Day of Caring – Thursday June 16th

This year, it’s all about school supplies!

With many agencies still unable to offer in-person volunteer opportunities, we decided to focus this Day of Caring on our most pressing priority…making certain we can deliver the educational tools requested by our local school communities for students who need a hand up this fall. If you are looking for an initiative to support with your work team or, a way your family can help local students, why not create a mini-fundraiser for Backpacks for Success?

Some of your friends and neighbours make impossible choices every day…choosing between paying rent, paying bills or buying groceries. September brings an additional financial stress for these families – back to school shopping for all of the basic tools that will contribute to their child’s success.

Our vision is that everyone in every community has the opportunity to reach their full potential and United Way Peterborough’s Backpacks for Success program serves to ensure that all students have the educational tools they need. This year we need your help. With the 2022 order forms now complete, requests from our local schools in both Kawartha Pine Ridge and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Boards have increased by 74% over last year.

Ways you can help to support our Backpacks for Success initiative for Day of Caring

What teacher gift shows your appreciation better than one that is made in their name, that helps to provide one of their own students with the tools they need to experience educational success? When you make a gift on the Backpacks for Success giving page, you are able to customize a printable card letting your favourite educator know that a gift has been made in their name!

As we begin to focus on recovery and rebuilding after the global pandemic, it has become increasingly difficult to ignore the fact that the events of the past two years have disproportionally affected our economically vulnerable populations. You can help to build an equitable recovery and foster a sense of inclusivity for these students through your support of Backpacks for Success.

Are you looking for a way to give back with your office team?  Hold a mini-fundraiser, trivia night or coffee shop to have a little fun while building a strong and inclusive community for our local students.  As a family or individual, why not have a games night,  lemonade stand or garage sale to raise funds and make sure to tell us your ideas so that we can share your Day of Caring stories!

The increased need in our community translates to a $15,000 cost to run the program for 2022

To help achieve the level of community investment required, we have added a sponsorship option for those who would like to have a broader impact this fall.

Brant Basics – Give at the till or add a donation to your online order

In 2021, Brant Basics, a longtime supporter of United Way Peterborough & District through their annual workplace campaign, reached out to offer to partner in a more significant way through the creation of new initiative to keep support ongoing.

The team at Brant Office Supply, in addition to sourcing quality, well-priced items for the program and offering a rebate have also committed to donating several items that will be included in each student backpack. Brant customers can also choose to support the Backpack for Success Program by adding a donation when making a purchase in-store or, adding a donation to their online orders by adding item 80003-00 and filling in your desired gift amount.

To learn more, CLICK HERE or donate directly to our Backpacks for Success Giving Page HERE

Social Posts

From all of us at the Peterborough & District United Way, we are wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year! We're excited to continue our work with our amazing donors, partners, and volunteers in the years to come.

📅 Reminder: The tax deadline for charitable contributions is December 31.

Show your #LocalLove and donate to United Way Peterborough & District to help build community & change lives. 

Consider donating today, visit the link in our bio to learn more about our work and ways to give.
2025, what a year! 

We’re so grateful for the generosity, care, and community spirit that made these moments possible.

As the year comes to a close, this is also a friendly reminder that gifts made by December 31 are eligible for 2025 charitable tax receipting. Thank you for supporting your neighbours, today and all year long.

Learn more about the ways to give at the link in our bio.

Reminder: there is a secure mailbox located at the front of our office (277 Stewart St.) checked daily.
🚨Reaching Home Funding Applications Are Now Open!🚨

United Way Peterborough & District is happy to share that we are accepting applications from agencies for the Reaching Home program, on behalf of the Government of Canada.

👉 What is Reaching Home? It is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

Applications close January 22nd, 2026. Find eligibility requirements and full application details on our website:
🔗 uwpeterborough.ca/reaching-home/ or follow the link in our bio
To our neighbours,

As we head into the holiday season, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Your generosity, kindness, and commitment to community have meant so much to us throughout the year.

Whether you gave your time, made a donation, attended an event, or simply showed up for local causes, you helped make Peterborough & District a stronger, more caring place.

As of 12:00 pm today (Dec. 24), our office will be closed for the holidays and will reopen on January 5. During this time, we hope you’re able to slow down, rest, and enjoy meaningful moments with the people who matter most.

From all of us at United Way Peterborough & District, we wish you and your loved ones a warm, peaceful holiday season and a new year filled with hope, connection, and possibility.
After more than a decade of dedicated leadership, we are sharing the news that our CEO, Jim Russell, will retire in July 2026.

Since joining United Way Peterborough & District in 2011, Jim has been a steady and passionate force for community change, leading more than $36 million in revenue generation and championing critical work to address poverty, homelessness, and income inequality across our region.

Under Jim’s leadership, United Way Peterborough and District has strengthened its role as a trusted community partner through impactful research, including Housing is Fundamental, multiple Point-in-Time Counts, and The Gap reports on income adequacy and living wages.

Jim’s commitment to Peterborough & District, and to building a more equitable, resilient community, has left a lasting mark. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and look forward to celebrating his legacy over the coming months. 

Please join us in congratulating Jim on his incredible contributions to our community!
🎄✨Festive sweaters described in one word only!

We brought the holiday spirit in support of our @unitedwayptbo workplace campaign!

Which one’s your favourite? 🤨

#UnitedWayPTBO #BuildingCommunity
As the holidays approach, we wanted to share a quick update on our office hours.

Our office will be closing early on Wednesday and Thursday of this week as we celebrate the season with our staff, board and committees. We will then be closed beginning at noon on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) through January 5, returning to regular office hours in the new year.

If you or someone you know needs support during this time, please remember that help is available by calling 211, 24/7.

Wishing you a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season. 🎄✨
Looking for food support this holiday season? 

Please visit the City of Peterborough website for information on food banks and free meals. 

peterborough.ca/foodcalendar
Donate To the United Way
Donate