2020 Community Investments
United Way of Thunder Bay invests available resources in strategic ways to move the needle on poverty in our community.
Members of our volunteer Community Investment Panel evaluate and make recommendations to fund certain programs, collaborations and initiatives that create measurable, lasting change in real lives.
Below are some of our recent investments that are helping to support vulnerable people throughout Northwestern Ontario.
Community Investment
| ORGANIZATION | PROJECT NAME | COMMUNITY |
|---|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Club | Windsor Club After School and Evening Programs | Thunder Bay |
| Boys and Girls Club | Child Nutrition Program – Breakfast Club | Thunder Bay |
| Boys and Girls Club | Vale Unit After School and Evening Programs | Thunder Bay |
| Boys and Girls Club | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Catholic Family Development Centre | Sustaining Clinical Counselling Services to the Most Vulnerable | Thunder Bay |
| Catholic Family Development Centre | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Children’s Centre of Thunder Bay | Walk-In Counselling Clinic | Thunder Bay |
| Children’s Centre of Thunder Bay | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Community Clothing Assistance | The REFFERAL Project | Thunder Bay |
| Community Clothing Assistance | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario | Breaking Down Barriers and Building Community Communications | Thunder Bay |
| Evergreen a United Neighborhood | Volunteer Coordination and Evergreen Feeding Program | Thunder Bay |
| Evergreen a United Neighborhood | Evergreen Strong Neighbourhoods | Thunder Bay |
| Evergreen a United Neighborhood | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| John Howard Society of Thunder Bay and District | Community Intergration Program | Thunder Bay |
| John Howard Society of Thunder Bay and District | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Lakehead Social Planning Council | 211 North (Online) | Thunder Bay |
| Lakehead Social Planning Council | 211 Poverty Reduction Walk-In Program | Thunder Bay |
| Lakehead Social Planning Council | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| March of Dimes | The Warehouse Project | Thunder Bay |
| Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| NorthWind Family Ministries | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Our Kids Count of Thunder Bay | A Kitchen for our Community, Food Security Programming | Thunder Bay |
| Our Kids Count of Thunder Bay | Big Brothers Big Sisters | Thunder Bay |
| Our Kids Count of Thunder Bay | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| PRO Kids | PRO Kids Allocation of Children into Activity Programming | Thunder Bay |
| Regional Food Distribution Association | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Regional Food Distribution Association | Poverty Proofing Accreditation | Thunder Bay |
| Roots to Harvest | School Outreach Programs | Thunder Bay |
| Roots to Harvest | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Shkoday Abinojiiwak Obimiwedoon | Biwaasea’aa and Aboriginal Head Start Program | Thunder Bay |
| St. Andrew’s Soup Kitchen | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Counselling | Psychosocial Counselling Program | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Counselling | Youth Life Skills Programs – CHOICES and Youth Well-Being | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Counselling | Financial Counselling Program | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Counselling | Family Violence Counselling Program | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Counselling | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Emergency Shelter Inc. | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Food Bank | Food Bank Services | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Food Bank | Unrestricted Funding | Thunder Bay |
COVID-19 COMMUNITY RELIEF FUND
| ORGANIZATION | PROJECT NAME | COMMUNITY |
|---|---|---|
| Roots to Harvest | Emergency Good Food Box for Seniors | Thunder Bay |
| St. Andrew Soup Kitchen Inc. | Take me Home. lunches from the Dew | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Emergency Shelter Inc. | Shelter House COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Sheltering the Community | Thunder Bay |
| Regional Food Distribution Association | Emergency Food Bank Hamper Distribution | Thunder Bay |
| Our Kids Count of Thunder Bay, INC. | Our Kids Count Covid-19 Response | Thunder Bay |
| Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre | Regional First Nation Emergency Good Food Box | Thunder Bay |
| Boys and Girls Club of Thunder Bay | Brown Bag Lunch Program – Vale/Limbrick | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay and Area Victim Services | Crisis Support Fund | Thunder Bay |
| Regional Food Distribution Association | PPE Purchase | Thunder Bay |
| Lakehead Social Planning Council | Connecting At-Risk Seniors and Shut-ins to Food Delivery Program | Thunder Bay |
| Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario | Emergency Response Program | Thunder Bay |
| Elevate NOW | Operation “Not Forgotten” | Thunder Bay |
| The Children’s Aid Society of Thunder Bay | Re-Stock the Food Cupboard | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay and District Humane Society | COVID-19 Pet Food Delivery Program | Thunder Bay |
| NorWest Community Health Centre | Emergency COVID Response Program | Thunder Bay |
| Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay | Caregiver Care Kits | Thunder Bay |
| Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre | EXTENSION: Regional First Nation Emergency Good Food Box | Thunder Bay |
| Catholic Family Development Centre | Men’s Engagement Program | Thunder Bay |
| Roots to Harvest | EXTENSION: Emergency Good Food Box for Seniors | Thunder Bay |
| Roots to Harvest | Emergency Cell Phone Project | Thunder Bay |
| NorWest Community Health Centres | NorWest Emergency COVID Support Program (Contd) | Thunder Bay |
| Alzheimer Society Thunder Bay | Caregiver Care Kits | Thunder Bay |
| St. Andrew Soup Kitchen Inc. | Take Me Home 2, Lunches from the Dew | Thunder Bay |
New Horizons for Seniors Funding
| ORGANIZATION | PROJECT NAME | COMMUNITY |
|---|---|---|
| Ma’mo’weh Wii’soo’ka’tiwin Foundation | Covid 19 Seniors Meals on Wheels | Kenora, ON |
| Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council | Remote First Nation Security Program | Balmertown, ON |
| Town of Nipigon | Covid 19 Seniors Wellness Program | Nipigon, ON |
| Alzheimer Society of Kenora Rainy River Districts | Activity Kits | Kenora, ON |
| Manitouwadge Golden Age Centre | Senior Virtual Social Events | Manitouwadge, ON |
| Matawa First Nations Management | Elder Support Services in Traditional Languages | Thunder Bay, ON |
| Atikokan Pioneer Centre | Telephone Check-In, Delivery Service and Teleconferencing | Atikokan, ON |
| City of Dryden | Extended Program for Meals on Wheels and Food Hampers | Dryden, ON |
| Canadian Mental Health Association, Fort Frances Branch | Increased Technological Capacity for Seniors | Fort Frances, ON |
| Lakehead Social Planning Council | 211 Adult Service Coordinator and Age Friendly Newletter | Thunder Bay, ON |
Emergency Community Support Fund
| ORGANIZATION | PROJECT NAME | COMMUNITY |
|---|---|---|
| St. Andrew Soup Kitchen Inc. | It takes 2 to daily do the Dew. | Thunder Bay |
| Crossroads Centre Inc. | Release from custody COVID hygiene kits | Thunder Bay |
| Grace Ministries of Thunder Bay | Covid-19 Food Serving Barriers | Thunder Bay |
| Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada | Starlight Play From Home Packs. | Thunder Bay |
| ELEVATE NOW | Safe Place = Healthy Place | Thunder Bay |
| Handicapped Action Group Incorporated | Supporting Vulnerable Individuals | Thunder Bay |
| Hospice Northwest | Technology to link isolated seniors with family and volunteers | Thunder Bay |
| Alzheimer Society Thunder Bay | Caregiver Care Kits | Thunder Bay |
| Precious Bundles Clothing Assistance Program | COVID-19 Family Essential Item Recovery Project | Thunder Bay |
| St. Andrew Soup Kitchen Inc. | Take me home, Dinners from the Dew | Thunder Bay |
| Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre | Good Food Box Bridge Program | Thunder Bay |
| Roots to Harvest | Food Capacity Infrastructure | Thunder Bay |
| AIDS COMMITTEE THUNDER BAY (operating name ELEVATE NWO) | No one left behind 2.0 | Thunder Bay |
| NorWest Community Health Centres | NorWest Community COVID Response Project | Thunder Bay |
| NorthWind Family Ministries | Emergency Mental Health Support to Families in Thunder Bay | Thunder Bay |
| Ma’mo’weh Wii’soo’ka’tiwin Foudation | Reduce Social Isolation & Improve Mental Health Through Crafts | Kenora |
| Pic Mobert First Nation | COVID-19 Emergency Response | Pic Mobert First Nation |
| Community Living Atikokan | Essential Services for Vulnerable Populations & Communities | Atikokan |
| Township of Schreiber | Schreiber Senior Centre COVID-19 Helping Hands | Schreiber |
| Easter Seals Ontario | Camp E-aster Seals | Thunder Bay |
| Teach For Canada | Supporting First Nations Education Through the COVID-19 Pandemic | Fort Severn, Bearskin Lake, Pikangikum |
| Catholic Family Development Centre | Individual/Group Counselling to Crossroads Centre Clients | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Counselling Centre | Enriching Community Coping and Connections | Thunder Bay |
| Frontier College | Championing Literacy in Thunder Bay | Thunder Bay |
| Catholic Family Development Centre | Grief and CareGiver Counselling Supports to our Seniors | Thunder Bay |
| Hope Air | Flights of Hope and Accommodation for Medical Care | Northwestern Ontario |
| Gathering of Rivers for Community Care | Matawa Food Security Project | Matawa Tribal Communities |
| Our Kids Count of Thunder Bay Inc. | OKC Gets Virtual | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Food Bank | Preparing to Safely Re-Open | Thunder Bay |
| The Gathering Place | Program adaptations for current and future pandemic protocols. | Thunder Bay |
| Grace Ministries of Thunder Bay | Grace Place Day Shelter | Thunder Bay |
| The Word Hub | The word hub drop in centre and community kitchen | Kenora |
| Thunder Bay Public Library | Bridging the Digital Divide – Access for those who need it most | Thunder Bay |
| March of Dimes Canada | Social Connect | Thunder Bay |
| Shkoday | Transitioning safely in 2020. | Thunder Bay |
| Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario | Abolishing Hunger – One Bag At A Time | Thunder Bay |
| Town of Nipigon | Community Food Security | Nipigon |
| Gathering Table a Faith Community in the Anglican Church of Canada | Computerize the food cupboard operation | Thunder Bay |
| Schreiber Public Library | Community, Connecting and Learning | Schreiber |
| City of Thunder Bay Crime Prevention Council | Community Emergency Food Security Plan (CEFSP) | Thunder Bay |
| Rotary Club of Guelph Charitable Trust | Transport of Medical Supplies and Clothing to Indigenous Communities. | Fort William First Nation |
| Brain Injury Services of Northern Ontario | Cellphones to People Project | Thunder Bay |
| Catholic Family Development Centre | Technology Collaboration for Clinical Counselling Virtually | Thunder Bay |
| Regional Food Distribution Association of Northwestern Ontario | Food Disrtibution Storage and Logistics Infrastructure | Thunder Bay |
| Spinal Cord Injury Ontario | The Safe@Home Project – Thunder Bay | Thunder Bay |
| Evergreen a United Neighbourhood | Evergreen Covid-19 Community Supports | Thunder Bay |
| St. Joseph’s Foundation of Thunder Bay | St. Joseph’s Care Group Televisitation Program | Thunder Bay |
| Greenstone Victim Services | Improve accessibility to respond to clients 24/7 during COVID-19 | Thunder Bay |
| Lakehead Social Planning Council | Lakehead Social Planning Council | Thunder Bay |
| George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation | George Jeffrey Children’s Centre – Commitment to Service | Thunder Bay |
| Alzheimer Society Thunder Bay | Care Kits | Thunder Bay |
| FIREFLY | Technology for Youth in Need of Clinical Support | Thunder Bay |
| Children’s Aid Society | PPE & Food for bio children and families CAS serves | Thunder Bay |
| Thunder Bay Public Library | Digital Access Initiative | Thunder Bay |
COVID-19 Investments: In response to COVID-19, United Way of Thunder Bay provided extraordinary unrestricted grants to help maintain the stability of frontline service providers during the pandemic. In partnership with the Thunder Bay Community Foundation, we launched the Thunder Bay COVID-19 Community Relief Fund to meet basic needs of individuals, children, families and seniors affected by COVID-19. Additionally, United Way of Thunder Bay delivered support for seniors in our region through the New Horizons for Seniors fund, and collaborated with the Thunder Bay Community Foundation to administer a vital first round investment of $985,308 by the Government of Canada in critical services for vulnerable people in our region through the Emergency Community Support Fund.
