(Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

United way

United Way Thompson Nicola Cariboo kicks off workplace fundraising campaign

Sep 26, 2023 | 4:10 PM

KAMLOOPS– United Way BC hosted its first in-person campaign kick-off breakfast since 2019 on Tuesday (Sept. 26).

United Way staff, volunteers and about 300 community partners gathered at the Coast Hotel to kick off the start of the organization’s 2023 campaign season and celebrate last year’s success.

Last year, United Way BC’s workplace campaign raised just under $1 million for local initiatives, and while that number is a little lower than previous years, Chelsea Ingram, Thompson Nicola Cariboo campaign manager, has deemed 2022 a success.

“We were able to raise over $978,000 that has gone back into the Thompson Nicola Cariboo region, which is such an incredible number, especially considering all of the issues that we’ve had over the last year with the wildfires and the floods and the heat domes and everything that you that goes along with that,” Ingram told CFJC News. “Knowing that our community was still willing to step up and support each other, we’re very grateful for that.”

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Tuesday morning was the first time in four years the organization was able to host an in-person kick-off breakfast.

Ingram believes the coming campaign will be one of the biggest yet – as the kickoff event is only one of several in-person presentations planned for this year.

“The plan for the 2023 campaign year is to get back out there, get in the room with people, have in-person presentations,” she said. “This year, I have two campaign associates which is the first time I’ve ever been able to have two campaign associates. Usually, it’s just me being a campaign manager for my region.”

The event marks the start of the United Way’s workplace campaign while also collecting donations for wildfire recovery efforts.

Each year, United Way workplace campaigns gather donations through payroll contributions and events.

Those donations are then given out to local organizations in need.

The Kamloops Y’s Violence Against Women Intervention and Support Services (VAWISS) is just one of the organizations that have received funding because of this program.

Jesanne Stanko, director of programs for VAWISS says programs like VAWISS are important to break the cycle of abuse.

“When kiddos have experienced violence, they’re predominantly more at risk of becoming perpetrators of violence or like victims or survivors of violence themselves,” Stanko said.

According to Stanko, the Kamloops VAWISS program was able to hire another counsellor to help meet the local demand with United Way’s help.

“In the last couple of weeks, we have received upwards of 20 referrals and those go on to a wait list and our counsellor,” she said. “Our one counsellor is only able to [work with] so many, so having that second counsellor enables us to be able to see and support those who’ve experienced violence.”

Stanko believes having a local United Way office and a program funded by local businesses, means more accessibility for Kamloops services like VAWISS.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do it without that support,” she said. “Knowing that United Way BC is there, is just such a nice, refreshing piece because we don’t have to really argue that we need it. They really know that the need is there.”