Nicole’s Story

How learning to save taught one woman her worth

Nicole’s relationship with money was rocky from the start. Growing up, she struggled with her weight and became the target of bullies at school. “Money was equal to my self-worth, and my self-worth was nothing,” she says.

Nicole left high school after becoming a young mother and turned to drugs to help cope. Her addiction even led to some time in jail.

While she was there, Nicole made the decision to turn her life around, embracing a more positive, hopeful and healthy future that didn’t include drugs or alcohol. Shortly after her release, a friend connected her to a United Way financial education program—Empower U—that teaches financial literacy skills to women living in poverty.  She decided to give it a try. “I’d always been a ‘no’ person,” says Nicole, “but this time I chose to say ‘yes’ and it changed my life.”

The program helped Nicole manage her finances and set her up in a matched-savings program, where she was required to contribute $50 a month. At first, putting aside that amount seemed impossible, but she rose to the challenge.

Learning to save consistently was about far more than money: it was about making peace with her past and taking control of her future. Nicole is grateful to United Way donors like you for helping her get started—and putting her on the path to financial security and lifelong success. “Now money isn’t scary,” she says. “It can empower my life. My past can be fixed—by me.”

Today, Nicole lives in social housing and has a stable job where she is saving up to help purchase a home.

She’s also using her experience to give back to other women in her community who have experienced similar challenges. “I’m so excited to help others take control of their lives and to be part of helping them build more secure futures,” says Nicole.

Investing in herself—thanks to the support of donors like you—has paid dividends for Nicole and other women in the community. “I like who I am today and I’m confident about my tomorrow,” she says.

Alasdair’s Story

How a healthy meal changed one man’s life

Alasdair has worked in the food and hospitality industry for much of his life. So when he lost his job as a server due to an alcohol addiction, worries about where his next meal would come weren’t far from his mind. In fact, they became a daily and stressful reality. “For a while, money was really tight,” says Alasdair. “But then it got to a point where I couldn’t even afford food.”

Like many people living in poverty, Alasdair felt helpless and afraid for the future. “I was lost and I didn’t know what was going on. My self-esteem was completely shot.”

But sometimes, help can come in unexpected ways. It was during a walk though his local neighbourhood that he decided to stop by the Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC) in Toronto, an agency supported by United Way. There, he connected with a community meal program that offers people living in poverty two nutritious meals a day.

Those first meals at PARC inspired Alasdair to keep coming back. Soon, he began using other services offered at the agency, including a weekly art program that allowed him to rediscover his childhood love of drawing. He also started to make friends at the centre. Gradually, his confidence grew and an opportunity to volunteer in the kitchen came knocking.

“I knew my way around a kitchen because I had worked at restaurants my whole life,” he says. “I was so grateful for the food, so I thought the least I could do was help out. I started feeling better right away. Volunteering showed me that I could improve my situation and give back at the same time.”

With his newfound confidence and improved skills, Alasdair recently landed a job as a custodian at a local community centre. But despite a busy full-time schedule, he still volunteers at PARC because he understands just how life-changing healthy meals served with compassion can be. “For people living in poverty, including those struggling with mental health issues or homelessness, a healthy meal is really important to their well-being,” he says. “But sharing a meal means a lot, too. It makes people feel better about themselves—and it builds a real community.”