April 18 to April 24 is National Volunteer Week. As a community organization, United Way relies on volunteers to help us reach our mission to strategically connect partners and resources to community needs in order to measurably impact the quality of the lives of Knox County residents.

In 2019, we set up a process to document and measure the contributions off our community volunteers. With this process in place, we have exciting volunteer data to share. In 2020, despite a challenging year, we recorded of 1,002 volunteer hours!

Our United Way investment process relies on volunteers to review and evaluate program applications. The individuals who contribute to this process make up our Community Impact Panel. Our Community Investment Committee uses that information to make investment recommendations. The CIC also meets to consider timely grant proposals throughout the year. In 2020, volunteers committed 179 hours to the United Way investment process.

The United Way leadership Board of Directors is also volunteer driven. This group of community members contributed 101 hours to United Way in 2020.

In the office, we work with volunteers on a weekly basis. Our long-term office volunteers have been with the organization for years. They perform clerical and program duties to support the staff. In 2020, these volunteers recorded 162 volunteer hours.

Our affinity group, Women United, is composed of active, motivated ladies who generously give back to their community. Before the group's engagement shifted to a virtual format for the majority of 2020, Women United committed 32 hours of volunteer engagement.

United Way also hosts a variety of short-term volunteers, which could be service hours for the courts as well as Students (High school, Boy Scouts, National Honor Society, etc).

Our Tax Preparation Assistance Program and our Poverty Simulation program rely heavily on volunteers. In 2020, they collected 120.5 and 72 volunteer hours respectively.

We are grateful for our United Way volunteers. Each has a unique set of talents which they choose to donate to United Way and the Knox County community. All are unified by the motivation to apply those talents to Live United and add value to the community. Thank you!

Information about the programs and program impact in 2020 is summarized in our Annual Report. Review the 2020 Annual Report online.

United Way of Knox County's free tax preparation assistance will continue to serve taxpayers through the extended IRS deadline of May 17. As an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site, United Way volunteers and staff can assist tax payers in preparing and submitting their federal and state income taxes for free. To be eligible for the program, individuals must have a simple tax return and have an income of under $56,000. Call United Way of Knox County at 740.397.5721 to learn if you qualify and to schedule an appointment.

For individuals who would like to file their own taxes, MyFreeTaxes in an online program that people can use to file their federal and state taxes for free, and is provided by United Way. This program is available at myfreetaxes.com

On April 1, our FamilyWize program merged with SingleCare to improve prescription savings for individuals and families.

FamilyWize, which has been helping United Way communities save on their prescription medications for over a decade, is officially combining with SingleCare, a national leader in prescription savings cards. FamilyWize is now known as SingleCare!

SingleCare will offer competitive discounts, can be used like a coupon and offers pricing transparency. There is also a loyalty program available for those who wish to use it. Local Pharmacies in Knox County accept this discount card.

United Way of Knox County has promoted FamilyWize 2006. Since its introduction 14 years ago, Knox County families have saved over $646,721 on prescriptions by using the FamilyWize discount. In 2020, Knox County residents used the discount to claim $7,646.65 in prescription savings. Our program director used the card to save $39 on her fall flu shot at a local pharmacy! 

The old cards that say FamilyWize will still work! New cards will also be available soon. They will be plastic and look like this. Even though they have the Walgreens logo on them, they will work at many local pharmacies including Kroger, Rite Aid, CVS, and Walmart. 

If you would like to sign up for SingleCare or download a card, visit our website! uwayknox.org/FamilyWize You can also access savings by downloading the SingleCare app to your smartphone. 

Single Care is available to everyone regardless of citizenship, insurance status, health conditions, or income level. Everyone qualifies to use it for free.

Local volunteerism is the power behind long-lasting change. United Way of Knox County has long prioritized volunteerism. Introduction of a new, dynamic online platform will amplify volunteer engagement and impact in Knox County. Nonprofits and other agencies in the area have already started posting their volunteer opportunities, special events, and engagement activities online in hopes of increasing the variety of ways for individuals to get involved. This web-based system, Volunteer Knox is administrated by United Way and available at www.volunteerknox.com.

Organizations and volunteers will utilize the tool for free under one United Way of Knox County Ohio, Inc. agreement. Contact United Way of Knox County Ohio, Inc. Program Director for more information!