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United Way celebrates in Williams Lake

The United Way celebrates raising of $97,600 in Williams Lake and 100 Mile House last year with help from corporate sponsors.
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United Way corporate sponsors and community impact council members gathered at the Williams Lake and District Credit Union last week to celebrate raising $97

Sponsors and service providers gathered at the Williams Lake and District Credit Union last week to celebrate the United Way and its contributions to those in need in the Williams Lake and 100 Mile House areas.

Cake was served to celebrate the raising of $97,600 by corporate sponsors in the Cariboo last year between Williams Lake and 100 Mile House.

Dr. Ray Sanders, the only Cariboo director with the Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way, said he believes in the United Way and what it does to help families in our communities.

“I like it because all the money raised in the Cariboo, stays in the Cariboo, which is really important,”  Sanders says.

“The needs are great here and we don’t want to be forgotten.”

Members of a local community impact council decide on which project applications from non-profit groups are approved for funding. The United Way also has an emergency fund which helps with unforeseen needs such as the hotel fire in Williams Lake last year which displaced families.

Sanders also congratulates Melissa Newberry, the United Way’s representative in the Williams Lake/100 Mile House area for raising the profile of the United Way in this region.

Newberry represents programs, fundraising and partnerships that benefit the whole community and has been working to establish connections within the community.

Her work includes managing an online directory that lists free programs and services available in Williams Lake.

The web site www.accesswilliamslake.org is a project of the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake in partnership with the Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way with further support from the Social Development Working Group of the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition.

The site includes more than 800 addresses and contact information for programs that provide clothing, computer access, crime victim support, dental care, employment, disability support, education, pre-schools, day-care centres, faith groups, after-school programs, tutoring and mentoring services, foster family information, chronic illness support and programs for kids with horses.

 

Printed copies are available at the library, Salvation Army, Williams Lake City Hall, Women’s Contact Society, Cariboo Memorial Complex and Cariboo Friendship Society.