United Way Of Rock River Valley

UNITING THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE LIVES.

UNITED WAY COMMUNITY SERVICES - UNITED WAY 2-1-1 IS A 24 HOUR/7-DAY, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL HOTLINE THAT CONNECTS THOSE IN NEED TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS DESIGNED TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR THEIR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS, 211 HAS FIELDED ALMOST 5,000 CALLS THIS YEAR FROM RESIDENTS OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. THIS LINE IS FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, AND OPEN 24/7 AND CALLERS CAN GAIN ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE, CLOTHING FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND MORE.UNITED WAY CONTINUED TO SUPPORT COVID-19 RELIEF EFFORTS BY DISTRIBUTING $413,000 FOR COVID RELIEF IN THE ROCK RIVER VALLEY REGION. UNITED WAY ACCEPTED APPLICATIONS FROM NONPROFIT AGENCIES THAT DIRECTLY SERVE CLIENTS IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC OR SUFFERING FROM ITS ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS AND AFTER-EFFECTS. GRANTS WERE MADE TO AGENCIES TO SUPPORT THEIR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS. UNITED WAY'S STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE SUPPORTS FAMILIES BY PROVIDING A SPACE TO BRING POLICE AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TOGETHER TO UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS. THREE STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES ARE USED AS RESOURCE CENTERS WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN FIND A RELAXED, EASY WAY TO FORM A RELATIONSHIP WITH A COMMUNITY POLICE OFFICER OR A MEMBER OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. NONPROFIT AGENCIES CAN USE THE HOUSES TO OFFER SERVICES THAT ARE NOT EASILY ACCESSED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE ESL CLASSES, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT INCLUDING RESUME WRITING AND SOFT SKILLS TRAINING, FAMILY SUPPORT INCLUDING LOCATING SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND PARENTING CLASSES FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES.

THE UNITED WAY MOVE THE MIDDLE INITIATIVE IS AIMED AT MIDDLE SCHOOL SUCCESS, OUR MOVE THE MIDDLE INITIATIVE HAS REACHED 2,000 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM LINCOLN AND RESA THIS YEAR, RESULTING IN 154 RESOURCE REFERRALS, AND PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH THE HELP THEY NEED TO GET BACK ON TRACK. WHEN MIDDLE SCHOOLERS STAY ON TRACK, THEY BECOME SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOLERS AND EVENTUALLY EMPLOYED, CONTRIBUTING ADULTS.

LITERACY PROJECT IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY, ONLY 33% OF OUR THIRD GRADERS CAN READ AT GRADE LEVEL OR ABOVE. UNITED WAY IS WORKING WITH TWENTY-FIVE LOCAL AGENCIES TO CHANGE THIS STAGGERING STATISTIC. WE ARE UTILIZING THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE IMPACT TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO LITERACY, THEREBY LIFTING OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY! A READING COMMUNITY DECREASES POVERTY, INCREASES A VIABLE WORKFORCE, REDUCES CRIME, AND BRINGS STRONG MENTAL HEALTH. UNITED WAY'S DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY SUPPORTS LITERACY BY PROMOTING POSITIVE READING HABITS AS SOON AS BIRTH. THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY BRINGS AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS TO CHILDREN AGES 0 5 YEARS OLD WHEN THEIR FAMILIES REGISTER FOR THE PROGRAM. BOOKS ARE MAILED OUT EACH MONTH, DIRECTLY TO THE CHILD'S HOME AND CONTINUE UNTIL THE CHILD'S FIFTH BIRTHDAY. CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A HOME LIBRARY OF 60 BOOKS. BOOKS IN THE HOME ARE PROVEN TO BE THE SINGLE BEST INDICATOR OF A CHILD'S SUCCESS IN SCHOOL. THE MORE BOOKS IN THE HOME, THE BETTER THE CHANCES OF THE CHILD MAXIMIZING ACADEMIC SUCCESS.