Sleepless

Why we're pulling an all-nighter for United Way

Hunger, mental health, intimate partner violence and social isolation aren’t just big city problems. In the county, these issues may be harder to see, or look a little different, but we still need to work together to address them.

Now, issues like hunger, social isolation, intimate partner violence, and mental health, need to become part of the conversation too. COVID-19 has amplified these issues and, as leaders in our community, it’s important we learn more to take a stand.

The stronger the sense of connection—local people working together—the more resilient the community. You can help Elgin County recover and become stronger when you make a donation or pledge a participant. 

That’s the power of community.

Local issues in Elgin County:

• 1 in 5 kids in our community live in a household that struggles to pay rent and put food on the table

• An all-time low vacancy rate of 1.7% across our region drives rent costs highest and makes it even harder to find decent, affordable housing if  you’re a family living in poverty

• 78% of workers aged 18-29 in our community are employed in precarious jobs

• Almost 67% of intimate partner violence victims were women and girls