Success Stories
Program Assistance Center: A Year in Review (2023)
JACKSON – The Program Assistance Center (PAC), run by United Way of South Central Michigan, administers Michigan Energy Assistance Program funding, providing households with direct energy assistance to pay heat and electric bills. PAC, which serves households statewide, also helps complete a needs assessment for each client, so they are connected with any additional non-energy…
Read MoreCelebrating Our 1st Birthday
President & CEO Chris Sargent reflects on our progress as we note the one-year anniversary of the merger that created United Way of South Central Michigan. “The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.” Mark Twain said that to poke fun at April Fools’…
Read MoreFelecia’s Story
Felecia Parker is looking forward to purchasing a new home this year, and planning to put in a garden with her children. She’s currently in the 21st year of her career as a medical assistant, overseeing remote learning for her 5- and 7-year-old, and actively searching for that new property with space for a garden.…
Read MoreAlejandro's Story
Finding purpose Alejandro is well-spoken and talkative, but at times he simply doesn’t have the words to describe how much his life has changed. Five years ago, he was in a jail cell, serving time for a drug offense. Today, he’s flourishing with a new job, positive influences in his life, and the capacity to…
Read MoreJeff's Story
Navigating Benefits, Planning for the Future Jeff’s story begins, literally, all in his head. Years ago, he underwent surgery to remove a tumor in his brain. A decade later, he sustained a second traumatic brain injury from a fall. Both events left Jeff finding it hard to hold a job in his field of finance.…
Read MoreGwen's Story
Gwen’s Story: A Century of Impact Volunteer Profile Gwen Tulk has been changing lives and inspiring others for nearly all of her 100 years. She spent many of them as a teacher and elementary school librarian, and her impact on others didn’t stop with her retirement in 1982. She instead turned her attention to volunteering,…
Read MoreCarol's Story
‘We Don’t Have to be Afraid of Each Other.’ Volunteer Profile Carol Hindbaugh can be found every Monday and Friday in the kitchen at Ministry With Community, prepping and serving lunch to members and enjoying every minute of it. She retired three years ago after a 37-year career as a behavioral health nurse at Borgess…
Read MoreMelrose's Story
Jackie's Story
Impact Week: Jackie’s story IMPACT WEEK Jackie Hobson drove past Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Service at just the right time. Her blended, growing family of six lived in a three-bedroom townhouse after making a quick relocation from their rented home on the north side of Kalamazoo. Their landlord was moving back from out of state, giving…
Read MoreKathleen's Story
Kathleen’s Story: Learning Independence Kathleen Terry bears a tattoo on her left forearm that reminds her of who she is and how far she’s come in recent years. The words, she said, have come to symbolize how she strives to live her life – with “Strong Love.” Kathleen was 18 years old and just four…
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