KGH United Way campaign launches annual employee appeal

It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. It's everyones' chance to pause and appreciate the good food and good fortune we are able to share with our families and friends. It's also as good a time as any to think about the people in our community who may have a lot less on the table than we do. And this is where our annual Kingston General Hospital United Way campaign comes in.

This year, it runs from Tuesday, Oct. 15 to Friday, Oct. 25 and the goal is to raise $50,000 with a staff participation rate of 10 per cent.

"Making a donation is an easy way to help keep our community vibrant and strong," says Chris Hammer, our Employee Campaign Coordinator. "Every dollar has a lot of impact. Last year, the United Way in our region supported programs that benefitted about 85,000 people."

As part of this year's campaign, the team will be holding it's popular Apple Blossom sale again. The desserts will be going for $3 each in the Atrium on Monday, Oct. 21 and 22. The money raised by the sale will go towards our campaign goal but it's also about raising awareness of the important community work the United Way is doing.

"We hope staff all over KGH will consider making a regular donation. Even $5 per paycheque would be great, as those kinds of contributions add up fast and the money goes right to the people in our community who need a helping hand the most," says Hammer.

Signing up for a regular donation will also be easier than ever. The United Way has been working with our Information Management and Payroll departments to make available an online pledge form that can be submitted electronically. It allows you to chose how often you'd like to contribute and even target where you would like your donation to go. For example, you can direct your dollars to a specific agency or to a particular goal of the United Way, such as helping children reach their fullest potential.

As always, there will be an Early Bird prize draw. The first 100 people to make a donation will automatically be in the running to win a big Thanksgiving-themed gift basket. A second gift basket will also be up for grabs. Hammer says he will be selling raffle tickets for it during the two-week campaign.

For more information, check out the United Way online.