Archive for June 2021
IMPACT! A Home for the Holidays and Beyond
Owning your own home is the most basic element of the American dream. Sadly, big hurdles exist for many who strive to make that dream a reality. For one local family struggling to get ahead, Community Action Agency helped them blaze a pathway to homeownership. A single mom on Social Security Disability and working part…
Read MoreApplication assistance available for KMEG Grants
Eligible entrepreneurs can now tap free, in-person assistance to apply for grants aimed at supporting Kalamazoo’s smallest businesses. The Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants (KMEG) program provides Egrants of $5,000 to eligible microbusinesses within the city limits. The grants are a partnership between the City of Kalamazoo and United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region,…
Read MoreIMPACT! Keeping a Senior from Homelessness
Many people lack the financial resources to get legal help and defend their rights. Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) is a United Way partner agency striving to make sure every person can tap legal assistance when needed, regardless of income. Here’s a story of how LSSCM kept a senior citizen from losing his…
Read MoreIMPACT! Protecting Two Generations
Domestic violence often involves more than two adults. Children can be at risk, including those yet to be born. United Way partner AWARE Shelter’s counseling services recently helped protect a pregnant mom and her unborn child from a threatening situation: An AWARE counselor was working with a survivor of domestic violence for several months. Her…
Read MoreIMPACT! Making A Family’s Life Better
Child care costs rate as one of the biggest expenses for working families. For a family that’s Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed (ALICE), child care can take as much as 20% of their monthly survival budget. Our partnership with Child Care Network is helping families deal with these expenses and build a better life:…
Read MoreIMPACT! School, Home and In Between
Imagine a child from a homeless family facing a challenge as seemingly simple as getting to school. It’s not far-fetched; it’s happened right here in Jackson County. Fortunately, our support for the Student Advocacy Center’s Bridges To School program made a difference—not just for the student, but for the whole family: A 4th-grade student was…
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