The pandemic is teaching us that we need to work together

We all can contribute to rebuilding,

COVID-19 numbers in Alberta are hitting unprecedented levels. Every morning, we wake up to news stories with bleaker projections than the day before. The ripple effects of the pandemic have been far reaching. But even this dark cloud has a silver lining. It offers us important lessons and it is up to all of us not to miss them.

Alberta's 211 service is a United Way initiative that connects those in need to resources in their own neighbourhoods. Since March, 211 has had more than 73,000 contacts from people seeking help for issues ranging from mental health challenges to lack of food. That is a 34-per-cent increase over the same period in 2019. Many of the people reaching out had never needed help before now. Many could be people you know.

For those working on the front lines to care for the most vulnerable, these last nine months have been incredibly challenging. Staff and volunteers have been risking their personal safety to feed hungry people, secure safe housing, support isolated seniors, connect with lonely children and provide life-saving mental health counselling, while managing shrinking budgets, staff shortages, safety restrictions and sharply increasing demand for services.

Despite the increased need, Imagine Canada reported in May that nationally, non-profits have seen a 30.6-per-cent average decrease in revenue since the onset of the pandemic, and that 30 per cent of charities, including local United Ways, have already had to lay off staff.

So, what lessons have we learned since the pandemic struck our province? We learned we can't weather this storm alone. In order to recover and rebuild stronger, we need a community approach that brings businesses, government, non-profits and individuals together. That is exactly what local United Ways have been doing. When the crisis first hit our province, United Ways across Alberta worked rapidly to rally our communities to identify emerging needs and respond swiftly in extraordinary ways.

Through our combined emergency fundraising efforts, we have provided more than

$16 million to nearly 300 local agencies and partnerships in the Edmonton and Calgary areas to date that are supporting those affected by the pandemic. These inspiring community acts of kindness have helped provide countless strategic supports that are preventing thousands of people from becoming locked in poverty.

The enormous impact of this rare collaborative response can serve as a lesson in working together for our collective recovery. It revealed how critical it is to address the unignorable issue of poverty and its interconnected threads of mental health, access to food, and social isolation.

It's time to invest in bigger outcomes, get us out of our silos and around the table to leverage the resources we have.

We all need to stand shoulder to shoulder in this crisis — even when we are physically distanced. We saw the fruits of this approach in March when so many of us united to collaborate, innovate and be there for our neighbours. We have an opportunity now to look closely at what COVID-19 is shining a light on and remove barriers that limit the quality of life across our cities. The consequences of inaction are further declines in mental health, financial security and quality of life.

There are many ways each one of us can step up and do local good. Let's remember that we don't have to rebuild things the way they were. We all have the chance to help rebuild our communities together, so everyone's kids, friends and families can thrive.

Let's not miss it.

There are many ways each one of us can step up and do local good. Let's remember that we don't have to rebuild things the way they were.