UNITY — A catchy saying has evolved in Unity. ‘There is no community without Unity in it.” People form communities because of common goals and interests.
We might not always acknowledge or recognize it but there is a full circle in community support in Unity. We buy a ticket, we attend an event being hosted, we support a local cause through a barbecue or donation and, in the end, that not only benefits the fundraising group, the event or the local cause but it circles around and benefits the community as a whole.
Draw a circle and put on 12 o’clock of the curve an event, going clockwise put your support of the activity in the three o'clock position. In the six o’clock position put a donation back into the community from the event and by the nine o’clock position you can include yourself enjoying the benefits of that donation. And, so the full circle continues to cycle, for whatever support you have been part of whether it's business, organization or program support.
Without specifically tracking each donation made throughout 2023, approximate figures have been generated from various stories we have covered in showcasing to residents the numbers in dollars that have gone back into community places and spaces. It would be impossible, in a single story, to outline each action that contributes to the full circle but some that come to mind from recent stories written are included here.
Unity Western Days rely on community support of sponsors and attendees at their annual June event. In 2023, they donated $40,000 to eight organizations benefitting Unity Gymnastics, Unity museum, Unity 4-H, Unity Lions and Town of Unity walking paths lights as well as all three schools.
In their continued commitment to the community, Unity Credit Union donated $50,000 to paths and 50,0000 to the health care auxiliary to purchase new beds plus several years of donations to Unity Golf Club. The business’s annual report details the donations they make each year.
Delta Co-op Easter events, kids’ baking parties, meet-the-manager food-bank barbecues, “Fuel Good” fundraiser, Communities in Colour, pool parties and more all offer a give-back component to their community. Delta Co-op also outlines its care for community through donations, sponsorships and volunteer efforts in their annual report each year.
Unity Lions combined with other contributions put more than $50,000 into pathway development because of the community’s support of their fundraisers or gatekeeping volunteer work.
Many donating businesses, service clubs and individuals also offer volunteer hours for projects and activities seeking assistance.
Unity graduates received 42 scholarships and bursaries equaling thousands of dollars toward student post-secondary goals. All are donated by community businesses, organizations and individuals because they believe in the power of paying it forward.
Unity Music Festival participants also receive hundreds of dollars in scholarships and awards. In turn, they provide at least two events a year to share the gift of music and the arts with their community while developing young talent.
Unity Kin Club has initiated Kin Park fundraising to help upgrade the space. They also put $11,000 from a Telemiracle-specific fundraiser towards this annual provincial telethon. Unity has benefitted in the past from Telemiracle funding, most notably the handivan purchase.
In 2022, Unity KidSport was able to sponsor 48 individual grants totalling $9,119. The small committee appreciates donations as well as holds its own fundraising efforts to enable it to fulfil its mandate of every kid getting a chance to play.
Minor ball and minor hockey are often beneficiaries of donations to help offset registration costs, upgrade facilities, or make equipment replacement purchases, in addition to holding fundraisers of their own.
When members of a community support other members in their community it results in lower costs of service, more project development or viability of programs, places and spaces.
Now imagine none of this occurring. Imagine our graduates not receiving a single scholarship. Imagine our minor sports programs not receiving financial assistance and relying on families to foot the bill for all things associated with that program. Imagine no walking paths at all because this well-utilized and valued benefit has all been because of donations both financially and in-kind work, as well as volunteer efforts.
In-kind, behind-the-scenes donations are never fully known. Whether it’s contractors helping build sheds for local sports organizations using their equipment to help move material or even building snow piles at a local school for the enjoyment of kids, often these gestures go without fanfare yet are still valuable and appreciated.
Strong communities have a sense of purpose. The bigger picture relies on people’s roles in a community, and it seems each resident understands how their work or their support connects to others and infinitely adds value to the community as a whole. The saying goes, “Members of a community, people don’t just want to lay bricks, they want to build a castle.”
Everyone take the minute to thank or shake the hand of anyone listed in this story or give yourself a pat on the back for contributing to this full circle that helps create the culture of community in Unity.
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