Latest news with #TogetherWeCan
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Together We Can' program raises over $100K for community causes
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Thunderbirds have once again proven themselves champions off the ice, wrapping up the 2024-25 season with over $100,000 raised for community causes through their 'Together We Can' partnership with M&T Bank. Springfield Bishop William Byrne remarks on elected Pope Leo XIV The initiative, which emphasizes outreach and support for organizations across Western Massachusetts, also featured more than 400 community appearances by players and the team's mascot, Boomer. 'As we approach our 10th anniversary, our commitment to being a true champion for the Western Massachusetts community has never been stronger,' said Thunderbirds President Nathan Costa. 'Partners like M&T Bank help us go even further, and we're continually inspired by the generosity and resilience of the 413.' The extensive outreach spanned a variety of efforts, from charitable game nights to youth-focused educational programs. Among the standout events was the team's School Day Game on Nov. 6, which welcomed more than 6,000 students to the MassMutual Center for a blend of hockey action and classroom learning through a custom T-Birds workbook supported by Fontaine Bros. Construction and MassMutual. The Thunderbirds also championed animal welfare at their Pucks & Paws Night on Nov. 15, where each 'dog ticket' benefited the Foundation for TJO Animals. Meanwhile, the annual Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 7 collected a record 7,162 stuffed animals, which were distributed to more than 15 local organizations serving children and families. Hunger relief played a central role in the team's continued support of the Rock 102 Mayflower Marathon, where the Thunderbirds' Nov. 22 game helped boost total donations to over $236,000 for the Open Pantry. The team also mobilized aid for natural disaster victims with Hurricanes for Hurricane Relief in November and a January campaign in partnership with the Springfield Fire Department that raised $4,000 for California firefighters affected by wildfires. The team's annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Nov. 30 saw forward Sam Bitten once again lead the charge with Bitsy's Army merchandise and fundraising, honoring his cousin's memory and supporting brain cancer research. Proceeds benefited Baystate Children's Hospital, CHD's Cancer House of Hope, and other regional cancer charities. The season also saw the return of signature events like Pink in the Rink, which raised $38,300 for the Rays of Hope Foundation in March, and Military Appreciation Night, which featured an on-ice enlistment ceremony and supported local veterans' organizations. Continuing its commitment to inclusivity, the club's Sensory-Friendly Sunday on March 16 offered a welcoming environment for fans with sensory sensitivities. With support from MAACO, the team began offering free Sensory Bags—including headphones and sunglasses—for all home games. In the realm of education, the Stick to Reading program encouraged students at over 50 schools to develop a love of books in exchange for game tickets. Boomer's Reading Club, led by T-Birds forward Drew Callin, expanded its partnership with the Springfield City Library to reach seven branches, donating more than $1,500 in resources to support local readers. On the ice, the T-Birds' 'Practice with the Pros' program, presented by Dunkin', gave young athletes the chance to train with their heroes at more than 25 local rinks. Youth teams were also honored at the MassMutual Center during the GSL Parade of Champions. 'M&T Bank is honored to play a role in strengthening the communities in the Pioneer Valley in such a meaningful way,' said M&T Bank Senior Vice President Maureen Picknally. 'We are deeply committed to our community partners and strive to make a positive impact in people's lives and in the communities we serve.' With the season behind them, the Thunderbirds continue looking ahead to new ways to give back. As the franchise nears a decade in Springfield, its identity as a community-first organization remains firmly in place. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Households can now apply for cost of living cash worth £300
Read more to find out other benefits up for grabs amid the cost of living crisis CASH IN Households can now apply for cost of living cash worth £300 FAMILIES can cash in for a free payment worth up to £300 amid the cost of living crisis. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pool Council (BCP) is providing financial aid to households unable to meet basic costs. Advertisement 2 Families could get up to £300 worth of grants Credit: Alamy It comes as part of the seventh round of Household Support Fund (HSF) grants for the region. The council's initiative is funded by the UK's Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). It will help struggling families until Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The scheme aims to provide low-income households with vital short-term financial support. Advertisement READ MORE MONEY NEWS HELPING HAND Full list of free cash and discounts you can get if you're claiming PIP It will also give practical advice on money management and energy efficiency. Council leader Cllr Millie Earl said: "I'm pleased the HSF has been extended for a seventh round to support people with the cost of living." She added: "The initiative can provide struggling households with crucial financial support, as well as practical advice and guidance from experts to help residents make their money go further." The council is teaming up with its community and voluntary sector partners through the Together We Can partnership. Advertisement They will offer a range of support for struggling households amid the high cost of living. The benefits for eligible families will include household grants for essential bills and food support. Five key changes to PIP & Universal Credit as Labour's benefits crackdown unveiled Wraparound support will also available - addressing issues such as benefits advice, homelessness, domestic abuse, and practical budgeting and debt management guidance. The HSF also offers grant vouchers worth a whopping £150 to eligible residents in two separate rounds over the funding period. Advertisement This means households could be entitled to up to £300 in cost of living support over the year. Those who want to apply have to do so within the application windows - which are open at specific periods throughout the year. The HSF also provides a school holiday food voucher scheme for families with children. Families who are eligible could receive £15 for every child they have during the May half-term holidays. Advertisement The HSF also supports heat-saving upgrades - including loft or cavity wall insulation and other energy-saving measures to keep bills down. BCP Council is also working in collaboration with Dorset Community Foundation to provide small grants to community and volunteering organisations that are helping residents with cost of living issues. Eligible organisations can apply for up to £12,000 worth of HSF grant funding. 2 The £300 will come in two rounds of £150 payments Credit: Alamy
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Households can now apply for cost of living cash worth £300
FAMILIES can cash in for a free payment worth up to £300 amid the cost of living crisis. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pool Council (BCP) is providing financial aid to households unable to meet basic costs. 2 It comes as part of the seventh round of Household Support Fund (HSF) grants for the region. The council's initiative is funded by the UK's Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). It will help struggling families until Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The scheme aims to provide low-income households with vital short-term financial support. It will also give practical advice on money management and energy efficiency. Council leader Cllr Millie Earl said: "I'm pleased the HSF has been extended for a seventh round to support people with the cost of living." She added: "The initiative can provide struggling households with crucial financial support, as well as practical advice and guidance from experts to help residents make their money go further." The council is teaming up with its community and voluntary sector partners through the Together We Can partnership. They will offer a range of support for struggling households amid the high cost of living. The benefits for eligible families will include household grants for essential bills and food support. Five key changes to PIP & Universal Credit as Labour's benefits crackdown unveiled Wraparound support will also available - addressing issues such as benefits advice, homelessness, domestic abuse, and practical budgeting and debt management guidance. The HSF also offers grant vouchers worth a whopping £150 to eligible residents in two separate rounds over the funding period. This means households could be entitled to up to £300 in cost of living support over the year. Those who want to apply have to do so within the application windows - which are open at specific periods throughout the year. The HSF also provides a school holiday food voucher scheme for families with children. Families who are eligible could receive £15 for every child they have during the May half-term holidays. The HSF also supports heat-saving upgrades - including loft or cavity wall insulation and other energy-saving measures to keep bills down. BCP Council is also working in collaboration with Dorset Community Foundation to provide small grants to community and volunteering organisations that are helping residents with cost of living issues. Eligible organisations can apply for up to £12,000 worth of HSF grant funding.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Surrey grapples with growing homelessness as advocates call for more supportive housing
Upkar Singh Tatlay walks through a vacant property in Surrey, which he says he wants to transform into a neighborhood house — a hub where vulnerable residents and the broader community can access vital services. "We want the community as a whole to feel welcome here," he says, pointing out to the home's various spaces. His not-for-profit, Engaged Communities Canada Society, provides services ranging from personal hygiene products to emergency shelter and relief supplies during extreme weather. Upkar Singh Tatlay drives unhoused people from an overnight shelter in Surrey, B.C., to a day time warming trailer in the neighbouring city of White Rock on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Tatley says they do their best to keep up with demand, but that the growing need for support in Surrey is outpacing their efforts. "Food security challenges ... health challenges in the community seem to be increasing in exponential rate, as well as with housing challenges," he said. Rising homelessness in Surrey Surrey's rapid population growth and escalating rental rates have exacerbated the housing crisis, which housing advocates and service providers say has left them scrambling to meet the growing demand. The number of unhoused people in Surrey has soared by 65 per cent since 2020, according to city statistics. Of the estimated 1,060 homeless residents, as of October 2023, more than 400 were unsheltered. Statistics from the City of Surrey reveal rental rates have risen by 74 per cent since 2015. (Jesse Johnston/CBC) According to the city, rental rates also rose by 74 per cent between 2015 and 2023. Steven Hall, who works with Together We Can, which offers addiction treatment, transitional housing and after-care initiatives, says the pressure to find affordable housing is felt across the support sector. "There's not a lot of spaces out there and the funding is fairly limited," he said. "The unfortunate reality is the pressure is being put on us as a service provider to try and get as many people into treatment for as cheap as possible while still providing a high level of care." City officials have acknowledged the challenges, noting that people relying on income assistance, disability benefits or lower-wage jobs are at an increased risk of homelessness. Urgency to meet the demand Currently, city reports show Surrey has 536 shelter beds and just over 1,000 supportive and transitional housing units. But a recently adopted Homelessness Plan outlines a need for 2,326 new spaces and units by 2029, including 354 shelter spaces and 780 supportive housing units. Calls for more supportive housing have grown louder after Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim announced a plan to halt to such projects in his city, urging other municipalities, including Surrey, to share the responsibility. According to Sim, Vancouver has 77 per cent of the region's supportive services, including housing and shelters, but only 25 per cent of the population. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says Vancouver has 77 per cent of Metro Vancouver's supportive services but only 25 per cent of its population. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Surrey Coun. Linda Annis says she agrees. "I think it's a very fair comment," she told CBC News. "We aren't building enough, absolutely, no question about that." But Annis also stressed that supportive housing must come with the proper infrastructure to succeed. "We need to make sure that we've got great operators and we've got the wraparound services to support the housing units." WATCH | Housing minister questions Vancouver mayor's Downtown Eastside plan: B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says he agrees other communities in the region need to do more to support their vulnerable residents, but questioned Sim's strategy. "The simple truth is that if we don't get housing built, more people will end up living on the street or in encampments," he said in a statement to CBC News. "That doesn't work for folks living outside and it doesn't work for communities who have to bear the brunt of encampments." Kahlon also praised Surrey for embracing supportive housing, and completing some of the "Lower Mainland's most innovative supportive housing projects there." The minister says he is committed to working with municipalities and community partners to expand housing initiatives. As Upkar Singh Tatlay steps into a vacant property in Surrey, he says he is hoping to turn it into a neighborhood house. (CBC) In the meantime, Tatlay says he remains focused on immediate solutions, hoping to have the Surrey neighborhood house operational within weeks. "We want to make sure that we're providing medical services, food security services, that we're arriving where the impact is going to be felt the most, where people are really requiring the services the most," he said.
CBC
27-01-2025
- Health
- CBC
Surrey grapples with growing homelessness as advocates call for more supportive housing
Upkar Singh Tatlay walks through a vacant property in Surrey, which he says he wants to transform into a neighborhood house — a hub where vulnerable residents and the broader community can access vital services. "We want the community as a whole to feel welcome here," he says, pointing out to the home's various spaces. His not-for-profit, Engaged Communities Canada Society, provides services ranging from personal hygiene products to emergency shelter and relief supplies during extreme weather. Tatley says they do their best to keep up with demand, but that the growing need for support in Surrey is outpacing their efforts. "Food security challenges ... health challenges in the community seem to be increasing in exponential rate, as well as with housing challenges," he said. Rising homelessness in Surrey Surrey's rapid population growth and escalating rental rates have exacerbated the housing crisis, which housing advocates and service providers say has left them scrambling to meet the growing demand. The number of unhoused people in Surrey has soared by 65 per cent since 2020, according to city statistics. Of the estimated 1,060 homeless residents, as of October 2023, more than 400 were unsheltered. According to the city, rental rates also rose by 74 per cent between 2015 and 2023. Steven Hall, who works with Together We Can, which offers addiction treatment, transitional housing and after-care initiatives, says the pressure to find affordable housing is felt across the support sector. "There's not a lot of spaces out there and the funding is fairly limited," he said. "The unfortunate reality is the pressure is being put on us as a service provider to try and get as many people into treatment for as cheap as possible while still providing a high level of care." City officials have acknowledged the challenges, noting that people relying on income assistance, disability benefits or lower-wage jobs are at an increased risk of homelessness. Urgency to meet the demand Currently, city reports show Surrey has 536 shelter beds and just over 1,000 supportive and transitional housing units. But a recently adopted Homelessness Plan outlines a need for 2,326 new spaces and units by 2029, including 354 shelter spaces and 780 supportive housing units. Calls for more supportive housing have grown louder after Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim announced a plan to halt to such projects in his city, urging other municipalities, including Surrey, to share the responsibility. According to Sim, Vancouver has 77 per cent of the region's supportive services, including housing and shelters, but only 25 per cent of the population. Surrey Coun. Linda Annis says she agrees. "I think it's a very fair comment," she told CBC News. "We aren't building enough, absolutely, no question about that." But Annis also stressed that supportive housing must come with the proper infrastructure to succeed. "We need to make sure that we've got great operators and we've got the wraparound services to support the housing units." WATCH | Housing minister questions Vancouver mayor's Downtown Eastside plan: Minister takes aim at Vancouver mayor's housing plan for Downtown Eastside | Canada Tonight 2 days ago Duration 8:42 Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has unveiled a controversial plan to revitalize the city's Downtown Eastside, an area once described as Canada's poorest postal code, that would halt the construction of net-new supportive housing units. Ravi Kahlon, B.C. minister of housing and municipal affairs, says linking supportive housing to crime is 'false' and a 'major challenge.' B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says he agrees other communities in the region need to do more to support their vulnerable residents, but questioned Sim's strategy. "The simple truth is that if we don't get housing built, more people will end up living on the street or in encampments," he said in a statement to CBC News. "That doesn't work for folks living outside and it doesn't work for communities who have to bear the brunt of encampments." Kahlon also praised Surrey for embracing supportive housing, and completing some of the "Lower Mainland's most innovative supportive housing projects there." The minister says he is committed to working with municipalities and community partners to expand housing initiatives. In the meantime, Tatlay says he remains focused on immediate solutions, hoping to have the Surrey neighborhood house operational within weeks. "We want to make sure that we're providing medical services, food security services, that we're arriving where the impact is going to be felt the most, where people are really requiring the services the most," he said.
