It was the official kick-off on Monday for the Winkler and District United Way 2018 campaign.

Approximately 100 volunteer canvassers will be hitting the streets this month and next, hoping to reach the goal of $125,000 for more than twenty local charities.

There are some big changes on the horizon too, as Winkler will be discontinuing it's canvassing campaign after this year.

"Most United Ways have gone away from door-to-door canvassing, so we're following the model of United Way Canada and we will be throwing a few events every year and raising our funds that way, and looking at still setting up stations for donations in the community," said Lori Penner, President of United Way in Winkler.

She added that it's very challenging to find canvassers every year, and a heavy responsibility that falls on one or two people.

Penner also acknowledges that board members change over time, and they want to make the model more sustainable for future years.

"When we have twenty-one organizations that we're supporting, it's really important for us to continue and do events that are applicable to the community," said Penner.  

The goal of $125,000 was met last year thanks to community support, and Penner hopes to reach it again.

"Organizations are ever-changing, and so the needs of the community also change, and as we see that or as growth happens in the community you're also going have new not-for-profit organizations that need support at the grass-roots," she added.

Penner noted they are excited for their newly-recruited board members to start in the near future.