United Way Of The Lakelands

MISSION: TO CONNECT PEOPLE, RESOURCES, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE A THRIVING COMMUNITY FOR ALL. VISION: AN EQUITABLE COMMUNITY WHERE OPPORTUNITY IS NOT LIMITED AND EVERY MEMBER REACHES THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THE UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS (UWL) ADVANCES THE COMMON GOOD BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL. OUR FOCUS IS ON EDUCATION, INCOME, AND HEALTH - THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE. WE RECRUIT PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO BRING THE PASSION, EXPERTISE, AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO GET THINGS DONE. THROUGH VARIOUS EFFORTS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL WORKPLACE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, FUND DISTRIBUTION ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS, AND CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATIONS, UWL ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO GIVE, ADVOCATE, VOLUNTEER, AND LIVE UNITED.

COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAM AT THE CORE OF OUR MISSION IS THE BELIEF THAT COLLECTIVE ACTION IS CRUCIAL IN BRINGING ABOUT TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE. WE ACTIVELY RECRUIT INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHARE OUR PASSION FOR CREATING POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT. WE SEEK OUT THOSE WHO BRING NOT ONLY DEDICATION BUT ALSO EXPERTISE AND VALUABLE RESOURCES TO THE TABLE. OUR MULTIFACETED APPROACH INVOLVES ENGAGING IN VARIOUS INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES. ONE OF OUR KEY ENDEAVORS IS AN ANNUAL WORKPLACE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, WHICH SERVES AS A CORNERSTONE FOR GENERATING THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO FUND OUR IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. THROUGH METICULOUS FUND DISTRIBUTION ACTIVITIES, WE ENSURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED STRATEGICALLY TO MAXIMIZE THEIR POSITIVE INFLUENCE. IN ADDITION TO FUNDRAISING, UWL IS COMMITTED TO CONDUCTING COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS. THESE ASSESSMENTS ALLOW US TO GAIN INSIGHTS INTO THE EVOLVING NEEDS AND CHALLENGES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, ENABLING US TO ADAPT AND TAILOR OUR PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES EFFECTIVELY. RECOGNIZING THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF VARIOUS SECTORS, WE ACTIVELY FOSTER CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATIONS. BY BRINGING TOGETHER DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND INDIVIDUALS, WE CREATE A POWERFUL FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. THESE COLLABORATIONS AMPLIFY OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS COMPLEX ISSUES AND DRIVE SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE A MEANINGFUL AND LASTING IMPACT. UWL OPERATES ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN BUILDING A STRONGER AND MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY. WE ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO GIVE GENEROUSLY, ADVOCATE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE, VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND SKILLS, AND, ABOVE ALL, EMBRACE THE SPIRIT OF LIVING UNITED. THROUGH THESE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS, WE BELIEVE IN CREATING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE, ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO A BRIGHTER AND MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE FOR ALL. COMMUNITY IMPACT PROJECTS INCLUDE: INSPIRE 864 - A COMMUNITY AWARENESS MOVEMENT THAT ADDRESSES YOUTH VIOLENCE'S RESIDUAL EFFECTS AS WELL AS THE ISOLATED EFFECTS OF COVID-19'S IMPACT FACED BY UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN GREENWOOD COUNTY. BORN LEARNING TRAILS - A SERIES OF 10 INTERACTIVE SIGNS THAT OFFER FUN, ACTIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. VITA - PROVIDES FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH A HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF 60,000 A YEAR OR LESS. WARM & FUZZY - ANNUAL DRIVE FOR WINTER APPAREL AND ITEMS TO KEEP RESIDENTS WARM. STUFF THE BUS - PROVIDES SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR GREENWOOD, ABBEVILLE, MCCORMICK, AND SALUDA COUNTIES STUDENTS RESOURCE CONNECTION HUB - SERVES AS A CENTRAL HUB WITHIN CENSUS TRACT 970500, PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING POVERTY WITH ACCESS TO CRUCIAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES. LAKELANDS COMMUNITY GARDENS - WITH SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS, UWL SEEKS TO INCREASE LOCAL FRESH FOOD ACCESS THROUGH THE CREATION OF 8 STRATEGICALLY PLACED COMMUNITY GARDENS. LAKELANDS COUNTS- EMPOWERS THE LAKELANDS COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE HEALTH BY PROVIDING LOCAL HEALTH DATA, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. GREENWOOD COUNTS COMMUNITY CONSORTIUM (GC3) - BRINGS REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS MULTIPLE SECTORS TO ADVOCATE AND ADVANCE SYSTEM CHANGES FOR A SAFER, HEALTHIER, AND HAPPIER COMMUNITY. THIS BODY DRIVES CONVERSATIONS ON HOW GREENWOOD PLANS AND COORDINATES ACTION BY HIGHLIGHTING COMMUNITY VOICES AND UTILIZING THE RESOURCES ON THE LAKELANDS COUNTS DATA PLATFORM.

FACILITY RENTAL PROGRAM THE FACILITY RENTAL PROGRAM AT THE UNITED CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CARE (UC3) OPERATES AS AN INTEGRAL ASPECT OF OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH COLLABORATION. SITUATED AT THE HEART OF GREENWOOD, OUR CENTRALLY LOCATED FACILITY CURRENTLY HOSTS FIVE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO CREATING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS. THE UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS (UWL) OVERSEES THE ADMINISTRATION AND PHYSICAL OPERATIONS OF THE UC3 BUILDING AND ITS ADJACENT PROPERTY. IN ADDITION TO MANAGING THE RENTAL PROGRAM, UWL ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, ENSURING THE OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONALITY OF THE FACILITY, AND MAINTAINING THE CLEANLINESS AND UPKEEP OF THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. THE UC3 ADVISORY COMMITTEE SERVES AS THE PRIMARY INTERFACE TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED WITH UC3 AND ITS MISSION. ACTING AS A LIAISON, THIS COMMITTEE FACILITATES COMMUNICATION, ADDRESSING THE DIVERSE NEEDS AND OBJECTIVES OF OUR RESIDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THIS COLLABORATION ENABLES A COHESIVE ENVIRONMENT, FOSTERING UNITY AMONG AGENCIES TO SERVE THEIR LOW-WEALTH CONSTITUENTS BETTER. IN ESSENCE, THE FACILITY RENTAL PROGRAM PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SUSTAINING THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF UC3. BY OFFERING OUR FACILITY AS A VENUE FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS, MEETINGS, AND PROGRAMS, WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE REALIZATION OF OUR MISSION. THIS MISSION REVOLVES AROUND CREATING A SPACE WHERE AGENCIES WORK COLLECTIVELY TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE AND ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. NOTE: IN ADDITION TO THE 155,197, WE HAVE MADE LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS OF 65,000.

HOUSING STABILITY SERVICES EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, ERA: THROUGH ITS COLLABORATION WITH SC HOUSING, THE UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS, VIA THE UNITED WAY ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SECURED A GRANT OF 710,000.00. THIS GRANT WAS EARMARKED TO PROVIDE VITAL SUPPORT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND FAMILIES GRAPPLING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THE HOUSING MARKET. DURING THE PERIOD FROM JULY 2022 TO SEPTEMBER 2022, A TOTAL OF 1,692 HOUSEHOLDS AND INDIVIDUALS IN GREENWOOD, ABBEVILLE, MCCORMICK, AND SALUDA COUNTIES BENEFITTED FROM HOUSING STABILITY-RELATED SERVICES. THESE SERVICES WERE DELIVERED THROUGH 16 LOCALLY SUPPORTED ERA-FUNDED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS ERA HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM. EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT - CARES ACT, ESG-CV: THE UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS ESG-CV PROGRAM, LOCALLY KNOWN AS THE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, PROVIDED FUNDS TO GREENWOOD, ABBEVILLE, MCCORMICK, AND SALUDA COUNTY RESIDENTS TO PREVENT, PREPARE FOR, AND MITIGATE THE HOMELESSNESS IMPACTS CREATED BY CORONAVIRUS UNDER THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS PROGRAM (42 U.S.C. 11371). UWL PROVIDED 232 HOUSEHOLDS WITH DIRECT RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, TOTALING 455,213.46 TO GREENWOOD, ABBEVILLE, MCCORMICK AND SALUDA RESIDENTS VIA ESG-CV.