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Disasters bring people
together, says Lifchus As Peterborough continues to operate under a state of emergency from the July 15 flood, Len Lifchus, executive director, says, "bad times bring everyone together." He points out the previous local flood in 2002, the major ice storm from a few years ago and the forest fires in British Columbia as events that brought people together and engaged them in their communities. "But let's not wait for bad times in the future," he says. The United Way is doing its part to help out Peterborough flood victims in many different ways. For instance, the Ontario Trillium Foundation requested the United Way call a meeting to help get non-profits back in business. The United Way has pledged additional human resources to assist agencies and is holding a meeting tomorrow at 2 pm at Royal Gardens on Clonsilla Avenue. As well, Len says the United Way is approaching grant foundations and applying on behalf of the groups hit by the flood, using whatever leverage they can. Thirteen agencies were impacted by the flood, and five were member agencies. Alison Casey, special projects co-ordinator at the United Way, says she is sitting on the committee of the Peterborough Flood Relief Concert, representing the United Way. However, she stresses the United Way's efforts are 100 per cent for flood victims, not for the United Way itself. "We're interested in being community builders," she says. Alison says the United Way has been acting as an information service, connecting agencies and directing people where to donate money. As well, they have taken a lead role in planning the upcoming concert, to be held Friday, Aug. 6 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The benefit concert will raise urgently needed funds to support the flood relief effort. With each dollar being raised through the disaster fund, the provincial government will match it two to one. This includes money from the concert, personal donations and any other money directed to this fund. Alison says the agency and its supporters will assist with T-shirts, posters and 50/50 draw ticket sales, as well as with income tax receipts. Volunteers will be asked to sell merchandise in the lobby of the Memorial Centre and assist with issuing tax receipts for those interested in making donations at the concert. An artist auction online sale at www.floodreliefauction.com,
to be held after Aug 6, is an opportunity to bid on local art
that will be featured in support of the concert.
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Peaceful Communities is reaching more people! The Grassroots Review |
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