THE Small Grants Program at the United Way made a world of difference at one St. Boniface apartment block.
Seeking ways to bring the residents together, Emily Campagne, president of t
Emily Campagne applied for funds to host a barbecue.
he seniors group there, found out about the program and applied for funds to host a barbecue.
Campagne hoped the barbecue would improve harmony amongst residents, improve block security and help everyone get to know each other.
The bubbly 59-year-old real estate agent is confident that those goals were met during their August gathering.
"There is unity within the block. We did achieve that," Campagne said.
"We know who is here, and when we meet in the elevator we say hello. It's a good way to start the day," she said.
The United Way program helps informal groups invest in their neighbourhoods and communities with grants of up to $1,000 for supplies, materials and services.
"We saw a lot of opportunity for building social networks," said Derek Pachal, a United Way senior manager who runs the program.
Building neighbourhoods is one of the United Way's three main strategies made possible by their annual fundraising campaign.
"Often people have concerns about their neighbourhoods, and there's no appropriate organization that gives people the opportunity to get together," Pachal said.
With more than 100 people attending their barbecue, Campagne and her fellow board members were quite pleased with the turnout.
"It was a beautiful day. Everything cooperated and everyone was just ecstatic," she said.
One of the biggest changes Campagne has noticed is how much safer residents feel.
"That was one of the most important things," she said. "Now the person standing in the parking lot isn't a stranger anymore."
Campagne moved into the building three years ago and said she has no plans on leaving.
"I came into this block thinking I'd be here for maybe a year, but it's become my home."
She said it was difficult at first because she had always lived in single-family homes, but she now considers the apartment block a huge family home.
"It's nice to have that harmony here now," she said, noting that people are more willing to work out their problems with each other instead of running to the caretaker with complaints.
The seniors group now holds pancake breakfasts from time to time.
"It's fun and it gets our younger and older people together," Campagne said.
Campagne said the barbecue is only the first step for their block.
"This only gave us a little push," said Campagne, who hopes to hold a similar gathering next year.
"I think if we were to have one more event, it would solidify everything,'' she said.
Pachal said this year's budget for the Small Grants Program has been set at $30,000.
"It's very difficult for informal groups to access any funding to do anything in their neighbourhoods, and a city is only as strong as its weakest neighbourhood," Pachal said.
michelle.melanson@freepress.mb.ca
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