What’s Happening Now
Your News & Updates Resource
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While our American democracy has been under strain, the strength of our national community will withstand. This is a time for unity and healing. At United Way of Frederick County, we are doing our part by remaining committed to LIVE UNITED.
With our community’s wide embrace of the United in Recovery campaign, we will support:
1) local families who are unable to afford a basic cost of living,
2) local nonprofits that provide critical resources to struggling families, and
3) local decision makers with research about working households that can't be found anywhere else.
No matter our differences, Frederick County remains United in Recovery! Below is a sampling of our recent work. We couldn't do any of this without you. Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Ken Oldham
President & CEO
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Supporting Working Families |
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ALICE households are working families who are unable to afford a basic cost of living. They are also the most likely to be severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. United Way’s ALICE Report outlines detailed information about these struggling households. ALICE families are the teachers, hospitality and restaurant workers, first responders and health care workers and so many others who we depend on every day.
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Pathways to Financial Stability
Pathways to Financial Stability is designed to support ALICE families on their journey to long-term financial stability and success. Critical free resources such as tax return preparation, budget coaching, credit counseling and matched savings programs provide working families with the helping hand that they need and deserve.
Financial incentives to help purchase a home or car are available to help hardworking ALICE families on their Pathway to Financial Stability.
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MLK Day of Service
Never have the words and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. been more important. On January 18, 2021, dozens of community volunteers gathered virtually to make hundreds of pillows that have been delivered to local nonprofit organizations for use by their ALICE clients. Over 60 volunteers communed on a Zoom call to share the experience of improving our community.
For more information about volunteer opportunities at United Way of Frederick County, please visit uwfrederick.org.
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Free Income Tax Preparation for ALICE Families
Each year, United Way of Frederick County hosts a VITA center to assist hardworking low- to moderate-income families accurately complete their tax returns. This IRS-audited program ensures that ALICE families receive the tax benefits that they've earned. Despite the pandemic, hundreds of families will drop off their taxes at United Way to be completed free-of-charge by IRS-certified volunteers.
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Supporting Local Nonprofits |
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Announcing 2021 Unity Campaign Partners! |
The annual Unity Campaign is a community-wide fundraising effort to support local nonprofits that provide critical services to local ALICE households.
The campaign officially begins March 10 and concludes March 23, but we are accepting contributions now! Please consider a gift to an organization of your choice.
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Supporting 2-1-1
2-1-1, hosted by the Mental Health Association of Frederick County, is a vital service that connects people with critical services throughout the Frederick County community, as well as the Western Maryland region. We are privileged to provide funding to 2-1-1 each year.
Know someone in need? 2-1-1 is available to help with well-trained call specialists who know available community resources and how to access them.
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Credit Cafes by Interfaith Housing Association (IHA)
Despite their hard work, many ALICE households have challenged credit or, as is often the case, no credit history at all. IHA's Credit Cafes are designed to help!
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Supporting Local Decision Makers |
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Upcoming Presentation to Frederick County Delegation
On Friday, January 22 at 9:30am, Advocacy Committee Chair Dr. Keith Harris and Director of Community Impact & Grants Malcolm Furgol will present the ALICE Report to Frederick County Delegation to Maryland's General Assembly. They will also be discussing United Way's 2021 advocacy positions and ongoing support needed for ALICE households to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Please tune in by clicking here.
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Food Resource Mapping
We have partnered with Frederick County Government and local funders to create better access to food resources for those in need. A new interactive map of food distribution centers is now available. Using the ALICE Report findings, the map includes an overlay of ALICE-concentrated communities so that limited resources can be dispersed appropriately.
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Thanks to our generous community, last year United Way of Frederick County helped many of our neighbors severely impacted by COVID-19.
Today, through no fault of their own, many people still desperately need our help.
Many contributors are donating a portion of their stimulus check to the United in Recovery campaign to help their neighbors in need.
The need is great. The time is now. Together, we will all recover stronger and better.
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Please join us on social media! |
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United Way of Frederick County fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community.
We oppose all forms of discrimination and actively strive to be a model of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We embrace each person’s social or economic status, gender, gender identification, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, and physical or mental abilities. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard.
Special thanks to local artist Ellen Byrne who created and donated the United in Recovery imagery.
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