.org.

This week, we also host our 9^th annual event, now called Period Promise, where we take action and collect products. On Tuesday, March 3, we’ll be at Montana’s in Woodstock, Kelsey’s in Tillsonburg and Scotch & Ponder in Ingersoll from 5-7 PM. Thanks to our sponsors, partners, workplaces and community members, we collect tampons, pads and menstrual cups – and money too – to share with partners across Oxford to help those they serve. Last year, we collected over 1400 boxes of products to help make life a little more affordable and dignified for those in need. Across Canada, 1 in 5 individuals who menstruate say they may not be able to afford period products in the next year due to the rising cost of living. When products are unaffordable, people may ration or extend use, risking infection, or they may limit their activities during that time. Period Poverty is real here in Oxford, and together we can help end it.

If you were unable to attend our recent Community United Conversation Webinar on the Oxford HART Hub & Wellness Centre, you can now view it on our website. Our amazing panelists provided so much information on this new and enhanced service for community members dealing with mental health, addiction &/or homelessness challenges. My biggest takeaway is that there is now no wrong door for help – every access point organization will work together to help you. If you, a family member, friend, or co-worker is struggling, please call the 24/7 Central Intake Line at (519) 537-2382, and someone will help connect you with the support that best meets your needs. Congratulations to all the local partners for making this collaborative approach to help become a reality here in Oxford!

I hope you will consider joining us at our Community Celebration on Thursday, March 26. Not only do we get to celebrate our annual campaign and recognize so many who went the extra mile to help us maximize our achievements, but we’ll also share how those dollars will be used to support partners, programs, and people across Oxford. Together, we truly are changing lives and providing hope and opportunity for a brighter future. We are grateful to all who help us help others!!!

You may recall that we recently announced that, with the relocation of the Woodstock & District Chamber of Commerce, we had a little extra office space to share. We are thrilled to welcome some of our friends from the Woodstock Public Library. They desperately required additional admin space, and what could be better than space right next door! A perfect addition to our building that is also home to the Oxford Community Foundation and the Social Planning Council of Oxford.