United Way Of The Mid-Willamette Valley

OUR WORK IS CENTRALIZED AROUND FOUR FOCUS AREAS: DEVELOPING HOUSING FOR ALL, STRENGTHENING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY, AND MEETING BASIC NEEDS.

COMMUNITY IMPACT:FOR OVER EIGHTY YEARS, UNITED WAY OF THE MID-WILLAMETTE VALLEY HAS BUILT BRIDGES TO THE COMMUNITY THAT FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING RESOURCES FOR NONPROFITS. TODAY, WE REACH FOR HIGHER OUTCOMES, ADDRESS WIDER GAPS, AND CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP TO ASSURE EQUITY, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY ARE A PART OF EVERY PART OF OUR WORK. EACH GOAL WE SET, EACH PROJECT WE LAUNCH, EACH VICTORY WE WIN, IS MEANT TO BRING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE FOR OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS THROUGHOUT THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY. HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WORK IN 2021.SANTIAM CANYON WILDFIRE RELIEF AND RECOVERY: 2021 IMPACT: 1,069 SERVED 510 VOLUNTEERS, 3680 HRS. WHEN WILDFIRES WREAKED HAVOC ACROSS OUR REGION IN 2020, FORCING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO EVACUATE AND SEEK SHELTER, WE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED INTO ACTION. IN 2021, WE CONTINUED SERVING AND SUPPORTING THE WILDFIRE RECOVERY EFFORTS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF WAYS. WE HOSTED MANY INDIVIDUAL/FAMILY SURVIVORS AT VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGH OUR GOOD360 PROGRAM TO GET SUPPLIES AND REPLACEMENTS FOR BOTH TEMPORARY HOUSING AND REBUILT HOUSING NEEDS. WE SUPPORTED SOME LARGE SPECIFIC RECOVERY EFFORTS INCLUDING SUPPORTING THE DETROIT LAKE FOUNDATION AND THEIR REBUILD OF THEIR COMMUNITY BUILDING, THE NORTH SANTIAM WATERSHED TO PROTECT CRITICAL WATER SUPPLY, AND SENT CHILDREN FROM FAMILIES IMPACTED BY WILDFIRES TO SUMMER CAMP.GOOD360 GIFTS IN KIND PROGRAM: 2021 IMPACT: 264 DISTRIBUTION EVENTS 136 VOLUNTEERS, 2280 HRS. AS THE REGIONAL HUB FOR THIS NATIONAL PROGRAM, UNITED WAY OF THE MID-WILLAMETTE VALLEY IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF AREA SERVICE PROVIDERS, SCHOOLS, FAITH-BASED GROUPS AND OTHER NONPROFIT PARTNERS. THE GOOD360 GIFTS IN KIND PROGRAM HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY IN THE LAST YEAR AND WAS A VITAL RESOURCE FOR THE ESCALATING NEED FOR REGIONAL WILDFIRE DISASTER RECOVERY, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR COVID AFFECTED ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AT RISK. IN 2021 WE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF EVENTS WE OFFERED, DOUBLED THE VALUE OF PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTED, AND DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF NON-PROFIT PARTNERS WE SERVED.OREGON STATE CHARITABLE FUND DRIVE: 2021 IMPACT: $736,000 PLEDGED FOR 447 STATEWIDE CHARITIES. WE SERVED AS THE MANAGING ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE OF OREGON EMPLOYEE CHARITABLE FUND DRIVE THAT OCCURS ANNUALLY EACH FALL. WE PLAN, COORDINATE, AND OPERATE A CAMPAIGN THAT REACHES OVER 70K STATE EMPLOYEES AND WORK WITH 19 FEDERATIONS REPRESENTING 564 CHARITIES. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING, TRACKING, AND DISTRIBUTING FUNDS.SAFESLEEP UNITED WOMENS SHELTER: 2021 IMPACT: 5,527 SHELTER NIGHTS AND 8,346 MEALS PROVIDED TO OVER 175 UNDUPLICATED WOMEN: THE SHELTER NETWORK WAS A CRITICAL RESOURCE DURING THE PANDEMIC. AS ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, THE WOMEN WHO WERE UNSHELTERED IN OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED A SAFE, RELIABLE PLACE TO ISOLATE. WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, UNITED WAY ESTABLISHED A UNIQUE AND VITAL SHELTER WHERE WOMEN FEEL AT HOME. THROUGH DEDICATED STAFF AND THEIR ABILITY TO ESTABLISH TRUST AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, THEY WERE ABLE TO ASSIST THE WOMEN IN MEETING THEIR NEEDS AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES. TWO OF OUR GUESTS NEEDED MORE SUPPORT THAN WE COULD ACCOMMODATE. AFTER COORDINATING ASSESSMENTS WITH SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BOTH WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE SPRINGS ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY. ONE WOMAN OPTED TO MOVE IN WITH HER DAUGHTER INSTEAD. THE OTHER WOMAN MOVED INTO THE FACILITY. PRIOR TO FINDING SAFESLEEP UNITED, SHE HAD BEEN LIVING IN HER VAN. THE SPRINGS OFFERED HER A CLEAN PLACE TO LIVE, WITH SUPPORTS SHE NEEDED AS HER ALZHEIMERS PROGRESSED. COVID-19 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: 2021 IMPACT: 480 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED: WE PROVIDED APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO RENTERS WHO HAD BEEN FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHO WERE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY, AND WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOME WAS AT OR BELOW 80% OF AREA MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME. WE ALSO ASSISTED LANDLORDS WITH THEIR PORTIONS OF THE APPLICATIONS AS WELL. THIS HELPED STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND INCREASE FUNDING.COTTAGES UNITED PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM WILL CREATE A SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE SOLUTION TO THE EVER-GROWING ISSUE OF SENIORS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. HUD CONSIDERS A PERSON HOUSING BURDENED IF THEIR MONTHLY HOUSING COSTS ARE GREATER THAN 30% OF A PERSONS INCOME. MANY OLDER OREGONIANS ARE ENTITLED TO SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. HOWEVER, THESE BENEFITS (CURRENTLY $1,529.00 AVERAGE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL) REMAIN WELL BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND OFTEN FAIL TO COVER THE COST OF HOUSING. OUR PLAN IS TO BUILD 25 COTTAGES ON MARKET STREET RIGHT NEXT TO SWEGLE ELEMENTARY, CREATING A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SENIORS AND THIS SCHOOL. IN 2021, WE ACQUIRED THE LAND AND COMPLETED THE BULK OF THE BACKGROUND WORK TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS COMPLICATED BUT NECESSARY PROJECT.EMERGENT NEED GRANTING: 2021 IMPACT: $214,825 AWARDED, 17 PROVIDERS SERVED, THROUGH OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS, WE SUPPORTED MANY DIFFERENT CAUSES AND CHARITIES THAT SUPPORTED IMPORTANT COMMUNITY EFFORTS AND NEEDS. THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES: SUPPORTING BIPOC WOMEN CAUSES, FOSTER CARE SUPPORT OF BOTH FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, FOOD SECURITY, WOMEN HYGIENE NEEDS, CHILDRENS DENTAL PROGRAMS, REFUGEE JOB TRAINING, ICE STORM CLEANUP AND A SOCCER FIELD FOR A COMMUNITY IN NEED.SCHOOL AGE ENRICHMENT: 2021 IMPACT: 3,006 STUDENTS SERVED, 80 VOLUNTEERS, 6080 HOURS. HELD AT THREE ELEMENTARY, FOUR MIDDLE, AND TWO HIGH SCHOOLS, WE SERVED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES WERE INFLUENCED BY AN ARRAY OF SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT HINDER THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ART, SCIENCE, MUSIC, SOCCER, WEIGHTLIFTING, COOKING, GARDENING, AND PARENT EDUCATION. COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS WERE OFFERED THROUGH THE ASPIRE PROGRAM AND THE UNITED WAY RECRUITED, TRAINED, AND MANAGED ALL THE MENTORS WHO PROVIDE 1:1 ASSISTANCE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH POST-SECONDARY PLANS.