The 2023 Sarnia-Lambton United Way campaign hit its target, with one week to spare.
Campaign Chair Vicky Ducharme said a number of local campaigns, businesses and anonymous donors have helped raise $1,420,000, or almost 101.4% of this year's $1.4 million target.
Ducharme said it's been a challenge over the last few years due to the pandemic, inflation and high interest rates taking a toll on everyone.
“We are so pleased to have reached the goal; that was a significant accomplishment for our community, and we are so grateful to every donor," said Ducharme. "I have lived in this community almost all of my adult life and I am always so impressed and so proud of the Sarnia-Lambton community. I can't express my thank you enough to everybody who supported the United Way in so many ways to help us reach a successful completion."
She said the much needed funds will support 18 local agencies providing over 30 programs and services including Inn of the Good Shepherd, River City Vineyard, BGC Sarnia-Lambton and Habitat for Humanity.
"Funding is used for three focus areas, the largest being poverty-related and homeless services, followed by youth programming and building healthy people and strong communities, typically, seniors programming and mental health," said Ducharme.
About 2,300 individuals donated to this year's fundraising effort, which officially wraps up at the end of the year.
"They can donate obviously until the end of the year but they can continue to donate into next year because we'll have another campaign that we'll start," said Ducharme. "The needs are ongoing in the community. It doesn't just stop because we've reached our goal, the needs are still there."
Donations can be made online through the United Way website until the end of the month, and in person at Kumon beside the United Way office on Lambton Mall road.