United Way launches community conversations

This year, United Way of Quinte will invest more than $1,500,000 in the social service sector. Staff hosting “community conversations” this month want to know about where residents live, work and play.

“We’re reaching out to every one in the community, not for donations of money, but for their knowledge of the community they live in,” said Brandi Hodge, director of community engagement.  “We need everyone’s help to deepen our understanding of the needs of our community.   We want people to tell us if  we’re missing anything, talk to us about what issues we should be more engaged in, and let us know what the primary priorities should be for the communities we support.”

The organization has held conversations in Belleville and North Hastings. Meetings continue this month in Deseronto,  Quinte West and Central Hastings.
The United Way of Quinte will partner with the County Community Foundation from Prince Edward County to hold conversations in Ameliasburgh at the Town Hall at 10 a.m. June 18th , and at 2:30 p.m. at the Wellington and District Community Centre and in Picton  on June 26th at Macaulay Church at 2p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

“United Ways across Canada are embracing a community impact agenda, placing much more emphasis on addressing the underlying causes of social problems in order to make long term, measurable changes to social conditions locally,” said Hodge. “United Way of Quinte will use the information gleaned from the community conversation process to establish priorities which will guide all of their work, including funding in the future.”