Healthy People, Strong Communities
A community is only as strong as the sum of its parts. Many vulnerable individuals in our community face barriers that can lead to challenges like mental illness, addiction and social isolation.
Your support fuels United Way’s work in helping to strengthen the health and wellness of our neighbours so we can all share in the collective benefits of healthy, vibrant communities.
The Mental Health Challenge
When people and families can’t access the supports they need to thrive through a difficult time or a crisis, our entire community can fall behind.
For residents experiencing family breakdowns, job loss, disability or living on a low income, opportunities to build a good life—including access to meaningful social networks, good jobs and affordable housing—aren’t equally available.
AJ’s Story – Finding Home Again
United Way agencies helped AJ when he left home as a teen. Now, he’s reconnected with his family, thinking about school, and helping other young people.
“I volunteer now with youth as a peer support worker—It really helps me to be able to help others. I no longer feel like a burden on society” – AJ
Program Funding
Your donation helps deliver critical health and wellness programs to adults & youth in our community. The programs listed below all received financial support from the United Way Community Fund last year.
Adaptive programs
Adaptive adventures for those with disabilities in the Central and North Okanagan
Compassionate care programs
End of life counselling and care for families in Shuswap and Revelstoke
Community supports and resources
Resource and referrals in Summerland, Central Okanagan and Enderby
Dental services
Emergency dental treatment for low income adults in the North Okanagan
Meals Programs
Providing nutritious & affordable meals to individuals with a diagnosed mental illness. Help overcome their isolation by teaching them to assist with food preparation, serving and clean up in a group setting.
Mental Health Education
Providing access to the resources required to address mental health challenges and improve community integration, build resilience, and support people’s recovery from mental illness.
Recovery programs
Offering drop in courses designed for any person with a mental illness who would like to find support and explore different aspects of recovery. Removing the stigma through open & easy access.
Rehabilitation services
Providing tools to help individuals re-learn how to cook, read, create art, build balance and mindfulness, positive social interaction, and physical stamina following a brain injury or stroke.
Postpartum support
Providing a community based treatment group for women diagnosed with mild to moderate postpartum depression and/or anxiety.
Senior supports
Enhancing seniors’ wellness & connectedness through volunteerism, education, referral and social programs.
Seniors programs
Providing adult literacy and technology safety programs specifically for seniors
Equine Therapy programs
Riding therapy for kids and adults with special needs
Women’s & Men’s Counselling
Providing individual trauma counselling and group counselling to survivors and families affected by sexual assault, abuse, or violence.
Youth Counselling
Supporting at-risk youth in learning about healthy relationships, connect them to appropriate resources, and ensure that they are aware and equipped to deal with situations that could escalate into abuse.
Charity Partners
Community Building Partnerships
The United Way movement also includes provincial initiatives to improve the lives of families and seniors. These initiatives are partnerships between United Way of the Lower Mainland, the provincial government, local United Ways and other funding partners.
bc211.ca
bc211 is a non-profit organization that serves to connect British Columbians to the services they need. Their recently expanded service is now available to the Okanagan/Similkameen region through the bc211.ca website.
Better at Home
Better at Home is a program that provides seniors with help doing simple day-to-day tasks so that they can continue to live independently in their own homes and remain connected to their communities.
Your Donations At Work
Your gift to United Way helps individuals and families with mental health and addiction issues to avoid “falling through the cracks”. These often invisible issues are real and increasing in today’s world. United Way works closely with our local charities to ensure they can deliver what is most needed, when it is needed.
Your Impact
$10 provides a day of hot meals to a person experiencing a debilitating mental illness and living in a temporary recovery house.
$50 provides practical or emotional 24 hour support for a woman in crisis from intimate partner violence.
$100 provides a trauma therapy counselling to a youth survivor of abuse to try to break the cycle.
$500 provides a 10 week session of private and confidential counselling for men recovering from addiction.
$1,000 providesa full month of operations at our local women’s shelter, helping vulnerable women put their lives back together with their kids