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

Every great leader has a story... and today, we're excited to share the beginning of @_thetiffanyshow story as your 2026 United Way Campaign Chair.

As we launch our 85th Community Campaign, we're turning the page to a new chapter - one rooted in connection, collaboration, and the incredible power of community. Tiffany has spent years shining a spotlight on the people, organizations and stories that make Peterborough & District such a special place to call home. Now, she'll help lead a Campaign that celebrates what we can accomplish when we come together.

This grand reveal wouldn't have been possible without the creativity and generosity of Johanna Hawkshaw and the incredible team @yourtvptbo who helped bring our vision to life. Thank you for embracing the fun and helping us tell this story in such a memorable way.

If UW Campaign Chairs came with a Netflix special, we're pretty sure this would make the final cut 🎬🍿 ... 

A special thank you as well to our 2025 Campaign Chair, Paul Rellinger, and our amazing staff for being great sports and helping kick off this exciting new chapter.

Here's to 85 years of neighbours helping neighbours, and to everything we'll accomplish together this campaign.

Welcome to the team, Tiffany! We can't wait to see what we are able to accomplish together.

#UnitedWayPeterborough #CommunityCampaign #85YearsUnited
Now Accepting Applications!📣

United Way Peterborough & District is pleased to announce that we are once again accepting proposals for funding through Reaching Home. 

Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy 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. 

📝To apply, please visit our website at uwpeterborough.ca
‼️All applications must be submitted by Tuesday, August 4, 2026. 

If you’re interested in applying but aren’t sure if you’re eligible, or if you have questions that aren’t answered in the online checklist, please reach out to us at ℹ️ reachinghome@uwpeterborough.ca.
Well prepared and ready to learn! 📚✏️
That’s what Backpacks for Success is all about! Your support helps ensure that students across Peterborough & County have the materials they need to take on the 2026 school year with confidence.

Whether you host a collection drive, become an event sponsor, or make a monetary donation, every contribution makes a difference to school aged students from grades K–12. 

📲 Contact us today to get involved!
Clue number TWO✌️!

Every great leader has a story. Can you find the words that help tell the story of our 2026 Campaign Chair?

Drop your guesses below👇…
👀 The first clue has arrived!

Every great leader brings something special to the table, and these six emojis represent just a few things that make our 2026 Campaign Chair who they are ✨

Can you guess who it might be🤔?
22% of Canadians live with a disability.

41% of people in poverty have a disability.

Those numbers aren’t just statistics; they’re a call to action.

This #DisabilityPrideMonth, United Way Peterborough & District stands with people with disabilities to break barriers and build communities where everyone belongs. 

We invest in accessible community programs and barrier-reduction initiatives as part of a strategic response to this gap. 
🤝❤️
Canada looks like the neighbour who checks in. The volunteer who shows up. The community that holds space for everyone.

This July 1, we recommit to a Canada where every person has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Our office is closed today, Wednesday July 1 and will reopen tomorrow, Thursday July 2.

Looking for support? Dial 211 to be connected to non-emergency community health and social services in our area.
Our grand finale retirement prank: a boardroom full of Jim’s!

Thanks for the laughs, Jim.
Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day.
 
We celebrate the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.
 
Let’s continue learning and reflecting together
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