Newsletter 
  October/November, 2018
  United Way of Knox County, Ohio

In This Letter

2018 Campaign
Kickoff Week 

Afterschool Elementary Programs

Crunch Out

Online Presence

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Volunteer Spotlight

Join us!

Upcoming 
United Way events
October and November

Fall 2018
Crunch Out 
Knox County's 4th graders will begin the Crunch Out program, delivered in classrooms and Physical Education classes. What are some habits you could crunch out this fall?
Essay Competition Award Winners to be honored in January 2019
Call 740 392 5721 or visit our website for program details

October 18, 9-11:30 a.m. 
Poverty Simulation
Register to attend by calling United Way at 740.397.5721 or email [email protected]

October through May
Afterschool Elementary Tutoring and Enrichment
East School Eagles' Nest and Dan Emmett Tiger Pride Club meet afterschool Monday through Thursday
To Volunteer, email [email protected]

Thursdays 5:30-6:30p.m.
YMCA Youth Enrichment
YMCA, OSU Extension and United Way join forces: Get a workout while you child learns something new each week! Free for YMCA members, $5 non-members
Call 740 392 9622

Daily
Edible Knox
305 E High Street and along Main Street and Downtown Mount Vernon

Email for more details.

Join Our Friends!

Upcoming 
Community Events

Each Monday In October
5:30-7:00 p.m.
New Directions
Domestic Violence Month - Awareness Trainings
The Grand Hotel
Mount Vernon

October 11
November 8
December 13
January 10
4:30 - 6 p.m.
the Freedom Center
Empower Group 
Free and open to children ages 8 to 12 years who have a parent or family member struggling with substance use and addiction.
Contact Melissa Body or Ashley Kuhn at 740.397.2660

 
October 27
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Drug Take Back Day
Multiple locations

October 1-31
New Directions
Special Art exhibit
Photovoices: 
Heart of the Grizzly 
Schnormeier Gallary

November 1
5 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
KSAAT
Tyler's Light
Foster Hall, Arial Arena
Mount Vernon 
Nazarene University

1st Monday Each Month, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
the Freedom Center
Family Education Session
106 East Gambier St Mount Vernon

Saturdays May-October
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Mount Vernon Farmers Market
Open Market
1 Public Square, 
Mount Vernon.   

During the School Year
Ohio Job and Family Services
New online Child Care Resource tool to find childcare before and after school.

Ongoing:
Get Healthy Knox County

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

In the News!

Recent Partner Events

Muskingum Valley Council Cub Scouts 
Troop 339 Mount Vernon celebrated their 80th anniversary on 
September 30

SPI
hosted their Molecular Mixer fundraising event on September 22
 
New Directions
had a busy memorial day weekend, TAC's Color Run and Knox County Knock Out both took place September 2



Email for more details or to share a story or event for the next newsletter.
Get Involved!

Active Volunteer and Enrollment Opportunities

The Winter Sanctuary 
The seasonal emergency shelter opens on November 1 and is actively recruiting volunteers to help

Women United 
Utilizes the power of women to advance the common good in our community.

Imagination Library 
Encourages learning by providing free books to children birth to age 5.
 Email us to register, become a sponsor or to donate to the program

Knox County YMCA
Promotes health & fitness programs for all ages.

Muskingum Valley Council
Scouts are actively recruiting Boys AND girls for their scouting programs. Visit BeAScout.scouting.org and enter your zip code to find a troop 

Touchpointe KnoxWorks
Removes barriers for Neighbors in need of a second chance to transition to the workforce.
This is a win-win for both 

Email and tell us if you have an active program to include in our next letter.
 


uway knox
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"Always do the right thing because it's the right thing to do"

- Kokosing Gap Trail memorial bench

United Way 
of Knox County, Ohio 
is dedicated to being an agent of change, creating opportunities that move individuals and families to self-sufficiency, while eliminating barriers for future generations. 


Campaign Kickoff Week Highlights
September 10 through 14

Our Campaign theme this year is "Hear Our Stories, your gift changes their stories." We have been so excited to share some incredible stories that we have collected from our program participants and partner agency clients with the community.

Highlights from the week have been shared on Facebook and on our website.

Tell us YOUR United Way story! Have you volunteered at a poverty simulation? Do you have a neighbor or loved one who participates in one of our partner agency programs? Do you read Imagination Library books with your grandchild? Submit your story online and tell us how United Way has made an impact!

Use  this link to make an online Donation to the 2018 campaign.
Thank you Campaign Sponsors! 

Campaign Week Sponsor
Central Ohio Technical College

Luncheon Sponsors
CES Credit Union
Conway's Eastside Pharmacy
Donley Ford
First-Knox National Bank
Huntington Bank
Knox Community Hospital
Murray, Rauzi Kidwell and Cunningham, Ltd
Riverside Recovery Services
Ross Brothers

Community Sleep-In Sponsors
CES Credit Union
Info-Link Technologies
Janet Chandler
Ross Brothers

Hot Meals Sponsors
CES Credit Union
Conway's Eastside Pharmacy
Dean's Jewelrry
KSAAT
Owl Creek Title Agency

After-School Sponsors
CES Credit Union
Danville Veterinary Clinic
NAMI of Knox and Licking County, Ohio
Ross Brothers


Afterschool Elementary Programs

United Way's 2018 pilot program, the East Elementary school Eagles' Nest afterschool tutoring and enrichment program exceeded all of our expectations! Over 30 students, who received homework help and experienced engaging new activities from teachers, aids, and community volunteers, reported improved testing and classroom performance. 



Encouraged by the success of the program, our Eagles' Nest returns in 2018 and a new afterschool program, the Tiger Pride Club is underway at Dan Emmett Elementary. United Way stocked the programs with activities and games (which also serves as colorful centerpieces at our Campaign Kickoff Luncheon). Dan Emmett principal (and Tiger Pride Club coordinator) Margy Arck is pictured with United Way staff, below. 



The programs started October first and will run Monday through Thursday, 3:30 - 5 pm until May. Volunteer as a tutor or learn more about the programs by contacting [email protected] or calling United Way at 740.397.5721

Crunch Out

The Crunch Out program is well underway at all of Knox County's 4th grade physical education classes. This year the program sports a new name, but promotes the same great exercise, nutrition and wellness information. By dropping the term Obesity from the name, we hope that crunch out will be recognized as a meaningful wellness program, and not be confused for a weight loss program in any way. Fourth graders learn to use an exercise ball, are introduces to the 5-2-1-0 guidelines, journal about their healthy habits, and reflect on their experience in the program by writing an essay at the end. 



Students are rewarded for participating in the program with fun prizes. Each student is also asked to write a 'How I am Living Healthy' Essay for an essay contest. Winners will be announced on January 12 at a program celebration. 

In week 2 of the program, long-time friend to Crunch Out and experienced PE teacher Jerry Clinger (in photo) welcomed United Way Executive Director and Program Director to his classroom. We are preparing a video that was created during the visit so that we can share the program with those not enrolled in fourth grade in our community.

Don't wait until the new year to set your healthy goal or resolution. What could you crunch out in 2018?

Activating Our Online Presence

Many of you may have noticed our new and more active online presence. We have increased our communications on 
Facebook, made it a priority to create new content on 
our website, and have implemented a bi-monthly schedule for our newsletter.  Please take a moment to check out the website, 

Donations

We are over halfway to our campaign goal!


By donating to United Way's 2018 Campaign, you will be supporting Health, Education, and Financial Stability programs in Knox County. Give, Advocate, Volunteer. LIVE UNITED.

Use  this link to make an online Donation to the 2018 campaign.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Awareness Month. Everyone deserves to live a full, healthy, happy life, without fear for their safety. Our partner agency New Directions is sharing information in efforts to amplify domestic abuse awareness in the community this month. Check out their Facebook Page to learn more. 


We are participating in Purple Light Nights this month. Purple is the symbolic color of domestic violence awareness. The Purple Night Lights campaign hopes to bring attention to domestic violence issues in hopes of providing education on building healthy relationships. 


Volunteer Spotlight
 
We are proud  to introduce you to......

Our Intern,
Breanna Lee




Breanna grew up in rural New York with her two older brothers. She was homeschooled and describes herself as a quiet and shy introvert. 

Breanna knew that she wanted to help people, so when she went away for school, she chose to attend Mount Vernon Nazarene University as a part of their Social Work Program. She loves living on campus and being around people. She loves having a community.

Now a senior, preparing to graduate, she is interning at United Way to gain real life experience in different applications of social work in the Knox County community. It is in that spirit that she says that she is looking forward to getting to work with United Way's partner agencies.   

How has her experience been so far? Breanna says that she has loved getting to see how our community is so connected. She feels that she has seen our communities organization and individuals supporting each other, trying to get to know and help each other. 
And we agree! This personifies  what it means to LIVE UNITED.