As the United Way of Chatham-Kent (UWOCK) celebrates 75 years serving the community, its staff wish to thank the giving people of this municipality.
Karen Green, marketing and communications manager for UWOCK, said the generosity remains ever present.
“I think it’s just that we’ve always had such a wonderful, supportive community,” she said. “There has always been a partnership. This has continued, no matter what the year-to-year model is.”
UWOCK has served the Chatham-Kent community since 1948, working to help strengthen the community’s social safety net.
Established in Kent County with the help of volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce and Labour Council, UWOCK’s first campaign was chaired by Sydney Amherst Morse, at the time the president and general manager of Union Gas (Enbridge). That would mark the beginning of a significant and lasting partnership with the energy company that continues to this day.
Green said the community effort that’s lasted three-quarters of a century is worthy of recognition.
“Seventy-five years is a milestone worth celebrating, and we will be, with a community appreciation event already in the works for this summer and a number of special moments planned for throughout the year,” she said.
With an emphasis on the collaborative aspect of UWOCK’s work, Green said the focus for their anniversary year is reflected in the 2023 theme: 75 Years of a Caring Community.
She stressed what UWOCK does is just not possible without the support it receives.
“We really want to thank the community. We just want to show our appreciation,” she said. “Not a lot of groups can do it for this long, especially in a smaller community.”
She added, “We’ve come a long way since that first campaign in 1948 raised a little over $50,000, and we are so grateful that we get to continue to do this work in our community.”
Over the 75 years, UWOCK has raised more than $65 million locally.
Green said the goal of UWOCK is to help those who need it the most, something that hasn’t changed.
“I think we are constantly looking at the needs of the community and working to see how we can best serve the needs of the vulnerable,” she said. “We’re spending our time and energy and funds where they really need to go in the community and we’ll continue to do that.”
Green said the pandemic only put more pressure on UWOCK and its member agencies, as well as other non-profit groups that support our vulnerable citizens.
“The pandemic really did make things worse for a lot of people. We saw more need from more people,” she said. “We also saw some wonderful generosity. Those who could do more, did. We all saw the need. It’s such a generous community in general.”
