United Way Halton & Hamilton’s (UWHH) Holiday Helping Hand program was a huge success this year!
14 local social service agencies were brought together, working collectively to make the season brighter for those in need. UWHH was able to get residents together to volunteer, fulfill holiday wish lists, and gather essential items such as toys, clothing, and nonperishable food items for individuals and families facing challenges.
“This past holiday season posed unprecedented challenges for many families and individuals in our community,” emphasizes Brad Park, President and CEO of United Way Halton & Hamilton. “The weight of economic challenges, housing and food insecurity, and mental health struggles have deepened the need in our community, putting our agency partners under significant strain.”
UWHH supported 12 holiday projects that included over 105 volunteer opportunities through the Holiday Helping Hand program. Community members rallied together to help fill volunteer opportunities such as sorting and packing community food bags for Food For Life Halton & Hamilton and stuffing holiday stockings for Community Living Burlington.
Over 112 families and individuals across Burlington, Halton Hills, Hamilton, Milton, and Oakville were sponsored through the program, ensuring they received the support they needed during the holidays. The program supports community members from young families with infants, to single elderly individuals, and all ages in between, including community members living with disabilities and newcomers.
One of the volunteer opportunities for this year, the OPP Toy Drive, was held at Toys R Us on Hamilton Mountain. The OPP mobile command center was on-site, encouraging the community to fill it with toys in support of United Way’s Holiday Helping Hand program. This year’s toy drive raised over $32,500 worth of toys. Energetic volunteers collected toys and added them to the cruiser, urging shoppers to purchase toys for families in need. Toys will be distributed to children across Hamilton and Halton.
“This year’s program was a tremendous success, thanks to the support of our generous community members,” adds Park. “Their contributions not only supported the most vulnerable but also assisted our agency partners in meeting the growing demand. We are immensely grateful for the dedication and compassion shown by our community volunteers. This program would not be possible without them.”
Over 68% of the 106 United Way-supported programs have reported a substantial surge in demand, underscoring the pressing nature of the challenges faced by our community members. The fact that nearly half of United Way-supported programs currently maintain waitlists highlights the ongoing struggle for individuals and families seeking crucial support.
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