Food security, affordable housing, and mental health demands are by no means new to Calgarians, as headlines from the past several years would attest.

But the reality is while efforts are making a difference to increase the quality of life for many Calgarians in need, many more still need the support of social service agencies and community groups.

The United Way of Calgary and Area kicked off their fall campaign on Sept. 17, with more than a dozen partner agencies and organizations and over 500 members of Calgary’s non-profit community, alongside the United Way’s new Basic Needs Round-Up Transit Bus.

The latter of which is emblematic of the way the United Way is attempting to address the basic needs of Calgarians, by stuffing a bus with those items in demand, said United Way of Calgary CEO Karen Young.

“It’s really a sad state in Calgary right now, we are facing an affordability crisis where one in four Calgarians are needing food, utilities and rent. So, that collective power of Calgary coming together to make a difference is something we’re trying to demonstrate here today,” she said.

“When we all come together, we can make a big difference and improve lives. So we’re excited to have our kickoff here and to really get people involved in the community, as this is the starting line for the United Way campaign.

“I really encourage Calgarians to find an issue that they care about, and really understand that every little bit matters. If you can put $100 together, it can really help give meals for seniors. If you can give up a Starbucks coffee, it can really help with our basic needs program, because we know the issues are deep-rooted.”

She said that the United Way, which has been operating in Calgary since 1940, has a long history and track record of making a difference—and that is something that every Calgarian can get involved in.

“We’re saying to everyone this year, ‘hope is in your hands.'”

Agencies support and benefit work of the United Way

Young described the agencies that the United Way works with every year as the social safety net for Calgary.

“They help you navigate services. They help you access services. They provide those important programs and services so that people have opportunities to thrive,” she said.

Jon Yee, Vice President of External Relations for the Centre for Newcomers (CFN), said at the kickoff event that the United Way has played a significant role in community development, whether that was for youth, newcomers, or for non-profits including the CFN.

“The United Way provides opportunity for us to excel and to help those that are in need,” he said.

They have also been a source of stable funding for non-profits in a time of reduced support from government, said Yee.

“When funding isn’t sustainable, non-profits—not just ours—need to find other diversified revenue streams. United Way provides that stream for us, which is vital, especially when funding becomes so political and grants could be cancelled the next day,” he said.

“We need other resources and people that would advocate for us, and know the important work that we do to provide our services to Calgarians.”

That support has continued into another aspect of community building that has been desperately needed by Calgarians: A sense of belonging.

Part of that support was provided by the United Way for the Calgary Surge, which turned a listening tour during their inaugural season into community focused events where underserved areas of Calgary would be activated with sport.

“I commend the United Way and their leadership for seeing what we didn’t even know was inherent in that,” said Jason Ribeiro, Vice-Chairman and President of the Calgary Surge.

“You see them today advocating for basic needs. You see them bringing arts and culture, sport and recreation, youth from all four corners of the city. This couldn’t be a better partnership, and we’re honoured to have their support as we bring the home team tour to the masses through this year and into next.”

He said that collaborations with organizations like the United Way have not just been nice-to-haves, but need-to-haves.

“Our superpower has been the idea of going to the forgotten, going to those who have been underserved, and particularly from a sport and recreation lens, not just at the professional level, literally at a community level, at an amateur level—seeing communities that have less parks, less sporting fields, less organized groups for the pro-team in one of Canada’s fastest-growing, if not fastest growing sport,” Ribeiro said.

One of the ways that Calgarians could get involved this season, beyond the financial said Young, was to consider volunteering.

An example of how that volunteering can make a meaningful difference was through organizations like the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (AFCC), who were present at the campaign kickoff.

“We have a very close relationship with the United Way of Calgary, and they are a great partner and supporter of the programs and services that we do. Karen Young is an amazing visionary and great partner in terms of collaborating what we can do together to support Calgary’s most vulnerable,” said AFCC CEO Shane Gauthier.

“Being at an event like this is very important, because it’s community coming together in a good way, celebrating and acknowledging the hard work of all the partners and all the community stakeholders.”

For more information on the United Way’s fall campaign, see calgaryunitedway.org.