SHOW YOUR LOCAL LOVE
Poverty. Homelessness. Youth unemployment. These are #UNIGNORABLE issues facing our community. But we can tackle them together by showing our local love in the places we live. Here are some examples of local love in action.
Gabor
Gabor and members of his family spent two months sleeping on park benches when they first arrived in Canada. A United Way agency helped his family find stable housing and a sense of normalcy.
Vilma
After leaving an abusive relationship, a United Way-supported program provided Vilma and her son with the counselling, legal services and housing they needed to start their healing process. Now, Vilma helps other women fleeing violence, working as a counsellor at the agency that helped her.
Jermain
After experiencing unemployment, Jermain was connected to a United Way-supported program that helped him enter an apprenticeship in the trades.
Joanne
After losing her job, Joanne struggled to support her family while her husband was incarcerated. A job at a United Way agency helped her get back on her feet.
Wade
After struggling with addiction for most of his life, Wade decided something had to change. A United Way-supported shelter helped him find stable housing and connected him to the support he needed to get sober.
Xica
After being persecuted for her gender identity, Xica found the acceptance she needed at a United Way-supported program.
Marissa
A United Way-supported program helped Marissa to share her mental health struggles by boosting her self-esteem. Now, she wants to show her local love by helping other girls to be their authentic selves.
Domenic
After having difficulty searching for a job on his own, Domenic found the resources he needed at a United Way-supported agency. Now, he’s pursuing a career in science with a supportive community at his back.
Andrew
A United Way-supported agency helped Andrew to find a group of friends and feel like he belonged. Now, he wants to show his local love by taking on a leadership role for younger kids.
Lyla
A United Way-supported agency connected Lyla to a job that gave her a sense of purpose. Now, she wants to show her local love by helping other people overcome barriers.
Arumugam
After finding refuge in Canada from Sri Lanka, Arumugam longed to connect with people so he felt less alone in his new home. Thanks to a United Way-supported agency, he found a new community—and connected with old friends from back home.
Cecil & Zoe
Cecil shows his local love by supporting social enterprises—like the one that helped Zoe find meaningful employment and get back on track.
Daniel & Travis
Daniel unleashes his local love at his workplace campaign—which funds the kind of vital, community-based supports that helped Travis get back on his feet.
Wendy & Emily
Wendy learned the importance of giving back at a young age. Now, she unleashes her local love by helping kids like Emily finish high school.
AJ & Ken
United Way helped Ken when he was a struggling single parent—now he shows his local love by ensuring people like AJ can get support, too.
Alixandra & Jayce
Alixandra unleashes her local love by volunteering at a literacy camp, helping kids like Jayce’s read more confidently.
Asare & Mike
As a young man, Asare found mentorship through a community program. Now, he shows his local love by paying it forward, supporting drop-in centres like the one that helped Mike find a stable home.
Nuhaa & Samantha
Samantha’s act of local love—volunteering at a United Way agency—means kids like Nuhaa get the best start in life.
Theresa & Rose
Theresa volunteers to show her local love—supporting the organization that empowered Rose to envision a brighter future for herself.
Atiya & Humaria
Atiya shows her local love by helping Humaira and other women experiencing domestic violence connect to community supports.
Gisele & Mario
Mario unleashes his local love by giving back—ensuring families like Gisèle’s can access crucial mental health supports.
Melanie & Virginie
Virginie shows her local love by volunteering, helping people like Mélanie get the housing support they need.
Shakirat
Acts of local love connected Shakirat to a skills training program—and helped her find a job.
Jasmine
An act of local love helped Jasmine connect to a drop-in and find a safe place to live.
Lolley
Local love supported the pre-apprenticeship program that helped Lolley learn a trade.