Sharing the Local Love this Family Day
Family Day always reminds me of the incredible privilege of raising my two daughters. They’ve filled my life with so much joy and taught me the true meaning of patience, resilience, and unconditional love. Their laughter fills my home with joy, and their curiosity challenges me to see the world through fresh eyes.
As my daughters grow, their needs grow too. Like many parents, I’ve had to manage the rising costs of school, extracurricular activities, and everyday essentials that always seem to add up.
It’s a delicate balance of prioritizing essentials and making compromises. Even in challenging times, I am grateful to be able to provide for them.
Sadly, not everyone in our community has that same privilege. Too many families are facing impossible decisions. Keeping their homes warm this winter or buying groceries for their children. These aren’t choices anyone should have to make, yet they’re becoming all too common in Halton and Hamilton.
The need in our community is growing. Rising costs of living, ongoing housing insecurity, and an alarming increase in food insecurity are putting immense pressure on families. In 2023, 24.2% of Ontario households experienced food insecurity—up from 18.7% in 2022.
These aren’t just numbers. They are parents who skipped meals so their children wouldn’t go hungry, seniors struggling to afford both medication and groceries, and individuals visiting food banks for the first time, overwhelmed by circumstances they never imagined.
United Way-supported agencies are on the frontlines of this crisis, providing lifelines like food programs, mental health supports, housing assistance, and parenting resources. With demand skyrocketing, these vital services are being stretched thin. Waitlists are growing, and without consistent funding, many programs risk being unable to meet the needs of those who rely on them most.
This is why United Way Halton & Hamilton has set an urgent goal of raising $12.5 million this year for our community. This funding is essential to ensure these programs remain accessible for the families, children, and seniors who depend on them.
Our community has always risen to the occasion and shown incredible generosity, showing time and again that we are more than neighbours—we are a family.
Through the Local Love Community Match, your generosity can go even further. Every $4 donation is matched with an additional $1, amplifying the impact of your support and bringing us closer to meeting the goal for the community. Together, we can build a community where everyone in Halton and Hamilton feels supported.
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and meaningful Family Day.
Brad Park
President and CEO
United Way Halton & Hamilton
