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United Way debuts superhero to inspire people to give

Oct 3, 2016 | 11:44 AM

According to the local United Way, the Battlefords could be in danger of losing essential charitable services if donations don’t improve. The organization has taken a, perhaps, unusual step to draw attention to their cause.

“We have funding partners who are desperate for the donations and I know the economy has had a bit of a downturn in Saskatchewan and in this area in particular, but we’re really asking for people to step up, and recognize that we have so much and that we can give,” Battlefords United Way events and campaign coordinator Rose Silzer-Quinn said.

One new campaign effort is the introduction of Unity, the United Way Superhero. Silzer-Quinn said she hopes Unity will help people recognize anyone can be a hero no matter how much volunteer time or money they can give. Jessica Woytowich made her debut as the superhero at a flag-raising ceremony for United Way Month at city hall in North Battleford Monday, Oct. 3.

October is campaign month for the Battlefords United Way and Silzer-Quinn said the organization is aiming for $50,000 from corporate donations and hoping for the same from individuals.

While donations in the community have decreased over the last five years, Silzer-Quinn said the community’s needs are steadily increasing.

“The Boys and Girls Club and some of the other agencies that we fund regularly are telling us that their demands are growing significantly and they can’t keep up and we’re in danger of losing some of those agencies if we cannot continue to provide the funding,” she said.

In 2016, the Battlefords United Way allocated money to the Boys and Girls Club, the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre, Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre, the Battlefords Trade and Education Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

 

Sarah Rae is battlefordsNOW’s court and crime reporter. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae.