United Way campaign lends a hand

By Kristen Oelschlagel

BELLEVILLE (15/11/12) Kirsten Geisler (left), directors assistant at Gleaners Foodbank, unpacks boxes at the foodbank with Loyalist students Vaibhavi Patel (middle back) and Jen Sweet. Gleaners is just one of the agencies that recieves funding from The United Way of Quinte. Photo by Kristen Oelschlagel.

Susanne Quinlan knows how important it is for the United Way of Quinte to reach its goal.

Quinlan, the director of operations at Gleaners Foodbank in Belleville, said the funding from the United Way is important to Gleaners’ operation.

“The service we provide to the community is like water, it needs to sustain life. So the money from the United Way is greatly appreciated to help pay for the staff wages,” Quinlan said.

The goal for this year’s campaign is $1.925 million and so far over $730,000 has been raised.

“We know where these dollars are coming from and where they are out there, it’s just a matter of campaigns finishing up and recording,” said Judi Gilbert, executive director of the United Way of Quinte.

This is week 10 out of 17 for the campaign, and there are still several workplace campaigns who will be starting up in the final weeks.

“Many major banks are starting their campaigns, they usually kick off in the latter part of November, and QuintEssential Credit Union is about to kick off as well,” said Gilbert.

The United Way distributes the money raised from the campaign to 42 agencies in the community.

“Last year 55,000 people accessed one or more of our 42 agencies, so there’s a huge need,” said Gilbert.

Gilbert said there is a strict application process agencies have to go through when they apply for the funds, so that the money gets distributed fairly based on need.

Quinlan said that without the United Way they would have to do even more fundraising.

“We operate a foodbank that serves 4,400 families in Belleville and we serve out of the Tri-County Warehouse to nine area foodbanks, including Loyalist College, and 150 non-profit agencies,” said Quinlan.

“We are the lowest paid executive director and staff members in any foodbank across Canada. So we don’t have high wages, that funding is very important.”

Major companies, like Nestle and Proctor and Gamble, will also be finishing up their campaigns in the coming weeks.

Gilbert says even though the campaign officially started the last week of August, the United Way gets support throughout the year.

“There are lots of workplace campaigns that do events throughout the year, so the United Way is top of mind with many workplaces throughout the year.”