The DDSB and United Way Durham continue to support the community with the Winter Marketplace

Over 20 Years of Partnership

“I’ve been with United Way Durham Region for 21 years, and our partnership with the Durham District School Board (DDSB) precedes that,” says Lynn Martin, Campaign Manager for United Way Durham.

Martin, along with Sherry MacLeod, Traci Tippett, and Barbara Oram, organized this year’s annual United Way Winter Marketplace at the Education Centre in Whitby. The event was held on December 11, with 14 vendors set up in the atrium from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

MacLeod is also a Campaign Manager for United Way Durham, Tippett is a sponsored employee from the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, and Barbara Oram is the Partnership Development Coordinator for the DDSB.

“This is our second year having multiple vendors participate,” says Oram. She adds that all the vendors are local entrepreneurs, and 20 per cent of all sales go directly to United Way Durham. “The United Way Durham directly impacts families in our community, so this is a way for DDSB staff to give back to them. We want to support their wellness and student achievement.”

Something for Everyone

Vendors offered makeup, food and tea, jewellery, home décor pieces, winter outerwear, and much more to their target audience of DDSB staff and visitors.

The DDSB also hosts the start and end location for the annual Ride4UnitedWay fundraiser at the Education Centre in Whitby every year, and partners with United Way Durham to distribute over 3,000 free backpacks to Durham students in need. Additionally, this year’s DDSB employee giving campaign has raised over $34,000 and counting. This all adds up, making DDSB an important United Way Durham partner.

Tippett explains why supporting the United Way Winter Marketplace is important to her, “The opportunity to assist United Way Durham gives me a feeling of purpose and has been beyond rewarding.”

MacLeod adds, “Everybody is working together in the holiday spirit, and it brings the entire community together.”

This year, at the 2018 Winter Marketplace, the amount gifted back to United Way was $1251.85.