United Way Friends,

It’s Summer…that time of year where life is supposed to be more fun and carefree with cold watermelon, homemade ice cream, fresh lemonade, and how about that great season of strawberries we’ve just enjoyed?! Yet, this year, the summertime feelings are offset with concerns for our community that weigh heavily and have echoed across many recent conversations. At United Way, we fight for the health of our neighbors. While often that means our physical health and mental health, we also know that safety and stability are essential to a healthy life and general wellbeing.

Daily we are seeing stories related to these topics, beginning with 5-year-old Summer Wells, who has been missing since Tuesday June 15th. While we pray that answers will soon be found, I’m thankful that there are so many trained rescuers who volunteered countless numbers of hours over the past two weeks to search for one little girl.
Then, the news reports continue with health information related to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the threat of the oncoming Delta variant. Knowing that only 35% of our adult population in Tennessee is fully vaccinated brings cause for concern. With that statistic in mind, it roughly translates to: if three people are standing in a check-out line, and you know that YOU have been vaccinated, assume the other two have not been. Yet, I’m thankful there is an ample supply of the vaccine for those individuals who DO want to get vaccinated. If you or a loved one still need to be vaccinated, find your appointment at www.vaccines.gov.

So what does good health look like? It’s kids who are ready to learn, vets who are able to cope, people in recovery who can remain sober, and so much more. Being healthy can also mean better job opportunities, more training, more stable housing, and higher wages because health is connected to education and economic stability. You’ll be hearing more this month about our impact across these areas and we invite you to join us as we continue the fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community!

Together, we can make a difference.  


United We’re Strong!

Danelle Glasscock
Executive Director
AveNew has partnered with SCAD and the TN Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services to produce a pocket-sized resource guide both for people struggling with addiction and family members of loved ones struggling.

You can swing by our office and grab a copy, or view it online at www.AveNewTN.org.

There is help and hope.

UWGK has developed six sessions that take an in-depth look at community impact at UWGK and our Greater Kingsport region. Our next Learn United session is a virtual agency tour with a "Health" focus. Sign up for the July 22nd session today!

UWGK is partnering with the Alliance for Better Non-profits to offer a customized, comprehensive nonprofit governance training, allowing participants to better serve at a board leadership level in any nonprofit. Our August pilot cohort starts soon, so submit your application today!
Our spotlight this month is from SAFE House (Frontier Health). The Domestic Violence Shelter Program provides a safe, confidential, temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence and their dependent children. 24/7 services may include crisis services, transportation, advocacy, follow-up and community education. Read more about SAFE House.