COVID-19 Investments

One of the core strategies we use to tackle the greatest challenges in our communities, during crises and normal times, is financial investment.

United Way East Ontario’s COVID-19 response has been possible because of the generous donors who supported Local Love in a Global Crisis, because of emergency funding from the Government of Canada through the New Horizons for Seniors Program and the Emergency Community Support Fund, and because of the dedication of the organizations we partnered with to uncover urgent needs, and quickly deliver solutions.

The following is a summary of United Way East Ontario’s investments to support the most vulnerable through the COVID-19 pandemic, starting in March 2020. Many of these investments are ongoing. A thorough breakdown of our work to respond to the pandemic can be found in our COVID-19 Response Impact Report.

Our March 2020-March 2021 investments addressed the following:

Help for seniors – ensure that while vulnerable people are isolated, they are also supported.
Basic needs – ensure people have access to life’s essentials, such as food.
Capacity for community services – ensure frontline agencies can continue to do their vital local work
Mental health support – enable crisis lines and system navigation services during this time of heightened stress.
Support for volunteers – there are amazing people rallying to support others—they need our help too.

Our April 2021 onward investments aim to address the following:

Help for seniors and caregivers – supporting isolated seniors who are vulnerable and at risk of developing severe illness if they contract the virus.
Basic needs – ensure people have access to life’s essentials, such as food.
Capacity for the community sector – ensuring frontline services can continue their vital work.
Mental health and crisis supports – enabling vital crisis lines and system navigation services that benefit everyone.
Addressing learning loss for vulnerable children and youth – ensuring kids get back on track with their education.
An equitable economic recovery – building a more prosperous future for people who have been sidelined by the pandemic.