IMPACT! Life Beyond Trauma

Sexual assault is a heartbreaking, life-shattering trauma. Coming to grips with the impact and rebuilding one’s life is a tough journey. We support AWARE Shelter’s counseling services to help Jackson County residents cope with trauma: One of AWARE’s counselors had been working with an adult survivor of sexual assault over the course of eight months.…

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IMPACT! Trust Brings Rescue

Trusted Advisors provide a crucial link for Jackson County residents who are struggling. Our partnership with the Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County supports this vital program. Here’s an example of how this effort rescued a couple from being forced to live in their car: A Trusted Advisor met “Kevin” and “Kelly” in a park…

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IMPACT! Having People’s Backs

Legal issues are the toughest for people who struggle financially to get resolved. Fortunately, we’re able to partner with Legal Services of South Central Michigan to make sure the most vulnerable people of Jackson County get the support they need. Following is a story of how LSSCM stepped up for a local resident: Legal Services…

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IMPACT! The Power of Trust

Trust is a powerful tool in transforming lives. But it’s also something not easy to come by. That’s where Trusted Advisors come in. Made available through our partnership with the Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County, Trusted Advisors are community members who understand the difficulties and needs of struggling people, and they’re able to step…

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IMPACT! Music and Mentoring Change a Life

Without a positive male role model, many boys struggle to fit in and build self-esteem. Save Our Youth Help Them Prosper is a great partner with United Way, working to provide mentors and positive guidance for boys and girls alike. Here’s an example: “Bryon” was a shy, quiet 10-year-old African American male who does well…

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IMPACT! Driving to Financial Stability

For many people in poverty or Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE), financial stability starts with learning how to manage what income they’re able to generate. Lily Missions Center provides financial management training through the support provide by United Way. Here’s a heartwarming success story: A family came Lily Mission Center’s drive-thru food pantry who…

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IMPACT! Empowering Homeownership

Owning a home is considered a key element in “the American dream.” But for many individuals and families, it’s a hurdle too high for countless reasons. Our partner, Community Action Agency, has developed a unique, community-based approach that empowers people to homeownership. Here’s one example: CAA met with a young married couple who had four…

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IMPACT! Recognizing the Value of Relationships

A lifetime of success, including a rewarding career that provides financial stability, begins with the right kind of guidance at a young age. Our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County helped one young man reflect on how his pathway changed for the better: Jim and his “Little,” Mark, have been matched for…

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Fake News? Not When You’re Experiencing Homelessness

by Ken Toll Have you heard the news? Homelessness is not a problem in Jackson County. If you believe that statement, I have a bridge to sell you. Don’t be surprised if you find an unsheltered person living there. Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard fellow citizens, including folks I’ve known for a long…

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IMPACT! From Shelter to Home

Emergency shelter for victims of abuse is crucial to our community. But it’s not a permanent home. We’re proud that our partnership with AWARE Shelter provides both a safe place to escape abuse and, through its Residential Services, long-term solutions for a better life. An individual survivor had been staying in the emergency shelter for…

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