2020 is a year of doing

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March 2020

2019 was a year of planning, 2020 is a year of doing:

A message from Executive Director Efrat Feferman

Last year, with input from many of you, United Way completed a strategic plan , which will guide our organization over the next three years. As the second largest funder of social services next to government, we take seriously the charge to address our community’s most critical needs. We took stock of where the opportunities for increased impact exist, as well as specific and measurable steps towards that achievement.

Our goals include, first and foremost, a commitment to strengthen our community’s ability to respond to ever-changing needs. The challenges confronting our community are intertwined, complex, and often cyclical within family generations. As we examine the issues faced by an increasing number of our friends and neighbors, such as un- and under-employment, poverty and economic instability, unhealthy child/caregiver attachment, housing insecurity, addictions and substance misuse, and poor physical and mental health, it is clear that meaningful interventions will require our community to work holistically across sectors even more boldly in the future.

Several committees have been working diligently to not only look at the issues and their root causes, but also at the capacity of area nonprofits and other partners to rise to the challenges ahead. I will continue to update you on this work, and my door is open for more in-depth discussions. United Way of Monroe County’s Board of Directors and staff embrace the opportunities in our strategic plan, and we look forward to engaging the community as we all work toward a bright future.

Sincerely,

Efrat Feferman, Executive Director

Welcome to Debra and thanks to Stephanie!

United Way congratulates and welcomes Debra Morrow, executive director of Middle Way House, as newly-elected member agency representative president. In this position, Debra will work with United Way staff and board to help best serve our member agencies, an important role in our strategic plan.

This position was previously held by Stephanie Shelton, director of development at LifeDesigns. Over the past year, Stephanie was instrumental in developing United Way's strategic plan. She served as a liaison between United Way and member agencies during this planning process. We are grateful for Stephanie and the impact she made in this position.

We look forward to working closely with Debra in the coming year. Our member agencies play an integral role in moving forward our strategic plan, and strong leaders like Debra and Stephanie continuously help our organization be the best that it can be.

Change really does begin with you. Are you in?

Donors and supporters like you have rallied together to raise $1,118,824 for the campaign to date.

Change Begins with You Champions

Old National Bank demonstrated their strong commitment to our community, investing $15,648 of employee and corporate gifts in the health, education, and financial stability of our friends and neighbors.

The hard-working employees of the City of Bloomington raised $8,548 to give back to those in need.

UPS employees and corporate offices nearly doubled their support from last year by contributing $7,491 this year to help ensure that all families in our community have the resources they need.

Give today and your one-time or recurring gift will create change all year long!

Join us March 12th for "Creating a More Brain Injury-Friendly Community

Brain injury is more common than people realize, and is one of the most “invisible” disabilities in our communities. Brain injury can include traumatic brain injuries, stroke, injury due to loss of oxygen, infections, and a variety of other events. It can cause an array of cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges that can derail careers, stress individuals and their families, and without appropriate supports and treatment, can lead to a host of other issues.

Join us on Thursday, March 12 from 7:45 – 9 a.m. at The Mill with Jean Capler, Local Support Network Leader for the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Resource Facilitation Program; Rebecca Eberle, clinical professor with IU Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; and three individuals living with a brain injury to discuss how we can create a more brain injury-friendly community. Come ready to learn and ask questions about brain injury, what it’s like living with one, what helps, and how our community can better support our neighbors and friends who have experienced a brain injury.

We hope to see you for this morning of learning, discussion, and networking, with breakfast catered by Bloomington Bagel Company.

Click here to reserve your spot >>

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Wake Up! with United Way is a collaborative project of United Way of Monroe County and IU’s Political and Civic Engagement Program, with thanks to The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and the Bloomington Board of Realtors for series support.

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"They are struggling to keep nutritious food on their tables."

Monroe County has a 16 percent food insecurity rate, higher than both the state and national averages, but what exactly does that mean?

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that all those people are going hungry every day,” explained Julio Alonso, executive director of Hoosier Hills Food Bank. “But it means they are struggling to keep nutritious food on their tables.”

Alonso joined Vicki Pierce, executive director of Community Kitchen, and Brandon Schurr from IU Division of Student Affair’s Crimson Cupboard and MCCSC School Board, for a panel discussion "Food Security: Feeding Monroe County" at the kickoff of the Wake Up! with United Way 2020 season on Thursday, February 13. Mark Fraley, associate director of IU Political and Civic Engagement, moderated this discussion about what food insecurity is, how it affects our community, and what is being done to combat it.

Read the full story here

Check out the event photos

Free Community Tax Service helps community members like Kara make the most of tax season

"I really like the service and all the people there," Kara, a returning Free Community Tax Service client, said. "They are personable and know the community. They make taxes easy.”

“I’ve used the service for seven years because of the convenience, and I felt like they did a really good job," she said. "I tried it myself and screwed it up. I feel confident in the Free Community Tax Service.”

Taxes can easily become overwhelming, but the Free Community Tax Service makes it easy to get your maximum refund. Trained and certified volunteers help clients file federal and Indiana state taxes for free and claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), if eligible.