United Way Of Greater Mercer County Inc

TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF COMMUNITIES.

BASIC NEEDS, EMERGENCY SERVICES & HEALTH: THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EXPOSED GAPS IN SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO HELP SO MANY. UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY (UWGMC) IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY: EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE: UWGMC IS SCREENING AND ENROLLING MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS IN NJ FAMILY CARE, MEDICAID, AND OTHER INSURANCE PROGRAMS. STOCKING UP THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES AND GETTING FRESH PRODUCE INTO THE COMMUNITY: UWGMC'S STRIKE OUT HUNGER INITIATIVE IS ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY (1) BRINGING GREATER AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE WITH ADVOCACY EFFORTS. (2) GALVANIZING THE COMMUNITY BY HOSTING A COMMUNITY-WIDE MEAL PACKING EVENT. (3) PARTNERING WITH ROLLING HARVEST AND LOCAL FARMS TO BRING FRESH PRODUCE AND DAIRY INTO THE COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY AREAS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING FOOD DESERTS. RESPONDING TO THE INCREASE DEMAND FOR FOOD AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS SERVICE: UWGMC IS ENROLLING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WALKING A FINANCIAL TIGHTROPE IN SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP), LOW-INCOME HEATING AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE (LIHEAP), SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI), SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INCOME (SSDI) AND OTHER VITAL RESOURCES. PARTNERING WITH SINGLE CARE (FORMERLY FAMILYWIZE) TO MAKE PRESCRIPTIONS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS. THIS FREE SERVICE IMMEDIATELY LOWERS THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS BY AN AVERAGE OF 45% AND CAN BE USED WHETHER OR NOT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS INSURANCE. ENSURING NJ 2-1-1, A MULTILINGUAL INFORMATION REFERRAL HOTLINE IS AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF MERCER COUNTY 24 HOURS A DAY/7 DAYS A WEEK. DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE HOTLINE RECEIVED DOUBLE THE CALL VOLUME ABOUT ACCESSING FOOD, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, AND LEGAL SERVICES. MOST OF THE INQUIRIES CAME FROM TRENTON, LAWRENCEVILLE, PRINCETON, AND HIGHTSTOWN.WHY OUR WORK MATTERS: 205 HOUSEHOLDS: CONNECTED TO FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS FOR BASIC NEEDS LIKE HEALTH CARE, FOOD, AND HOUSING PROGRAMS. 2,735 INDIVIDUALS: SAVED MONEY ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, DIABETES, ASTHMA, HEART DISEASE AND OTHER PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS. 14,493 MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS: CONNECTED TO NJ 211 FOR BASIC NEEDS LIKE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, HOUSING, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MORE.

FINANCIAL STABILIY AND MOBILITY: TO HELP MERCER COUNTY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND OTHER LIFE EVENTS, UWGMC PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES ALSO KNOWN AS VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM), FINANCIAL EDUCATION, AND COACHING. OUR GOAL IS TO BOOST THE DISCRETIONARY INCOME FOR STRUGGLING HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDING THE NEWLY UNEMPLOYED. BOOSTING DISCRETIONARY INCOME IS VITAL TO COVERING ESSENTIALS EACH MONTH AS WELL AS PLANNING FOR EMERGENCIES AND THE FUTURE.WHY OUR WORK MATTERS:* FREE TAX PREPARATION/VITA: HAVING TO PAY A TAX PREPARER THE AVERAGE $400 IT COSTS TO FILE FEDERAL TAX RETURN MEANS SKIMPING ON FOOD, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, OR UTILITY BILL. UWGMC'S VITA SAVED HARD-WORKING STRUGGLING FAMILIES MORE THAN $420,000 IN TAXPAYER FEES WHICH MEANS FAMILIES CAN KEEP MORE OF THEIR HARD-EARNED DOLLARS.* FREE FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND COACHING: UWGMC PARTNERS WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, COACHING AND DEBT MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THESE SERVICES HELP INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A PLAN FOR GETTING OUT OF CRISIS TO MOVING TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY. SNAPSHOT OF WHO WE HELPED: AVERAGE GROSS INCOME (AGI) $26,276 AVERAGE AGE OF VITA PARTICIPANT 55 MOST HAVE COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL APPROXIMATELY 80% ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR

ACCESS TO EDUCATION: UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY IS MAKING BOOKS AND SCHOOLS SUPPLIES AVAILABLE TO LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS AND BUSINESSES, UWGMC IS IMPACTING YOUNG LEARNERS. FOR HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS, UWGMC IS ASSISTING FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH INCLUDES ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION, WORKSHOPS, AND ASSISTANCE WITH COMPLETING THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA). STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS ARE NOT FILING OR RENEWING THEIR FAFSA APPLICATION AT THE SAME RATE AS HIGHER-INCOME STUDENTS. UWGMC IS WORKING TO ENSURE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME BACKGROUND STUDENTS GAIN ACCESS TO FINANCIAL AND BASIC NEED SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO THEM SO THEY CAN PURSUE COLLEGE.WHY OUR WORK MATTERS: 85 EDUCATION KITS: CHILDREN AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN MERCER COUNTY GAINED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN LITERACY, SCIENCE, MATH, FINE ARTS, AND CREATIVE THINKING WITH A HANDS-ON PROJECT. 44 STUDENTS: PARTICIPATED IN COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE AND COLLEGE ADMISSION ESSAY WORKSHOPS. STUDENTS RECEIVED HELP TO NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE PROCESS AND SAVED MONEY ON TUITION TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE.

NON-PROFIT CAPACITY BUILDING CAPACITY BUILDING ENABLES NON-PROFITS TO MEET ITS OPERATIONAL, PROGRAMMATIC, FINANCIAL, OR OVERALL ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY PROVIDES CAPACITY BUILDING ASSISTANCE TO MERCER COUNTY NON-PROFITS BY LENDING EXPERTISE, ASSISTING WITH VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, FACILITATING WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS AFFECTING THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR, SERVING AS A CONNECTOR, AND PROVIDING SMALL GRANTS. WHY OUR WORK MATTERS: UWGMC SERVES AS CHAIR OF THE LOCAL EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM BOARD AND ENSURED $ 404,465 FEDERAL FUNDS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO MERCER COUNTY NON-PROFITS FOCUSED ON FOOD AND SHELTER SERVICES. UWGMC STAFF FACILITATED WORKSHOPS TO OVER FIFTY PARTICIPANTS.