LETTER FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR
This year has been a year like no other. We’re facing a pandemic health crisis, financial instability, and the continued realities of injustice and inequity. Yet every day, we are amazed at how our community is pulling together to lift up neighbors, friends and family.
At United Way, our commitment to creating lasting change and helping all children and adults succeed, regardless of their circumstances, holds steady during this time. As these forces continue to impact our community, United Way remains steadfast on ensuring our community’s most vulnerable populations have what they need during and after this crisis.
As the 2020 Stronger United campaign gets underway, we want to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to all of United Way of 1000 Lakes’ supporters – donors, volunteers, grantees, and partners – for collaborating with us to ensure our neighbors will have a better life.
United Way works every day – forging partnerships, convening key players, actively engaged in conversations to learn how we can best support the ever-changing needs of our community, during this crisis and beyond. Our strength lies in our ability to unite partners from all sectors around a common purpose – to help make our community a better place to live for everyone.
Investing and supporting in a strong safety net remains at the center of United Way’s mission. Whether it’s immediate needs, such as food, shelter, and safety, or long-term support, such as childcare, education, and mental health outreach, each service provides another thread to the safety net. Before recent events, over 5,800 of our citizens live in poverty. Another 4,964 are working, but due to child care costs, transportation challenges, and a high cost of living, so many more are living paycheck to paycheck. Many of these hardworking families are one crisis away from falling into poverty.
United Way invests in 20 small- and mid-sized agencies, all located in the Itasca area, that help families and individuals in our community meet their basic needs, achieve financial stability and independence, meet educational goals, and live healthy lives. In addition to grants, United Way manages a number of programs and initiatives that reach across all impact areas to help the community, such as the community volunteer portal, Bonfire, Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive, and Day of Action.
The grants investments are made with dollars resulting from the annual United Way campaign. Grants are awarded through an open, competitive, and peer-reviewed process with funding decisions made by community leaders, volunteers and subject matter experts.
For a half a century, United Way of 1000 Lakes has fought for the education, health and financial stability of everyone in the Itasca area because of our donors’ generosity and backing. Whenever we have been faced with challenges and opportunities as a community, United Way has stepped up to help.
It is now, in these extraordinary times, that we need an extraordinary approach. We are asking you to support United Way. With every person who steps up to make a difference with us, we’re tearing down one more barrier to success for another and building a stronger Itasca area for all of us—one person, one family, one neighborhood, and one community at a time.
Join us because we are stronger united.
Alie McInerney
Board of Directors President
Kimberly Brink Smith
Executive Director
IMPACT AREA:
EDUCATION
Building Educational Success
When children thrive, our whole community thrives. United Way’s Education pathway strategically builds a child’s chances for educational success and combats the challenges that impede progress. Through our partner programs and initiatives, we’re supporting parents and providing safe and nurturing environments that help bolster academics, build leadership skills, and promote social well-being. Learn more
2,536
young people were provided with educational support and enrichment opportunities.
Boys and Girls Clubs: Deer River, Grand Rapids, and Greenway
Itasca County Family YMCA: Early Child and Youth education scholarships
Project READ
Youth For Christ: Campus Life
Americorps Promise Fellow Program
Bonfire: Volunteer Platform
First Call: United Way 2-1-1
Day of Action
Nonprofit Resource Library
Stuff The Bus: School Supplies Drive
IMPACT AREA:
HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Improving Health & Well-being
Being healthy is vital for children to grow and develop and for adults to live a full, productive life. United Way’s Health pathway strategically provides resources for individuals and families to live healthy lives. Through our partner programs and services, we’re helping individuals with health conditions, disabilities, dependency, and mental illness. Learn more
18,989
individuals were provided with tools and resources to improve their health and well-being.
Bigfork Valley: Transportation Program
Eldercircle: Adult Day Respite, Assisted Transportation, In-Home CARE Services, RSVP Volunteer Programs, and Home Visitor Program
Itasca County Family YMCA: Active Living Center
Itasca Wellness Court
Kiesler Wellness Center
Project Care Free Clinic
Bonfire: Volunteer Platform
First Call: United Way 2-1-1
Day of Action
Nonprofit Resource Library
5-2-1-0 Playstations
IMPACT AREA:
INCOME & BASIC NEEDS
Achieving Financial Stability
Caring for neighbors is key to a strong community. United Way’s Income and Basic Needs pathway strategically empowers people to solve their problems and work toward financial independence. Through our partner programs and services, we position people for a better, brighter tomorrow by helping with emergency and transitional housing, transportation, and basic needs — food, shelter, and safety. Learn more
5,761
children and adults had their basic needs met — food, shelter, and safety.
Advocates For Family Peace
Bigfork Food Shelf
Deer River Food Shelf
Grace House Homeless Shelter
Habitat For Humanity:
Home Preservation Program
KOOTASCA: Homeless Prevention Program
Support Within Reach
Bonfire: Volunteer Platform
First Call: United Way 2-1-1
Day of Action
Health & Hygiene Drive
Nonprofit Resource Library
Summer Meal Meet-Ups
COVID-19:
TOGETHER, WE CAN
OVERCOME THIS CRISIS.
COVID-19:
COMMUNITY RESPONSE
FUND
The pandemic is impacting nonprofits in many ways, including increased demand for services, lost revenue due to closures and cancellations, as well as other challenges. Funds raised will help aid agencies providing local COVID-19 relief services, including access to food, health-related services, support learning, and child care services, to name a few.
The Fund is designed to complement the work of public health, government, and community foundations efforts by expanding local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently and effectively as possible. We anticipate multiple phases of funding to address both the acute, immediate needs as well as the longer-term impacts of the outbreak and recovery. Learn more
COVID-19:
STUFF THE BUS:
SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
Our annual School Supply Drive mobilizes our community to equip students with the tools they need for success. We collect a range of school and classroom supplies – from notebooks and pencils to hand sanitizer and headphones – and work with volunteers to pack supplies into backpacks for students in need. Backpacks are packed with reference to each classroom’s supply list, so that students can go to school with the correct tools.
Throughout the year, parents, teachers, and other caring adults can request a backpack full of supplies for a student – no questions asked. Teachers can also request items for their classroom. In the fall of 2020, the program’s second year, over 100 students were provided with essential school supplies, helping them stay on the path to educational success. Learn more
COVID-19:
SUMMER MEAL
MEET-UPS
In the summer of 2020, United Way of 1000 Lakes began a Summer Meal Meet-Ups program in Cohasset and Hill City, which allowed children and youth under the age of 18 to receive free grab-and-go lunch meals twice a week in each location. The program is designed to address food insecurity, which worsens during the summer months when children don’t have school lunch programs to rely on.
Thanks to community partners, a grant from the Community Response Fund, and several generous volunteers, 403 meals were served to school-age children in August. Learn more
COVID-19:
HEALTH &
HYGIENE DRIVE
Our Health & Hygiene drive, which occurs each June, directs the caring force of our community towards meeting the personal care needs of children and adults across our community. Individuals, businesses, and community groups collect toiletries, cleaning supplies, and gas cards, which are then assembled into care packages. We utilize our network of nonprofit and community partners to distribute age-appropriate care packages to families and individuals in need.
As the economic impacts of COVID-19 ripple throughout our community, more of our neighbors are having trouble attaining basic care items. This year’s personal care drive focused particularly on high-demand items like laundry detergent, diapers, and feminine hygiene products. We also packed personal care packages for school-age children, which were distributed alongside backpacks from our School Supply Drive. Learn more
BONFIRE:
TOGETHER, WE CAN
LIFT EACH OTHER UP.
BONFIRE:
IGNITING VOLUNTEER
ACTION
In 2020 we launched Bonfire, an online volunteer platform that allows community organizations and volunteers to connect virtually. Bonfire is free to use for individuals, nonprofit, and community organizations across the region.
As virtual connection becomes ever more important, Bonfire will continue to help mobilize the Itasca area’s volunteer force as our community focuses on rebuilding and recovery efforts. Learn more