As the pandemic loosens its grip on Chatham-Kent, the head of a local charitable organization says it’s time for “renewal.”
The United Way of Chatham-Kent started this year with newly hired CEO Barbara Palace taking over the reins for the organization. Now that COVID-19 restrictions have loosened, she said she’s excited to get to know the Chatham-Kent community.
“I am really looking forward to bringing the United Way back into the community and really get that active role going,” she said.
Palace said the United Way has been conducting community consultation to determine what the needs are within the municipality, as the organization moves towards launching its next charitable campaign in September.
“We really listened to what the community feels that it needs,” said Palace.
The United Way is also planning to release a “community snapshot” in the near future, detailing feedback from local residents and what they believe the priorities are in Chatham-Kent.
“This is a living document that helps people understand where are our needs, and we can use that as one of the things week look at to set our priorities as an organization,” said Palace.
Most recently in April, the United Way of Chatham-Kent donated $155,000 toward the 10-bed residential withdrawal management unit at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. The donation was one of the largest contributions the United Way has made in recent years.
