The Perth-Huron United Way is looking for expressions of interest from non-profit groups that believe funding from the United Way would help with their work in the community.
Executive Director Ryan Erb explains interested applicants are being asked to RSVP to the United Way for a training session which will be held Wednesday at the United Centre on Erie Street in Stratford.
Erb says the reason for doing it this way is they want to open the process up to more potential partners.
Erb adds the United Way has identified three specific focuses going forward and want to work with anyone who can provide social services to the community within that framework.
Erb points out it's too early to say whether that will mean expanding the list of the organizations they support. More information about the expressions of interest and the United Way's programs can be found on their website.
"What the process allows us to do is have a look at the widest possible opportunities for the community to invest the United Way's dollars that's for the volunteers to make the wisest investment it possibly can given our new focus areas. And they will have opportunity to fund with the discretion to decide how many organizations." Erb said.
Erb also adds they spend a significant amount of time and resources on addressing root causes of social problems and they're not going to abandon emergency services like food banks, but they also want to support organizations that try to change those social conditions.
