January 2020
Our Mission: Activate the power of women to strengthen our community and drive sustainable change.
In this issue:
  • Community Clothes Closet
  • Collections & Drives
  • Community Events
  • Sprout Into Reading & Little Free Libraries
  • Women United Spotlight
  • Campaign Update

Upcoming Events:
  • Read Across America
  • Over The Edge
Community Clothes Closet
Join Women United and their Community Clothes Closet initiative to ensure that people in need have access to professional clothing items for interviews and their first few days of work! You can help by hosting a drive at your workplace or by volunteering your time to keep the closet organized!
Collections & Drives
Clothing, basic needs items, cleaning items, books and more! Join Women United and help organize collections and drives for local nonprofit organizations.
Community Events
Join Women United and volunteer at community events like the Back To School Bash or Read Across America to provide awareness in the community about the importance of early literacy!
Sprout Into Reading & Little Free Libraries
Are you passionate about early literacy? Join Women United to help with Sprout Into Reading and Little Free Libraries. Help with book labeling and distribution to local non-profits to get the hands into children in need. Sprout Into Reading partners with local nonprofits to ensure that children ages 0-5 years old have access to quality, age appropriate books in their home.

Volunteer to track a Little Free Library by making sure it is full of books for local children in need. Little Free Libraries give neighborhood children age 0-12 years old with free access to quality books, and encourages reading in the home and sharing with your neighbors.

Currently we have two libraries open for volunteers:
Orange Park located at 1801 Washington Street
Burden Park located at 2701 Burden Street
For information on how to get involved please contact admin@dbqunitedway.org
Women United Spotlight
Karen Fleege

I am born and raised "Dubuquer". My husband Karl and I have been married for 41 years and have 2 children, their spouses and 1 wonderful grandson. We both also come from large families and feel very blessed with lots of extended family and friends.

I worked for 41 years in the printing industry and am now retired. I have always loved books so when Julie Kouba asked me to help label books for the Little Free Library I jumped at the chance. From that it was an easy yes to join the Women United committee and help out where needed. What a great program to put books in the hands of our youth.

I look forward to growing in my volunteer roles and the people I will meet along the way.
United Way Campaign Update
Are you looking for a way to make an impact on the health, education and income of those in need in our community? What can your dollar do?
Your dollar can:

Impact Health through :
-Meals to area youth;
-Rides for those needing access to wellness activities and appointments;
-Mental health services for local community members;
-Substance abuse services for local youth.

Impact Education through:
-Mentoring for area youth;
-Books for children age 0-5 for early literacy;
-Educational opportunities including mentoring, leadership and character building for area youth;
-Job training;
-Opportunities for area youth to explore careers in advanced manufacturing, construction and engineering;
-Leadership training in violence prevention;
-Social emotional programming and training.

Impact Income/Financial Stability through:
-Access to legal services;
-Access to homeless support services and/or disaster services;
-Access to shelter and/or domestic violence services;
-Access to 24/7 resources and referrals;
-Access to hot breakfast or emergency food.

You can help United Way impact almost 40,000 lives in the tri-state area and reach our campaign goal of $1.5M by giving today!!! Thank you for supporting United Way and making such an impact in our community!
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for
Monday March 2nd, 2020
when we celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday with Read Across America.
Sign up today to read to a class by emailing admin@dbqunitedway.org
Join us for the 2020 Over The Edge Event planned for Friday June 26th. Last year, Judy Wolf from our Women United group went Over The Edge! Watch our video from last year and sign up to edge today!
HOW YOU CAN JOIN
 
Women UNITED Membership

- Women United members annually pledge $500 to the annual United Way campaign and have the option to serve on the Steering Committee, which meets once a month.

- ALL women are welcome to participate in Women United-sponsored volunteer activities.

To learn more about Women United, attend our monthly meetings held every third Wednesday of the month at 4 PM at the United Way Office (215 W. 6th Street, Dubuque, Iowa).

-For more information, please contact  admin@dbqunitedyway.org  
Women United Leadership Council
Judy Wolf
Karen Babler
Michele Kaiser
Tricia Schumacher
Julie Kouba