Cereal Sale Collaboration Raises $10K for UWSCMI

The Battle Creek Cereal Sale, co-sponsored by Post Consumer Brands and WK Kellogg Co. as part of the recent National Cereal Festival, raised $10,212 to benefit the Battle Creek community through United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI). The two companies donated 10,000 boxes of their popular cereal brands, from Fruity PEBBLESTM to Kellogg’s Froot…

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ALICE Report: Financial Hardship Rises

Today the Michigan Association of United Ways, in collaboration with United For ALICE, Consumers Energy Foundation and local United Ways statewide, released an updated report on financial hardship among Michigan households. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – individuals earning above the Federal Poverty Level yet struggling to afford basic expenses. The latest…

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FEMA Grants Bring $466K For Local Relief

UWSCMI facilitated a grant process that provided $466,232 in federal funds to local organizations providing food, shelter and utility assistance to people in high-need areas. The emergency funding was announced in February and provided through the Emergency Food And Shelter National Board Program (EFSP), administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency…

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Kellanova Volunteers Feed Battle Creek Kids, Community Spirit

BATTLE CREEK – When it comes to community caring, Kellanova employees lead by example. About 20 Kellanova employees from Battle Creek volunteered at the South Michigan Food Bank on April 4, packing more than 1,300 food packages in less than two hours. The packages will be shared with students at Battle Creek Public Schools who…

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Jackson Nonprofits Join JobSTAR Cohorts

JACKSON – Federal funds have made it possible for eight Jackson-area nonprofits to join JobSTAR, the business resource network led by UWSCMI. Launched in 2018, JobSTAR (Support, Talent And Retention) embeds Success Coaches Scott Walker and Kristy Warner at participating organizations, connecting employees to services and support programs so they can get beyond barriers to…

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Alyssa Stewart Reflects On UW Career

Alyssa Stewart sits in a chair and smiles.

After a decade as a driving force in United Way’s work, Alyssa Stewart is moving on to a new challenge – but she is still a United Way champion. Stewart, who has been UWSCMI’s Executive Impact Officer, is joining the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, where she will direct impact activities, grantmaking and scholarships. It’s a role…

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Perspective: Recovery Tide Isn’t Lifting All Boats

Editor’s Note: On this Labor Day, President & CEO Chris Sargent offers insights on the economic struggles of ALICE households – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Sadly, there are two starkly different economic realities in America. There’s one in which middle- and high-wage workers saw savings and wealth increase throughout the pandemic. And there’s another…

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How Gun Violence Affects The Whole Community

Jen Heymoss, VP for Initiatives & Public Policy at Kalamazoo Community Foundation, discusses the Blueprint For Peace during an interview with NowKalamazoo.

KALAMAZOO — Many people think gun violence is something that happens “elsewhere” — some other community, some other school, some other neighborhood. So they pay it little mind, convinced it doesn’t affect them. That view can keep gun violence from being a widely shared priority. It’s also completely wrong. “Gun violence costs all of us,”…

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UWSCMI Announces Federal Grants for Food, Shelter, Utilities

Man in Live United t-shirt helps older man select bananas.

United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) facilitated a grant process that provided $460,437 in federal funds to local organizations providing food, shelter and utility assistance to people in high-need areas. The emergency funding was announced in February and provided through the Emergency Food And Shelter National Board Program (EFSP), administered by the Department of…

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