United Way SAW Updates

November 4, 2022

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) is an initiative to foster a love of reading and to promote early childhood literacy in preschool children by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month.

It was started in 1995 by Dolly Parton herself, in her home county in east Tennessee. By mailing high quality, age-appropriate books directly to their homes, she wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create.

The Imagination Library is available to ANY child ages 0-5 in Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro.

For more information about DPIL, contact Maria Moore at maria@unitedwaysaw.org

Save the Date: Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is Tuesday, November 29th!

Stay tuned on more information on how YOU can help get books in the hands of children throughout Staunton, Augusta County & Waynesboro through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

UWSAW & CAPSAW Host Poverty Simulation

Thirty-five participants experienced the realities of poverty in a simulation conducted on Thursday, November 3rd by UWSAW & CAPSAW.

Participants included the Leadership Greater Augusta Class of 2023 and their invited guests.

The program helps people understand the complexities and frustrations of living in poverty day to day. Using a simulation kit, participants role-played the lives of low-income families and interacted with human service agencies, grocers, pawnbrokers, bill collectors, job interviewers, and more.

The simulation is designed to provide a glimpse into the structural barriers as well as some of the personal and emotional repercussions that people in poverty face.

ALICE Awareness Week

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

ALICE Awareness Week is November 14 - 18, 2022. Stay tuned on how you can get involved and learn more about ALICE.

Valley VITA Open House

Filing taxes is often overwhelming and costly for many of our community members. Valley VITA’s volunteer tax preparers ease the stress and take away the financial burden of preparation fees by providing free, quality income tax preparation for community members who make less than $57,000.

You can help by training to be a tax preparer, a tax site greeter, an appointment scheduler, or meal provider. There is a place for you to use your passion and talents! Volunteering with Valley VITA is also a great opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience.

Join us at the Volunteer Open House on Thursday, December 1 from 6:00 - 7:30 at the United Way SAW Office (24 Idlewood Blvd, Staunton). Meet and Greet with new and returning volunteers, and learn how you can help our community this tax season.

UWSAW Strategic Plan

On Wednesday, August 24, United Way SAW launched a new 2022 - 2025 Strategic Plan.

To view the entire UWSAW Strategic Plan, please click here.

Click Here to Learn More

A Message from Sam

It is very bittersweet that I announce my departure from United Way SAW later this month. It has been wonderful getting to know our UWSAW Board, community partners, donors, volunteers and clients throughout the past year and a half.

There are many amazing things happening in the SAW Community and I am very grateful to have been a small part of that during my time at United Way.