United Way Of 1000 Lakes

TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE ITASCA AREA.

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT - THE ORGANIZATION STRATEGICALLY INVESTS IN LOCAL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR A PANEL MADE UP OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, WITH SUPPORT OF STAFF, PERFORM AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF AGENCIES APPLYING FOR FUNDING. ALLOCATIONS ARE GRANTED TO PROGRAMS THAT MEET IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ACHIEVE MEASURABLE RESULTS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO LEVERAGE AND MAXIMIZE AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE HIGH IMPACT RESULTS AND COMMUNITY CHANGE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY PRIORITIES: 1. EDUCATION - HELPING CHILDREN AND YOUTH THRIVE. THE ORGANIZATION HELPS ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE READY TO SUCCEED BY SUPPORTING SCHOOL READINESS, IMPROVING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND PROMOTING POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH QUALITY PROGRAMMING AND CARE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. 2. HEALTH-IMPROVING PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE. THE ORGANIZATION INCREASES ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BY STRATEGICALLY INVESTING IN PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. 3. INCOME AND BASIC NEEDS - PROMOTING FINANCIAL STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE ACROSS THE LIFE CYCLE. THE ORGANIZATION STRATEGICALLY INVESTS IN PROGRAMS THAT HELP IMPROVE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES' FINANCIAL FOOTING AND WORK TO MEET EMERGENCY NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, SHELTER, HOUSING, SAFETY, AND CLOTHING.

UNITED WAY INITIATIVES:5-2-1-0 PLAYSTATIONS - THE 5-2-1-0 PLAYSTATION INITIATIVE IS A TRUNK CONTAINING SPORTS GEAR THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES RAISING HEALTHY CHILDREN THROUGH MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. PLAYSTATIONS ARE LOCATED IN SIX LOCAL PARKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO ENCOURAGE PLAY AMONG CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAMILY'S FINANCIAL ABILITY TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT. THE 5-2-1-0 MESSAGING IS INCLUDED IN EACH PLAYSTATION, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY EATING HABITS, INCLUDING SUGGESTED SERVINGS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND REDUCING SUGARY SNACKS AND DRINKS, AND MAINTAINING AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE BY PARTICIPATING IN SUGGESTED HOURS OF ACTIVITY PER DAY.BONFIRE - BONFIRE, THE VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE OF UNITED WAY OF 10000 LAKES, MATCHES INDIVIDUALS TO VOLUNTEER PROJECTS ACROSS THE ITASCA AREA. BONFIRE HELPS INDIVIDUALS CONNECT TO VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THAT ALIGN WITH THEIR TIME, EXPERTISE, AND PASSION. POWERED BY AN ONLINE PLATFORM, BONFIRE BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS BY HELPING RECRUIT AND MANAGE A WIDE RANGE OF ORGANIZATION NEEDS AND FURTHER THEIR MISSIONS. SINCE ITS LAUNCHING IN JULY 2020, MORE THAN 100 VOLUNTEER CONNECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, CONTRIBUTING OVER 300 HOURS OF SERVICE DURING THE PANDEMIC.DAY OF ACTION - THE ORGANIZATION'S DAY OF ACTION MOBILIZES THE REGIONAL VOLUNTEER FORCE THROUGH A DAY-LONG EVENT EACH JUNE. COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TAKE PART IN HANDS-ON PROJECTS TO SUPPORT CAUSES OR ISSUES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. DESPITE CHALLENGES IN 2021, OVER 70 VOLUNTEERS PERSEVERED TO CONTRIBUTE NEARLY 500 HOURS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT SMALL BUSINESSES, STREETS, A PARK, AND HOMEOWNERS IN DOWNTOWN COLERAINE. SINCE 2013, 1,045 VOLUNTEERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED 6,124 HOURS TO LOCAL PROJECTS, EQUALING AN IMPACT VALUE OF $150,806.HEALTH & HYGIENE DRIVE - THE ORGANIZATION ANNUALLY COORDINATES A COMMUNITY-WIDE HEALTH AND HYGIENE DRIVE TO COLLECT PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD CARE ITEMS TO BENEFIT FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. COLLECTED ITEMS ARE ASSEMBLED INTO CARE PACKAGES AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THROUGH NONPROFITS, SCHOOLS, AND UNITED WAY'S BACKPACK PROGRAM.ITASCA AREA COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND - THE ORGANIZATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH GRAND RAPIDS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (GRACF), ESTABLISHED THE FUND IN APRIL 2020 TO PROVIDE LOCAL RELIEF. ADMINISTERED BY AN ADVISORY GROUP MADE UP OF LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, THE FUND RESIDES AT GRACF. IT SUPPORTS NONPROFITS ENGAGING IN IMMEDIATE BASIC NEEDS RELIEF, SHORT-TERM RESPONSE, AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY OF HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CRISES. AS OF JUNE 2021, THE WIDE-REACHING INITIATIVE, DISTRIBUTED $193,000 IN GRANT FUNDS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE GREATER ITASCA AREA.PROMISE FELLOW PROGRAM - THE PROMISE FELLOW PROGRAM, A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MN YOUTH ALLIANCE, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 316, AND THE ORGANIZATION, SUPPORTS GRADUATION RATES BY PROVIDING HELP TO STUDENTS THAT ARE AT RISK OF FALLING BEHIND. A FEDERAL AMERICORPS PROGRAM, PROMISE FELLOWS WORK DIRECTLY WITH SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS. FELLOWS FOCUS THEIR SERVICE ON ENSURING YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE, INCLUDING A CARING ADULT, A SAFE PLACE, A HEALTHY START, EFFECTIVE EDUCATION, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. FELLOWS ALSO SUPPORT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, HELPING YOUTH BECOME MORE SECURE IN THEIR IDENTITY AND TEACHING SKILLS TO COPE WITH CHALLENGES THAT MAY ARISE AT HOME, AT SCHOOL OR IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.RESOURCE LIBRARY - THE ORGANIZATION'S RESOURCE LIBRARY HOUSES A WIDE RANGE OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY, ELECTRONICS, CONVENING TOOLS, AND A HYBRID MEETING SPACE. OPEN TO ALL AREA NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, THE LIBRARY FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON TOOLS THAT SUPPORT PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND OUTREACH.STUFF THE BUS - THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A BACKPACK PROGRAM THAT SUPPLIES LOCAL STUDENTS WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND HYGIENE ITEMS. COMMUNITY GROUPS, CHURCHES, AND INDIVIDUALS DONATE SUPPLIES DURING THE MONTH-LONG DRIVE, WHICH ARE THEN PACKAGED INTO BACKPACKS AND DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOOLS AND NONPROFIT PROGRAMS AND UPON REQUEST BY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS.SUMMER MEAL MEET-UPS - THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM IN TWO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS ANY CHILD UNDER AGE 18 TO ACCESS UP TO FOUR LUNCHTIME MEALS ON WEEKDAYS. THE PROGRAM HELPED ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AMONG SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN COHASSET AND HILL CITY WHO RELY ON SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. MORE THAN 400 MEALS WERE SERVED THROUGH THE PROGRAM.UNITED WAY 2-1-1 - THE ORGANIZATION IS A PARTNER OF 2-1-1 MINNESOTA, A STATEWIDE SERVICE THAT PROVIDES FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INFORMATION. THE COMPREHENSIVE 2-1-1 DATABASE IS AVAILABLE 24/7 AND OFFERS INDIVIDUALS AND PROFESSIONALS ACCESS TO MORE THAN 40,000 RESOURCES THROUGH ONLINE SEARCH AND CHAT OR BY DIALING 2-1-1.