Make charity part of holidays to make impact in people’s lives

United Way hopes to help 61,500,

For many in Ottawa, the holidays are a time of extras: extra gifts, extra treats and other indulgences. But there are many in our community who are missing the basics.

Each year, Giving Tuesday follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday and serves as a reminder that while you’re thinking of family and friends around the holidays, to stop and think about the many in need in our community.

Think of the one in five children in Ottawa who live in poverty and don’t have a safe place to go after school. Kids like nine-year-old Mackenzie, who without your support wouldn’t be able to access homework help and outdoor recreation through the Boys and Girls Club, a United Way partner. More than 9,100 children like Mackenzie live in vulnerable neighbourhoods and benefit from after-school programs.

Think of the 7,000 seniors in Ottawa who need support to remain independent. Seniors like Ceceline, who found herself widowed and recovering from a brain injury. Unable to do everyday tasks and lonely, she found help through United Way partner the Good Companions. She now has volunteers checking on her and weekly outings she can enjoy. United Way wants other seniors to remain independent and connected to their community like Ceceline.

Think of the thousands of people in our community who are battling addictions. People like Tony, who found himself homeless and struggling with addiction at the age of 18. Thanks to the United Way funded agency Operation Come Home, he was able to access the support he needed and is turning his life around. Help provide youth like Tony with a place to go so they can turn their lives around.

United Way Ottawa is working to change 61,500 lives in our city through our 2014-15

Today is the one day in the holiday season that asks us to put aside our wish list and think of the 61,500 people in our community in need of support.

campaign. This means we can help people like Mackenzie, Ceceline and Tony. We’ll also be able to help new Canadians and people with disabilities who are looking for employment, people with mental health or addiction issues who need help, children who lack the basic skills needed to start school, those facing crisis who need a place to turn, and neighbourhoods that need support.

So far, thanks to the generosity of donors we have changed 21,874 lives in our community. But this means that there are still 39,626 people in Ottawa who need our help.

Part of the joy of the holidays is picking that perfect gift for a special someone and Giving Tuesday doesn’t seek to diminish that. It is our hope Giving Tuesday will find its own place in our holiday season and that Ottawa’s generosity will be extended to those we don’t know. It is our hope Giving Tuesday can make philanthropy part of the holiday tradition too.

Today is the one day in the holiday season that asks us to put aside our wish list and think of the 61,500 people in our community in need of support. We hope you’ll take time today to give back.

If you would like to make a donation to support some of our cities most vulnerable this holiday season, please visit our website at UnitedWayOttawa.ca or call 613-228-6700. Your contribution, your gift to your community, will make a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands across our city.

Whatever the prime minister might wish, we are in no danger of becoming a petrostate. The ... energy sector — oil and gas, coal, hydroelectric, nuclear, the works — accounts for less than seven per cent of Canada’s GDP. Andrew Coyne