Basic Needs
Local Nonprofits Combine Strengths To Expand Emergency Winter Shelter Services
Two local nonprofits combining their unique strengths means a safe and warm place to sleep for many unhoused people this winter. Starting Dec. 1, Ministry with Community (MwC) and Housing Resources Inc. (HRI) are coordinating emergency overnight winter shelter services through March 31, 2026. Kalamazoo County, the City of Kalamazoo, and the Kalamazoo County Continuum…
Read MoreGiving Tuesday 2025: Where You Can Give
Tuesday, December 2 marks the 13th annual Giving Tuesday. Started in 2012 by Henry Timms, Giving Tuesday is considered a “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.” It’s a reminder that when we come together, we can transform communities. At a time when so many…
Read MoreAnnual Survey: Kalamazoo County Homelessness Rising
PIT Count Sees Highest Total Since 2011; Collective Effort Needed to Find Solutions, Says CoC An annual one-night survey of homelessness in Kalamazoo County found 127 more people without a place to call home compared to last year’s count, reaching the highest number overall since 2011. The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care’s annual Point-In-Time (PIT)…
Read MoreNew Mobile Office to Bring Free Tax Preparation To Eligible Households in Lansing, Capital Area
A new, rolling tax preparation office will make it a little easier for eligible households in Lansing and beyond to get their tax returns done this year. United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) announced the RV-size Free Tax Prep Mobile today. A feature of UWSCMI’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, the Free Tax…
Read MoreVITA: Tax Services With Purpose
Thousands of households in our region received more than $7 million in tax refunds and saved thousands in preparation fees through United Way of South Central Michigan’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program this past year. VITA is a volunteer-focused tax service dedicated to making a meaningful impact on individuals and families with limited incomes…
Read MoreCereal 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…
Read MoreFEMA 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…
Read MoreKellanova 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…
Read MoreFiscal Year 2024 State Budget Signed with Significant Investments for ALICE
United Way of South Central Michigan applauds the Michigan Legislature and Governor Whitmer for successfully negotiating a final state budget deal that included many wins for our region and the work we do to support ALICE and the families we serve. Some highlights of the budget allocations that will benefit our community include: The UWSCMI…
Read MoreAnalysis: Cost of Essentials Outstrips Inflation, Making Things Even Tougher for ALICE
The cost of six household essentials in Michigan has risen at a faster clip than inflation, leaving low-wage workers priced out of affording the basics. That’s the latest analysis from United Way and its research partner, United For ALICE. Over the course of 15 years, low-wage jobs didn’t keep up with the increased cost of…
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