The United Way of Perth-Huron is raising the bar for fundraising this year, attempting to reach $2,682,720 to help fund the work they do, along with 15 other social agencies in the two counties. “This community is incredibly generous. And every year that I have been a part of this organization, we have either hit or exceeded our goal. And we’re going to do it again,” said United Way Perth-Huron CEO Ryan Erb. At it’s public launch in Listowel Thursday, United Way supporters not only talked about fundraising, they got their hands dirty, packing kits to be distributed to vulnerable members of the community. “We’re calling them the First Step kits. They’ll be delivered to vulnerable folks in our community, and they have a range of tools and comfort items in them to assist those folks. Give them a little leg up when they’re feeling a little down or in trouble,” said Todd Kasenberg, Mayor of the Municipality of North Perth, as well as Community Development Manager for the United Way in North Perth. As mayor, Kasenberg says he’s seen both the need for expanded social services in the Listowel area, and that void being filled by organizations, like the United Way, and others funded by the United Way. “It is honestly hard as mayor and as a United Way guy to go to bed at night, sometimes realizing there are people out there in -20 temperatures. It is the burden, I think, of an elected official to be thinking about their community, and the needs and the challenges that are faced. And certainly that is a challenge. But we’re trying to turn the story, and we need help from everybody in the community to help us do that,” said Kasenberg. One of the ways they’re doing that is through United Housing, a new agency within the United Way of Perth-Huron that is actually building affordable housing. 10 units are nearing completion in downtown Listowel, right now. “Every United Way is local, and we are addressing local needs in ways that government is either choosing not to, or unable to fully do. And so the United Way is a significant supporter of health and social services and services across the age span in our communities, and that’s important to people,” said Kasenberg. “The needs are growing in our community all the time. Sadly, people are lining up for services and they still can’t get the help they need. So we’ve got to raise more money to operate services in this community,” said Erb. Last year, the United Way of Perth-Huron raised $2.56 million, exceeding their goal of $2.53 million.
