United Way of 1000 Lakes

Community investment community investments are supported by community donations raised through United Way. To properly steward funds, United Way engages dozens of community volunteers to help ensure that investments yield results that matter. Funded partners are held responsible for achieving specific outcomes. United Way offers support to its partners through workshops, capacity-building initiatives, and peer learning opportunities.leaning into our role as a connector and convenor, United Way launched a comprehensive community assessment in 2021 to document our region's strengths and better understand the most pressing and evolving needs of our community's members and families. Informed by a community-wide survey, individual interviews, and focus groups, the results substantiated significant areas of need while illuminating key opportunities for the organization to leverage investments and position its strategies for maximum impact. As United Way deploys new community impact strategies over the next five years, the organization will focus on several levers, including coordinating efforts through a new safety net and upward mobility framework that simultaneously addresses barriers for children and adults in their lives. Future investments will focus on four impact area pillars: ready kids, resilient families, family financial stability, healthy minds & bodies, and safety net. A designated net assets resolution was approved by the board of directors to support the implementation of the new impact strategy.

United Way initiatives:5-2-1-0 playstations - the 5-2-1-0 playstation initiative is a trunk containing sports gear that supports families raising healthy children through more physical activity. Playstations are located in six local parks and neighborhoods to encourage play among children of all ages, regardless of their family's financial ability to purchase equipment. The 5-2-1-0 messaging is included in each playstation, highlighting the importance of healthy eating habits, including suggested servings of fruits and vegetables and reducing sugary snacks and drinks, and maintaining an active lifestyle by participating in suggested hours of activity per day.bonfire bonfire, the volunteer initiative of United Way of 10000 Lakes, matches individuals to volunteer projects across the itasca area. Bonfire helps individuals connect to volunteer experiences that align with their time, expertise, and passion. Powered by an online platform, bonfire builds the capacity of nonprofits and community groups by helping recruit and manage a wide range of organization needs and further their missions. Since its launching in july 2020, more than 100 volunteer connections have been made, contributing over 300 hours of service during the pandemic.day of action - the organization's day of action mobilizes the regional volunteer force through a day-long event each june. Community members of all ages and abilities take part in hands-on projects to support causes or issues in their community. Despite challenges in 2021, over 70 volunteers persevered to contribute nearly 500 hours to positively impact small businesses, streets, a park, and homeowners in downtown coleraine. Since 2013, 1,045 volunteers have contributed 6,124 hours to local projects, equaling an impact value of $150,806.health & hygiene drive the organization annually coordinates a community-wide health and hygiene drive to collect personal and household care items to benefit families and individuals in need. Collected items are assembled into care packages and distributed throughout the community through nonprofits, schools, and United Way's backpack program.promise fellow program - the promise fellow program, a collaboration between mn youth alliance, independent school district 316, and the organization, supports graduation rates by providing help to students that are at risk of falling behind. A federal americorps program, promise fellows work directly with school-age students. Fellows focus their service on ensuring young people have the resources they need to be successful in life, including a caring adult, a safe place, a healthy start, effective education, and an opportunity to serve. Fellows also support social-emotional learning, helping youth become more secure in their identity and teaching skills to cope with challenges that may arise at home, at school or in their communities.resource library - the organization's resource library houses a wide range of tools and equipment, including technology, electronics, convening tools, and a hybrid meeting space. Open to all area nonprofits and community groups, the library focuses specifically on tools that support program operations and outreach.stuff the bus the organization operates a backpack program that supplies local students with school supplies and hygiene items. Community groups, churches, and individuals donate supplies during the month-long drive, which are then packaged into backpacks and distributed to local students through schools and nonprofit programs and upon request by parents and guardians.united Way 2-1-1 - the organization is a partner of 2-1-1 Minnesota, a statewide service that provides free and confidential health and human services information. The comprehensive 2-1-1 database is available 24/7 and offers individuals and professionals access to more than 40,000 resources through online search and chat or by dialing 2-1-1.