Newsletter 
  January / February, 2019
  Women United 
  United Way of Knox County, Ohio

In This Letter

Women in Recovery Breakfast

Holiday Helpers

Knox ROX

Women United members visit After School programs

Facebook Page

Grant Allocations

Holiday Bazaar

Senior Vouchers

New Directions Shelter Aesthetic

Ruling Our eXperiences

Women in Recovery Breakfast

Power of the Purse 2019

Volunteer Opportunities


Join us!

Women United
Upcoming Events

April 18, 7:30 am
Women in Recovery Breakfast 
The Alcove  Restaurant
Garden Room
 RSVP to Allison or by phone 740.397.5721

May 3, 5:00 pm
Power of the Purse 2019
Join Our Friends!

Upcoming 
Community Events
 

January and February

Wednesday, January 23
4 pm - 6 pm
New Directions 
Coaching Boys into Men Facilitator Training
COTC - 236 South Main St., Mount Vernon

Saturday, February 2 and Saturday February 16
7:30 am - 11:30 am
Knox Community Hospital
20-minute Heart Check Screening - $20
KCH - 1330 Coshocton Ave., Mount Vernon

Saturday, February 9
4 pm - 6 pm
Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon
Chocolate Fantasy Fundraiser
Glenn A. Gallagher Centre - 1451 Gambier Rd., Mount Vernon

Wednesday, February 20
8 am - 4:30 pm
Mount Vernon City Schools
Why Teens Kill: featuring author Phil Chalmers
Knox County Memorial Building - 112 East High St., Mount Vernon

Saturdays, April 20 - May 18
9 am - 5 pm
Mental Health and Recovery of Licking and Knox Counties
Peer Support  Certification Training
For more information contact Emily Morrison or call 740.522.1234
 
1st Monday Each Month, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
the Freedom Center
Family Education Session
106 East Gambier St Mount Vernon

Get Healthy Knox County


Email for more details or to share your organization's events in the next newsletter!
In the News!

Recent Program  and Community Events

Crunch Out Celebration
Program celebration for Knox County 4th graders took place January 12

Women United
Our group was recently highlighted in the 
Mount Vernon News:

United Way Executive Director honored 
Kelly Brenneman and her family were honored at the annual Food for the Hungry Snowflake Gala, Dec. 7. The Brenneman family was featured in many local news outlets

United Way Campaign Videos released
Hear the United Way Stories

Email for more details or to share a story or event for the next newsletter.
Quick Links:
  

uway knox

Like us on Facebook

"Instructions for living a life. Pay Attention. Be astonished. Tell about it."

- Mary Oliver


Mary Oliver was a Pulitzer Prize winning American poet, who survived a difficult childhood, and found peace and passion in nature. She passed away January 17, 2019.

 
Women in Recovery Breakfast

We had such an inspiring morning with the Women in Recovery Breakfast January 17! 
Through our partner agency, The Freedom Center, we were able to hear the struggles and triumphs of two women, Christina and Caitlyn, who are succeeding in their journeys of recovery. 

We are exceptionally proud of these two young women for candidly sharing their stories and how far they have come. They expressed that they have been enjoying the sober living activities supported by United Way, which have included pottery classes, fishing and canoeing. 
Thanks to everyone for coming out and hearing these strong women speak! More photos are

Holiday Helpers

Women United adopted a small Holiday project this year. We prepared gifts for two adult individuals at Knox Board of Developmental Disabilities who do not have family members that were able to provide a holiday gift. 


Gifts were dropped off to the service provider to be delivered to the individuals in time to be unwrapped on Christmas morning. More photos are available on our Facebook Page . Thank you to our Women United Volunteers for shopping for and wrapping the gifts!

Ruling Our eXperiences in Knox County!

Representatives from the national Ruling Our eXperiences organization visited our facilitators in Knox County. They hosted a happy hour at Stein Brewing Company. This provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase all of the great empowerment work that our facilitators are doing in Knox County.



United Way also met with the ROX representatives and New Directions Executive Director / ROX facilitator Lori Jones-Perkins to start planning a  special event for this year's ROX participants to take place on International Women's Day - March 8.


Women United members support students at United Way's After School Program

Women United members continue to volunteer with the Eagles' Nest after school enrichment program at East Elementary school! The ladies helped the students create special holiday crafts and ornaments. 



Eagles' Nest is a United Way after school program coordinated by Women United member Marilyn Nagy. They meet after school, Monday through Thursday, 3:30 - 5 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering or coordinating an activity contact Elizabeth Doolittle or call 740.397.5721. 


 
Like our Facebook Page!

We are delighted to introduce you to our new Women United Facebook Page! Use the page to stay current with Women United news and events. We will also be sharing updates and information from the programs that Women United supports. Give us feedback on what else you would like to see on the page!

Women United Grant Allocations

Applications for Women United Grant funding for projects to occur August 2018 through August 2019 have been received, reviewed, and announced! Visit our website to review the list of projects planned for the year!

For more information, please email Elizabeth or call at 740.397.5721.

Holiday Bazaar

Holiday Bazaar was a Women United grant allocated to Women United member Kathie Brown at Knox County Career Center.



Students were able to select small gifts for friends and family members at no cost to them. 

Women United entirely funded this project. Our volunteers gave their time to wrap the gifts for students and helped them pick out that perfect gift for the special people in their lives. 

Check out  some more photos 
from this Women United grant sponsored event! 

The Women United sponsored Holiday Bazaar was also featured in a Mount Vernon News article. 

Senior Vouchers

Supported as a 2018 Women United grant project, senior vouchers were distributed to those age or older for use at the Mount Vernon Farmers Market. Distribution and redemption was recorded and the report for the year has been completed. This year a total of  $1,565 was distributed in voucher form. $1,371 of food was purchased using the vouchers. Only $194 of vouchers were left unspent for a total 87.6% voucher redemption rate.

Thank you Women United for supporting this program to provide fresh, healthy food to our seniors!

New Directions, New 
Aesthetic

Thanks to a Women United Grant, the New Directions shelter was painted for the first time in 15 years!




This upgrade, sponsored by Women United, has cultivated a peaceful environment for the guests of the New Directions shelter, which constantly strives to help its residents feel safe and comfortable. 

Check ou t this gallery to see more photos of the beautiful before and after transition! 


Ruling Our eXperiences

Kenyon College and MVNU hosted the Danville Rox Girls for a college field trip day! 



This Women United sponsored event allowed a faculty panel of women to share their experience and advice on navigating school, life, and higher education, as strong women, with 18 5th graders and 13 8th graders. 

Thank you to Women United for supporting the Ruling Our eXperiences in Knox County!

This year our ROX reach has expanded to include a new facilitator at KCCC and new programs at East Elementary School and the East Knox school district. 

Women in Recovery Breakfast

The next Women in Recovery Breakfast is scheduled for Thursday, April 18. Our meal will be held in the Garden Room of the Alcove Restaurant and will start at 7:30 a.m.
RSVP by emailing Allison  or by calling 740.397.5721. 

Power of the Purse

Power of the Purse 2019 will be held Friday, May 3, beginning at 5 p.m. 
To be held at a new location this year, stay tuned for more information as the date grows closer!  


Volunteer Opportunities 

The following programs and organizations are actively recruiting volunteers. 
Contact Elizabeth to get involved.

Eagles' Nest after school program
at East Elementary School in Mount Vernon
is actively seeking volunteers to serve as tutors 
Monday through Thursday, 3:30-5pm
Contact United Way at 740.397.5721

Tiger Pride Club after school program
at Dan Emmett School in Mount Vernon
is actively seeking volunteers to serve as tutors 
Monday through Thursday, 3:30-5pm
Contact United Way at 740.397.5721

Interchurch Social Services
Knox County Locations
Opportunities vary
740.397.4825

The Winter Sanctuary
Volunteers will oversee the guests 
and assist to  operate the shelter
740.392.9277

SPI Science and Play Space 
unitilize regular and ivolunteers to help deliver programming to Knox County children

Women United members are encouraged to submit project ideas and volunteer opportunities to United Way for distribution to the rest of the group!