Robinson Place launches United Way campaign
Provincial workers are a big part of each year’s campaign
Walking into the Robinson Place lobby is like walking into the foyer of a family home, United Way Peterborough and District CEO Jim Russell said as public service employees launched their annual campaign Wednesday.
In fact, the “local love” the staff exude is the theme of the agency’s campaign to be launched next week for the Peterborough provincial government workers, he pointed out as he thanked them for their past, present and future support and highlighted the United Way’s long-time partnership with organized labour.
Many of the employees who work in the building live in Peterborough and want to be involved, said Paula Reid, chief administrative officer and executive sponsor for the ministry.
It’s the biggest campaign the employees support each year and the one staff clearly get most jazzed for, she added.
More than $45,000 was raised by staff last year and this year, they are hoping to raise $50,000.
“There is a real desire to give back to the community,” Reid said.
The employees will support the United Way campaign through a variety of events – many of which were detailed on Monopoly tilestyle posters now on display in the lobby of building on Water Street, which houses the provincial headquarters of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry .
They include a salad lunch on Sept. 20, a pie auction on Oct. 5, a Halloween bake sale and costume competition on Oct. 31 and a white/green elephant sale on Nov. 1.
A Christmas marketplace and a creative creations sale will be held Nov. 15 and 29, respectively. A stair climb will also take place on a to-be-determined date.
Other events include the Nightmare on Charlotte Street-themed Halloween Haunt at the White House Hotel on Oct. 26 and the ever-popular raffle for a free Robinson Place basement parking spot for the 2019 calendar year.
The launch included a brief speech by TRACKS (Trent Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge and Science) program outreach and education co-ordinator Kelly
King.
She spoke about how the program – which is rooted in the indigenous environmental studies program at Trent University – brings together traditional indigenous knowledge and science in programming such as day and summer camps.
Campaign chairwoman Megan Murphy also told the employees about she became involved with the United Way after a spiritual walk on the Camino trail in Spain, where she reflected on her future and questioned how she could become more involved.
The local radio personality, who looked forward to the Taste Around the World lunch that followed the launch, praised staff for how well-prepared they are.
“I can’t believe how much work you’ve done. It’s amazing.”
The filmmaker, who has produced documentaries on the closing of P.G. Towns General Store in Douro and her journey across Ireland on her late father’s bicycle, will use her storytelling abilities as part of the campaign.
She told employees about how she is planning interviews to highlight the needs and wants of subjects in the community.
Last year’s United Way campaign reached $1.775 million, just shy of a $1.85 million goal.
NOTE: To donate, visit www.uwpeterborough.ca