Day of Caring = a day to remember! 💙☀️

This past Friday, more than 40 incredible volunteers from workplaces across Peterborough and County came together to support 7 of our amazing partner agencies: Big Brothers Big Sisters, The John Howard Society of the Kawarthas, New Canadians Centre, PARN, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Elizabeth Fry Society, and YES Shelter.

What started as a cloudy morning turned into a beautiful sunny day, perfect for gardening, landscaping, lending a hand at a community block party, and making a real difference. In just a few short hours, these dedicated teams accomplished so much. Many hands truly do make light work! 🌱

We`re so grateful to each volunteer and to our valued sponsors who made this day possible:
💙 Friend Sponsors: Van de Bor Paving Ltd. and Kawartha Dairy
🥤 In-Kind Sponsor: The Market Lakefield for keeping our volunteers refreshed throughout the day
⭐ Presenting Sponsor: Miskin Law for their generous contribution of $5,000 toward building a stronger Peterborough

Thank you to everyone who made this year`s Day of Caring such a success. We can`t wait to see what we continue to accomplish together in 2026!

The end of another school year is drawing near, and we’re feeling oh so grateful for all of the incredible educators in our community! 🙏🍎

We want to help you say “thank you” to an educator who’s made a difference in your life this year with a United Way “Good Apple Award”. Every certificate purchased directly supports United Way’s Backpacks for Success initiative, supplying students in Peterborough & County with the materials they need to be successful in the 2026/27 school year.

🔗 Visit the link in our bio to get your certificate today!

After nearly nine years with United Way Peterborough & District, we’re saying goodbye (but not really goodbye) to Rhonda Gilchrist as she begins an exciting new chapter as Executive Director of The Mount Community Centre. Rhonda has been a steady hand, a fierce advocate, a problem solver, and a champion for this community in every sense of the word.

For those of us lucky enough to work alongside her, we’ll miss her wisdom, her humour, the stories of her beloved pets, her unwavering dedication, and her ability to somehow make even the most challenging days feel manageable.

While we’re sad to see her go, we couldn’t be happier to see her step into a role that aligns so perfectly with her passion for building a stronger, more connected community.

Thank you, Rhonda, for everything you’ve given to United Way, to our team, and to Peterborough. We can’t wait to see all the incredible things you’ll accomplish next. Please join us in congratulating Rhonda!

🍎 THEY’RE BACK! 🍎

A great educator can change the course of a life.

They stay after class. They cheer students on. They build confidence, spark curiosity, and help young people discover what they’re capable of.

This year, say “thank you” in a way that gives back.

Our Thank an Educator certificates are back and available now! When you make a $25 donation to United Way Peterborough & District’s Backpacks for Success program, we’ll send a personalized digital certificate (you get to choose from 4 options) for an educator of your choice, letting them know they’ve been honoured in recognition of the difference they’ve made in local students lives.

It’s a meaningful way to celebrate a teacher, EA, principal, ECE, coach, or mentor while helping local students head back to school with the supplies they need to succeed.

✨ Honour an educator
🎒 Support local students
❤️ Create a lasting impact

Because the people who help students succeed deserve to be celebrated.

Link in bio!

#ThankAnEducator #BackpacksForSuccess

[Part 3/3] If you`ve been following along, here are the remaining agencies supported through our Agency Capacity Fund! 🌟

➡️ From 2026–2029, 20 funded partners will receive a total of $75,000 over three years. This annual investment of $500,000 into local social service organizations provides flexible operational funding, improving stability within the non-profit sector.

The Agency Capacity Fund is the largest funding stream within our new impact model, supporting organizations that are making a difference across #Peterborough and county every day.

Stay up to date on United Way Peterborough & District`s work and upcoming funding opportunities by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

🤳 Visit uwpeterborough.ca/partner-agencies/ for the full list