Warm Wishes from United Way NELA

From all of us at United Way of Northeast Louisiana, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! Your continued support is improving lives in our community. Thank you for your commitment! We look forward to continuing to create positive change together in 2021.
Ouachita Tornado Long-Term Recovery Group Wraps Up

The Ouachita Tornado Long-Term Recovery Group (OTLTRG) was a collaboration of faith-based, local government, and community entities. The goal of the OTLTRG was to support tornado recovery for the most vulnerable citizens of Ouachita Parish. We began our first case presentations just two weeks after the April 12th tornado. In total, we assisted 55 households with 189 individuals, 89 of which are minors. These individuals were assisted with getting into a new home, replacing damaged property, or repairing their existing home. We would like to extend a special thanks to all of our vendors who were so happy to be working with OTLTRG and truly determined to provide their best work for these clients. And to our donors and volunteers, thank you for supporting our Ouachita Tornado Recovery in NELA!
VolunteerUNITED Spotlight:
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Our friends at Angus Chemical Company helped us pull off our "To our Seniors, with Love" event by picking up all supplies needed to pack 130 boxes for some of our local senior citizens. These awesome employees decorated and filled the boxes with the necessary items to cook a holiday meal. They also made treat bags to go inside each box of food. Angus volunteers worked on this project from start to finish in the convenience of their own work space, allowing them to keep all of their employees safe and socially distanced. Angus, you have a phenomenal team and we are so thankful for your volunteer leadership in our community.

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To our Seniors, with Love

During the weeks of Dec. 7th and Dec. 14th, we were thrilled to host "To our Seniors, with Love" – four drive thru food distributions aimed at spreading holiday cheer to some of our local senior citizens in Lincoln, Ouachita, Richland, and Union Parishes. Prior to COVID-19, some senior citizens received meals onsite at a Lincoln, Ouachita, Richland, or Union Council On Aging meals location (Congregate Meals). However, to help keep these senior citizens safe during the pandemic, the meals are now distributed in a drive thru or delivery fashion.

In an effort to keep spirits bright, United Way partnered with our incredible volunteers from Angus Chemical Co., Bancorp South (Ruston), Brookshires, Crown Club of Ruston, Entergy Louisiana, First National Bank (Farmerville), Graphic Packaging – West Monroe, Jim Taylor of Rayville, Junior Auxiliary of Ruston, Marion State Bank, Monroe First United Methodist Church, and St. Frederick High School freshmen to fill boxes that included ingredients to make a home-cooked holiday meal, thoughtful notes, Christmas treats, and personal care items. These 405 festive boxes were wrapped, decorated, and covered with personal messages of encouragement.

United Way believes in the power of collaborating with local volunteers to fill the gaps in our community, like addressing the loneliness that comes with canceled social events. Now more than ever, our senior citizens deserve to know that they are loved, valued, integral members of our community. Thank you for supporting our efforts!
United Way NELA 211: Kinship Caregivers

Did you know that roughly 65,000 Louisiana children live with relatives other than their parents? United Way 211 has partnered with Louisiana DCFS on a new way for these kinship caregivers to find resources in their communities. Dial 211 or text KINSHIPLA to 898-211.
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United Way of Northeast Louisiana | unitedwaynela.org