At the United way of Bruce Grey, we are dedicated to doing our part to help solve the toughest of issues faced by our local communities.  These issues include poverty, mental health, domestic violence, social isolation, homelessness and hunger – all of which are #UNIGNORABLE.

With your support, we can bring these issues into the forefront and meet them head on.   There are solutions and there is hope.  We are committed to improving lives locally by moving people from poverty to possibility, helping children be all that they can be and helping to build strong, healthy and inclusive communities.

 

Local issues can be easy to ignore and response to this, Pantone, in association with the United Way, has created a colour that is #UNIGNORABLE, a colour that reminds us that we can’t turn away.

Art can have a huge influence on social change and in response to this, award-winning international illustrator Malika Favre has created some powerful, bold images using the Pantone Unignorable colour to address the major issues affected society today.

 

Poverty:

There are many paths to poverty which may lurk in the shadows and build over a long time or it might strike suddenly following a job loss, illness, divorce or housing emergency.  Struggling to make ends meet can create a lot of stress and anxiety in people’s lives and pulls them away from important aspects of life.

Locally, we work hard to combat poverty by supporting:

• 211 Ontario (available 24/7, 365 days/year)
• Bruce Grey Child & Family Services:  Hope for Our Kids Fund:  Warm winter clothing, summer camp opportunities, necessary safety equipment (car seats, cribs, etc) and access to emergency food.
• The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force
• Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce (CMHA): Brunch Program, Garden Program, Fresh Roots Cafe & Identification Clinic.
• Durham & District Food Bank
• Ontario Student Nutrition Program
• United Way of Bruce Grey Backpack Program
• United Way of Bruce Grey Utility Assistance Program

 

Mental Illness

Having good mental health is important to us all as it allows us to enjoy life and the people around us.  When we struggle with mental health issues, we can experience depression, fear, anxiety, helplessness and other emotions that can greatly affect our quality of life.

Locally, we work towards improving mental health by supporting:

• 211 Ontario (available 24/7, 365 days/year)
• CMHA’s Brunch Program, Garden Project, Men’s Program, My Mom’s Group, Friends & Neighbours Club (youth mental health education) and the Let’s Talk (teen mental health program)
• Women’s House Bruce & Grey:  Outreach Counselling and Child Witness Program (for children that have witnessed violence)

 

Domestic Violence

1 in 4 Canadian women will experience violence or emotional abuse in their lifetime.  Domestic violence has a negative impact on people’s mental and physical well being.  When children are exposed to this type of trauma, it can have a direct effect on their brain development as well as their ability to learn.

Locally, we support programs that provide counselling and support to those affected by domestic violence.   These programs include:

• 211 Ontario (available 24/7, 365 days/year)
• CHMA’s Men’s Program
• Victim Services Bruce Grey Perth
• Women’s House Grey Bruce: Shelter & Outreach Counselling and Child Witness Program

 

Social Isolation

When we feel accepted and included in our community, we are happier and our overall well being and quality of life is much better than those who feel isolated.

We are proud to support initiatives that encourages community connections, networking and mentoring including:

• 211 Ontario Resources & Referrals (available 24/7, 365 days/year)
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Owen Sound
• CMHA Grey Bruce’s My Mom’s Group (healthy parenting support group)
• CMHA Let’s Talk (teen mental health education)
• The Meeting Place Tobermory (children and youth activities and programming)
• Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library (teen programming)
• The Reach Centre (supporting participant’s growth and development)
• South Grey Bruce Youth Literacy (supporting youth literacy through mentors)

 

Homelessness

Homelessness is an issue that affects every aspect of one’s life including their family connections, physical and mental health, employment and more.  Being homeless could mean that you are staying at a shelter, “couch surfing” at friends’ places or even on the street.  Housing forms the foundation for our lives and the community on the larger scale.  Communities across Bruce and Grey Counties are in need of affordable housing so this is an issue affects close to home.

We support groups and organizations that work to minimize homelessness throughout Bruce and Grey Counties including:

• 211 Resources and Referrals (available 24/7, 365 days/year)
• Safe ‘N Sound (Crisis intervention and transitional housing)

 

Hunger

Having access to food is a struggle for many in our communities across Bruce-Grey.  Many families have little left over once they have paid their rent/mortgage and utilities and that leaves very little money to purchase food.  We see food as a basic need that everyone should have access to.  No person should ever go hungry.

We are proud to support the following organizations that work to minimize hunger in our communities:

• 211 Ontario (available 24/7, 365 days/year)
• Bruce Grey Child & Family Services:  Hope for Our Kids Fund – Access to emergency food supplies
• CMHA:  Brunch Program, Garden Project
• Durham & District Food Bank
• The Meeting Place Tobermory Food Bank
• Ontario Student Nutrition Program

 

Video:  United Way x Pantone ® present:  #UNIGNORABLE

 

Video:  Making the Most Unignorable Colour In The World