b'CHARITYThe Spirit of GivingECAO AND ITS LOCALS RESPOND TO CRISIS WITH GENEROSITY By Rob BlackstienT have the biggest impact, so the provincialEven though ECAO is a provincial organization, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Dickens classic opening to A Tale oforganization pledged to give up to $100,000one focused on building the overall provincial Two Cities could also be used to describe theto match the total donations made by all thecommunity, it recognizes that the locals have feeling of the spring of 2020 as the world waslocals. So, when one of the board memberstheir own geographic communities. Aitken says, ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. suggestedmentalhealthasagoodcause,Its a matter of wanting to be part of the fabric We saw people at their most desperate, but weeveryone just latched on to that, he says,of those communities. As a result, some of the also saw the good in mankind, as evidencedit was an idea that really resonated, becausecharity choices were very personal in nature. He by the ECAO and the majority of its localseveryone sort of knew of a person or personsfelt that mental health was a great choice because teaming up to make a concerted effort tothat were having a difficult time mentallyits such a universal issue: it doesnt matter about help those who needed it the most. and emotionally. age, gender, race or economic statusno one is Thetimingwasevenmoreidealasitimmune from this.ECAO Executive Director, Graeme Aitken,predated the governments announcement says the idea for a collaborative effort cameWhetherthisdonationdrivewillbecomean fromECAOsExecutiveCommittee.Weof additional funding for mental health.annual event is still unknown, but given how 80 started bouncing ideas around about whatThe initiatives beauty was in its simplicity. per cent the locals embraced it, Aitken is sure of can we do to help beyond just our industry? AitkensaystheECAOreallyhadnoone thing: I see this being much more than a elaborate plan other than a desire to figureone-off.Acoupleofcontractorstalkedabouthowout how to help. Allowing the locals to theyhadtakencoffeeanddonutstofront- pick their own charities was appropriateLetstakeacloserlookatthelocalsthat line workers and helped at food banks. Butgiven the attachment they all feel to theirparticipated, the charities they chose and how thegrouprealizedaconcertedeffortwouldspecific communities.the donations will help each organization.LOCAL:Electrical Contractors Association of Central Ontario [ECACO]CHARITY:Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo-WellingtonREASON FOR CHOOSINGTHIS CHARITY: COVID-19 has truly taken its toll on so manypeoplewithinourcommunityand has affected their health, finances, work and school, to name a few. Social isolation has hit everyone especially hard. We understand how all of these things can have a profound impact on everyones mental health and we wanted to help, Ritzmann says. Canadian Mental Health Association - Waterloo-WellingtonAlisonDeMuy,DirectorofStrategyandredeploy staff to be able to respond to theelderly residents, many of whom have complex Community Engagement for the Canadiangrowing need for mental health supportsneeds, with limited physical PPE and with a MentalHealthAssociation,Waterloo- because of COVID-19. very limited staff. She called because she was Wellington,saysthatthedonationhelpedfeeling so low that she didnt think she could theCMHAaccelerateitsHere4HealthcareIts an effort that is clearly working. Dureturn to her next shift. CMHA mental health initiative. This program is designed to assistMaysaysthatanurserecentlycalledclinicians were able to work with this nurse to ourfront-linecarewithprioritizingandthehotlineaftera12-hourshiftataprovide immediate crisis intervention, assess her managing the enormous stress and anxietylong-termcarehome.Withover22needs and have connected her with best practice associated with the pandemic so that theyyearsexperience,shewasusedtoalltrauma therapy offered by its psychiatrist. She can continue to keep us safe, she says. Totypes of duties, but she said she was notis doing well and was able to return to work that date, the donation has allowed us to quicklyprepared for the high stress of caring forweek, Du May reports.Ontario Electrical Contractor7'