The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton established The Compassion Fund to collect donations from community members who want to help during the COVID-19 crisis. The fund has been able to assist local nonprofits who are especially vulnerable right now. The Board of the Compassion fund has already distributed 35,000 from the fund.
Seven local agencies have received funding, including The Inn of the Good Shepherd and St. Vincent DePaul who each received $5,000 this week. The Inn of The Good Shepherd will use the funds to replenish their food bank which provides take-out hampers, meals and snack packs to those in need.
St. Vincent De Paul Food Bank and Help Centre assists 7,000 people per year with rent, utility payments, dental assistance, and material needs such as food, clothing, and furniture. They will use the donation to keep their food bank stocked and to keep the doors open for their clients. A donation also went to the Lambton Elderly Outreach who provides meals to area senior citizens.
Libro Credit Union announced a $25,000 donation to the Compassion Fund as part of a $320,000 investment across the region. United Way of Sarnia-Lambton is among eight United Way’s in Southwestern Ontario to receive a donation from Libro Credit Union for emergency response measures.
For more information about The Compassion Fund, please contact Dave Brown, Executive Director of United Way Sarnia-Lambton at 519-384-9270. The office is currently closed, but all office staff are working remotely and have email, telephone and voicemail access.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
