Building the Stability Families Need to Thrive

There’s one phone call Darcy MacDonald won’t forget. A mother was on the line, trying to decide how she was going to feed her children and pay her rent. One of those bills would have to wait.

She chose to feed her children.

Darcy, Executive Director of United Way Pictou County, says calls like that are no longer rare. Rising rents and the overall cost of living are putting pressure on families across the county. “These inflationary issues have caused unprecedented economic pressures and reduced purchasing power across our community,” says Darcy. “People are trying to survive. They are constantly battling upstream.”

Five years ago, she would not have described Pictou County this way. Poverty was there but it wasn’t as visible. Now she sees it more openly in the calls that come into the office, in conversations around town, and in the growing strain on local organizations.

MEETING THE NEED 

In 2024, seven United Ways across the Maritimes unified to form United Way Maritimes, while maintaining local leadership and presence in all the communities previously supported, including Pictou County. When the newly unified organization asked community groups to submit funding requests, hundreds responded. The total requests reached into the millions, a sign of the strain on food banks, school programs, shelters and outreach services across the region. The demand far exceeded available resources.

The Sobey Foundation’s $50,000 contribution is helping to address that need, supporting programs focused on food security and housing.

In Pictou County, that investment is visible. At Northumberland Regional High School, for example, the Karma Closet began as a small room stocked with donated food and basic items. It now runs a free meal program five days a week. Students walk in, no questions asked. Volunteers and staff keep it going, backed in part by United Way funding.

Other local groups use funding to help people stay in their homes. Sometimes it is short-term assistance. Sometimes it is stepping in before an eviction becomes final. Often, it is about catching someone before the situation worsens.

“We work towards allowing people to live a life that is satisfactory to them,” says Darcy. “That’s not the same for everyone. Life looks different for everybody.”

LASTING SUPPORT 

In Pictou County, fundraising is rooted in relationships. The people who give are the same ones you run into on the trail or sit beside at a volunteer meeting. The work stays close to home, and so does the impact. “Pictou County is a very generous community, and that has proven every year when we have our campaign,” says Darcy.

“Our work is more important than ever because we are able to make those connections, build those relationships and partnerships in community to bring people together and make a real impactful difference.”

The Sobey Foundation and the United Way have been community partners for as far back as her records go. And it’s not just donating, it’s Sobey family members and Sobey employees being involved in events such as golf tournaments or the Backpacks for Kids program. “Everybody knows the breadth of Sobeys and the Sobey family in our community. They are very community minded,” says Darcy. “I know that they support a lot of things in the community and we are very lucky to have them in our backyard.”

When people have secure access to food and housing, they're better equipped to be engaged and flourish in communities. That strengthens our communities overall.

Darcy MacDonald, Executive Director, United Way Pictou County

STANDING UNITED

Now backed by a regional United Way Maritimes team, there is more support behind the scenes, says Darcy. “Prior to unification, we were a two-person show here.”

Now, she has the support of 50 colleagues across the region that she can call on, each with an area of expertise and access to resources that can provide support. That help gives Darcy more time to be out in the community. “I can be making the connections and seeing what needs to be done and what areas I can provide assistance in.”

After four years in her role, Darcy has seen how quickly stability can unravel. “You could be in a position today to donate, and tomorrow you might be in a position where you need the services that we fund.”

For Darcy, the work is urgent and constant. But she believes that with the right partnerships in place, communities can move forward. “My hope is that we have a community where people can live their best lives and thrive in all that they do. I would love to see people move along the scale from surviving to thriving.”