UNITED WAY LEEDS & GRENVILLE LAUNCHES EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANT TO SUPPORT FIRE VICTIMS

Tanya Noyes • August 27, 2025

Local Mayor Leads Community Appeal for Urgent Support

Leeds & Grenville, ON – United Way Leeds & Grenville, alongside Mayor Matt Wren, is calling on the community to come together in response to the devastating fire that has displaced and impacted local families. To meet this urgent need, United Way Leeds & Grenville is taking immediate action through two vital programs:

1. Urgent Needs Fund – Immediate Relief for Families Through the Urgent Needs Fund, United Way provides direct financial assistance to fire victims. These funds are used quickly and flexibly for essentials such as emergency housing, food, and clothing—helping families stabilize and begin rebuilding their lives right away.

2. Emergency Response Grant – Strengthening Community Recovery United Way is also launching a new Emergency Response Grant, designed to help local nonprofits deliver critical relief and recovery services. These grants will be fast-tracked to ensure organizations on the frontlines have the resources they need to respond effectively. While inspired by this fire, the grant will remain in place as a standing resource for future emergencies, ensuring our region is prepared to respond quickly when disaster strikes.

How the Process Works

• Step 1: Community Appeal for Donations – United Way will serve as the trusted hub for emergency donations, ensuring contributions are coordinated and managed transparently.

• Step 2: Opening Agency Applications – Once funds are secured, eligible local agencies engaged in disaster response will be invited to apply for support.

• Step 3: Accountability and Recovery – Agencies receiving funds will report back on how dollars were used and the impact achieved, ensuring both transparency and measurable community outcomes.

“Families need help today, but our community also needs the tools to recover tomorrow,” said Mayor Matt Wren. “These two programs work hand in hand to ensure no one is left behind in this crisis.”

United Way is urging residents, businesses, and community leaders to contribute. Every donation will go directly toward relief and recovery, ensuring both immediate support for families and long-term community strength. Donations can be made online at www.uwlg.org or by calling 613-342-8889.

“United Way has always been here to support our most vulnerable,” said Hailie Jack, Executive Director of United Way Leeds & Grenville. “This initiative brings together both emergency aid and community recovery—because our neighbors need help now, and they will continue to need us in the months ahead.”

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About United Way Leeds & Grenville

United Way Leeds & Grenville invests in programs and initiatives that address the most pressing needs in our communities. Through collaboration, accountability, and compassion, United Way helps build a strong social safety net that ensures residents have the support they need to thrive.

Media Contact: Hailie Jack, Executive Director | ed@uwlg.org | 613-342-8889

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United Way Leeds & Grenville Responds Immediately to Support Families Impacted by Fire

By Tanya Noyes • August 26, 2025

In the wake of the recent fire, United Way Leeds & Grenville (UWLG) has stepped in right away to provide assistance through its Urgent Needs Fund (UNF) . This includes helping some families who, as a result of the fire, have been left without a home. The Urgent Needs Fund was created to support individuals and families across Leeds & Grenville who are at risk of homelessness due to extraordinary, unexpected costs. These modest one-time grants provide emergency financial assistance for essential needs such as a winter furnace repair, a car battery needed to maintain employment, or other urgent expenses. In circumstances like this fire, the UNF also helps families manage immediate needs following devastating losses. While the UNF does not cover housing payments or arrears, it plays a vital prevention role by addressing sudden financial pressures that could otherwise push families into homelessness. Preventing this outcome not only spares families the disruption and trauma of losing their home but also helps reduce demand on already overstretched shelter and housing systems. “When crisis hits—like the fire that displaced families in our community—the Urgent Needs Fund allows us to act immediately,” said Hailie Jack, Executive Director. “But the need doesn’t end here. We rely on the generosity of donors to ensure we can continue to respond when families are facing their darkest moments.” United Way Leeds & Grenville is calling on the community to support the Urgent Needs Fund so it can remain a lifeline for families who are suddenly at risk of homelessness—whether through personal crisis or large-scale emergencies. To make a donation, please visit: https://give.unitedway.ca/donate/WBROCK (choose Urgent Needs Fund in the drop down menu).