2024/25 Impact Report

Listening, Responding, and Building a Stronger Chatham-Kent

We believe real change begins when our community has a voice. In 2025, residents shared their priorities, concerns, and ideas through surveys, focus groups, and conversations—helping shape a future focused on equity, prevention, and long-term impact.

Supporting Families and Students

No one should have to miss school, work, or daily life because they lack essential supplies. Yet menstrual hygiene products remain one of the most requested—but least donated—items at food banks. This year, Chatham-Kent hosted its first Period Promise Drive-thru Drop Off, collecting 1,700 packages of products to support local individuals in need.

BaCK-to-school support also made a real difference. 515 gift cards were distributed to families, giving students the supplies they need to feel prepared, confident, and ready to learn. One recipient shared:

“I cannot thank you enough for the gift cards to help with back-to-school items. This was a tremendous help during this time and helped get the kids happy and excited to show off their new stuff. I am forever grateful for the smiles this donation brought to my kids.”

Connecting Residents to Services

Through our partnership with 211, residents accessed essential information and supports, including housing, safety, health, food, and general services. Last year, 211 was accessed 936 times in Chatham-Kent, helping connect people to the right resources when they needed them most.

The Tilbury Information & H.E.L.P. Centre (TIHC) also provided critical support, with over 3,368 visits to its food bank and 1,019 individuals accessing social, employment, and referral services.

Community Voices Guiding the Future

The release of Voices of Chatham-Kent: Shaping Our Community’s Future Together marks a milestone in community-driven planning. Residents highlighted top priorities including affordable housing, mental health and addiction supports, healthcare access, food security, youth development, employment, and transportation. The feedback is clear: services must be easy to access, better connected, and focused on prevention.

United Way is exploring a collective impact approach, including the Cradle to Career (C2C) strategy, to connect programs, strengthen supports, and create lasting change.

Looking Ahead: The Path Forward

Over the coming months, we will engage with residents, donors, partners, unions, and community leaders to refine our strategies. By early 2026, this feedback will shape our new fiscal year investment plan—grounded in equity, prevention, and long-term solutions.

✨ Discover the full story of impact, hope, and partnership in our 2024/25 Annual Impact Report below.

Last updated on November 10, 2025