Archive for May 2018
Community Effort Yields Thousands of Diapers for Babies
The count is in! During the first two weeks of May, the second annual United Way Diaper Drive brought in thousands of diapers in a massive effort that is already helping families in our region. Area businesses, volunteers, nonprofits and individuals joined together to collect, repackage and distribute 55,415 diapers that went out to more…
Read MorePreventing Homelessness, Empowering Stability
UNITED WE FIGHT for the financial stability of every person in our community. Families and individuals who are living in or near poverty are constantly dealing with obstacles that threaten their sustainability. For this reason, United Way of Jackson County values our relationship with Jackson Housing Commission Support Services. This program evaluates the needs of…
Read MoreYouth Day of Caring Brings Volunteerism to Life for Hundreds of Students
Hundreds of students in blue “Live United” T-shirts fanned out across Calhoun County on Friday to get a taste of volunteerism and make an immediate impact in the process. United Way’s 10th annual Youth Day of Caring engaged nearly 400 area teenagers from 10 schools and organizations. They gathered at Full Blast in Battle Creek…
Read MoreWe Want Parents and Students To Find Success and Stability
WE LIVE UNITED by helping young students achieve in school while helping their parents maintain stability. Quality after-school care is difficult to afford for families living at or near poverty. For their children, the hours after school are often filled with unstructured and inconsistent care. Parents regularly have to leave work early to care for…
Read MoreHere's Where All Those Diapers Are Going
Dozens of families from the Battle Creek community come to Parkway Manor each month to accept diapers during the Battle Creek Diaper Network’s distribution events. Families can take up to 35 diapers, though Program Coordinator Denise Rucker said she would eventually like to bump that number up to 50. Infants need an average of 12…
Read MoreUWBCKR's Elchert Earns Statewide Honor
Unwavering commitment to helping the homeless has earned a statewide award for a United Way BCKR staff member. The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) has named Robert Elchert, Community Impact Associate for United Way BCKR, as its 2018 Public Policy Champion. MCAH, a statewide, nonprofit membership organization addressing homelessness and affordable housing, awards the Public…
Read MoreMaxine's Story
Maxine was using methamphetamines when she discovered she was pregnant last year. She had been struggling in the aftermath of a DUI charge, trying hard to “make it all work” and feeling that she wasn’t moving forward in life. “I felt overwhelmed and hopeless,” she said. “I started using meth because I felt like I…
Read MoreJoin us as an AmeriCorps VISTA member
Looking for a way to make a difference? United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region is seeking candidates for two AmeriCorps VISTA positions that will work to connect financially struggling families with local resources. In partnership with the State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, United Way is working to integrate…
Read MoreMercantile Bank Invests Tax Break in Flood Relief
Mercantile Bank of Michigan recently gave $7,500 to United Way BCKR to support the Kalamazoo Flood Relief Fund from tax savings resulting from federal tax reform approved by Congress last December. “It’s one way for us to give back,” said Nancy Turtle, Senior Vice President and Community Bank President for Mercantile Bank. “Flood relief is…
Read MoreSurviving Abuse, Finding Stability; Starting A New Life In Jackson
UNITED WE FIGHT for the financial stability of everyone in our community. With your support, we are able to mobilize the best resources in Jackson County to assist those living in desperate situations and help them develop their pathway to success and financial stability. United Way of Jackson County is able to accomplish this goal…
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