The YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce is ready to help more people access its services, after raising nearly $100,000 in the last year.
Its Strong Communities Campaign wrapped up last week, with $98,000 raised to support its financial assistance program.
The campaign covers the entire fiscal year, running from April 2023 to last Sunday. However, Fund Development Manager April Robinson said it really picked up steam in February.
"We noticed we were $20,000 short of our goal and that's when the community really stepped up with some generous donations," she said.
Use of the program has only grown in recent years as life becomes more unaffordable. Over 900 people accessed the subsidies in 2023.
"The need for financial assistance is growing, obviously with the economics that are out there," said Robinson. "The need to help individuals get the assistance that they need to use the vital programs that the Y offers, but also connect them with the other programs and services – such as housing and employment – and really give people a good start at a time when they maybe need just a little bit of help."
After providing $83,000 in subsidies in 2022-23, that meant the need for fundraising also increased last fiscal year, as they passed that mark in the fall.
Robinson said though the campaign fell just a couple thousand dollars short of their goal, it was an amazing achievement.
"The support that we received was mostly from individuals in our community making monthly recurring donations as well as one-time donations through our online portal. In addition to that, we did have some large donations from the Goreski Foundation as well as Eva Leflar Foundation, two local community supportive funds that went directly into supporting our financial assistance program."
Although the campaign just wrapped up, Robinson is already focusing on 2024-25, as the need for subsidies won't be going away. The goal is once again $100,000.
Those who are interested in donating or just want to learn more can visit their online portal here.