Nothing has been spared from the pandemic treatment or so it seems. This February, and for a third straight year, marks the start of the month-long “Fill the Pig, Feel Better” campaign.
This time around, over a dozen children and youth from across Niagara have volunteered to become Youth Champions for the campaign which is powered by Meridian, Ontario’s largest credit union and second largest in Canada, in support of Pathstone Foundation.
In past years, we relied on “passing the pig (piggy bank)” to collect donations. This year, we are asking Niagara to contribute online, and help grow our goal thermometer. Our Youth Champions will also be encouraging support through their own social media accounts. They received campaign kits to help them make videos, create content and go LIVE about why they wanted to support the campaign, the importance of mental health, and where donations will go.
Our front-line services have been crushed with demand through the pandemic, which is now entering an eleventh month. All donations will be directed to our front-line programs that include:
Our Crisis & Support Line which operates 24/7 as well as our in-person walk-in clinic and our video counselling walk-in clinic which offers services Monday through Friday. Not only is this campaign a great example of how kids are stepping up for other kids, they are doing so at a time that is so fragile to everyone’s mental health. Kim Rossi- Director of Philanthropy & PR –Pathstone Foundation
Youth Ambassadors who decided to join us for this campaign are quite familiar with it.
Aberdeen started knocking on doors asking for donations for Pathstone when she was just 6 years old. Sevin, Duncan and Aidia who make up The Mane Event Team have raised over $40,000 for Pathstone and will be representatives for the Meridian branch in Grimsby. Addison who at age 9, launched her own company with proceeds supporting Pathstone, will be one of the faces of the Stevensville & Fort Erie branches.
Over the past two years, this campaign has raised over $100K for Pathstone. The need now, is greater than it has ever been. We are especially delighted to launch the Youth Champion program this year. It involves kids who can speak first-hand to their peers, and our community, about the lasting and positive impact Pathstone makes. As a Meridian employee, and proud mom of one of this year’s Youth Champions, I know that together we make a difference in the lives of people in our communities. Katarina Chataway, Grimbsy Branch Manager- Meridian
This year’s Fill the Pig, Feel Better campaign runs from February 1- 28th. To read more about it, our Youth Champions, and to make a donation, visit www.pathstonementalhealth.ca/fillthepig
About Pathstone Mental Health
Pathstone Mental Health is a community-based organization whose mission it is to provide innovative and effective treatment for all children in Niagara diagnosed with mental health issues. Thanks to support from our donors and volunteers, we are able to address and meet the needs of children and their families as the primary accredited provider of mental health services for children in Niagara. Crisis Services are offered 24/7 by calling 1-800-263-4944.
About Meridian:
With more than 75 years of banking history, Meridian is Ontario’s largest credit union and the second largest in Canada, helping to grow the lives of 370,000 Members and customers. Meridian has $26.6 billion in assets under management (as at September 30, 2020) and delivers a full range of financial services online, by phone, by mobile and through a network of 89 branches across Ontario, and business banking services in 15 locations. Meridian Members also have access to THE EXCHANGE® Network, with more than 3,600 no-fee ABMs across Canada and 500,000 ABMs in the United States. For more information, please visit: meridiancu.ca, follow us on Twitter @MeridianCU or see our Facebook site.