United Way Perth-Huron is proud to officially announce the new Huron co-chairs for the 2026-27 campaign, Kim Burgsma and Bernice Glenn.

“Kim and Bernice are well-known for their incredible work in Huron County,” said Ryan Erb. “Pressing local issues like poverty, housing and homelessness and mental health aren’t going away. We are looking forward to getting the campaign underway and, with help from Kim and Bernice, continue building the impact of United Way across Huron.”

“United Way cares about people. All people should be able to have shelter, enough food, clothing and basic needs to live in dignity,” said new Huron co-chair, Kim Burgsma. “I’m especially pleased to have been asked to co-chair the campaign and be part of the solution.” 

“When I first heard about Coldest Night of the Year seven years ago, I had no idea where saying yes to helping would lead,” added Bernice Glenn. “I’ve always cared deeply about issues like hunger and homelessness, and United Way has given me a way to be part of positive change in our community.”

A longtime Goderich business owner, Kim Burgsma has spent more than 40 years serving the community through local business leadership, volunteerism and advocacy. Passionate about giving back, Burgsma has fostered children, mentored women in high-risk situations and founded Fishes and Loaves, a free community meal program that has provided hot meals to those facing food insecurity for the past 19 years with the support of local churches. An active member of Trinity Church, she is committed to helping vulnerable people and has been a strong advocate for community supports for individuals facing or experiencing homelessness.

Bernice Glenn has been supporting United Way for the past seven years, first becoming involved through Goderich’s inaugural Coldest Night of the Year walk. Since then, she has continued to help support the organization, driven by a longstanding passion for addressing hunger and homelessness. Beyond her work with United Way, Glenn served as a director with the Dungannon Agricultural Society, volunteers through her church and is known for lending a hand whenever help is needed. Since moving to Goderich, she has been committed to finding ways, big and small, to give back to the community she calls home.

As part of the organization’s regional and community-based approach to fundraising, United Way also announced Marian deWever and June Leitch as co-chairs in Stratford-Perth.

“United Way remains committed to focusing on the issues that matter most to people in both Huron and Perth,” added Erb. “Having regional co-chairs helps strengthen this focus and we can’t wait to get the campaign started with these four incredible people.”