United Way of Roanoke Valley
SPRING 2021
OUR COMMUNITY RECOVERS: COVID-19 STAY TUNED: A SPECIAL REPORT ON THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON AREA HOUSEHOLDS Even before the pandemic hit last year, more than 44% of our neighbors were already struggling to make ends meet. Many in that number fall in the category of ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, meaning that though they were working, they were barely – and sometimes not-- affording the basic household essentials each month. For many of these families, the events of the past year have been devastating in multiple ways. One year into COVID-19, and the pandemic continues to test our collective strength. But we are one strong, resilient community.
To determine the depth of impact right here in our region, UWRV sponsored a survey of area residents throughout the month of February. More than 32 organizations partnered in the effort, handing out flyers, sending emails, and sharing posts on social media. In the final tally, we had more than 3,000 respondents!
Together, with your financial support and the hard work of dedicated community partners, we were able to get families fed and housed so they could The data is now being compiled and you can expect quarantine safely. Our colleca special report on the findings to be released in the tive efforts provided critical coming weeks, with information to help our region education and childcare meet the needs of ALICE families. To ensure you assistance as well as receive a copy of the report, please email us at access to healthcare services. info@uwrv.org or call 777-4200. The funds we raised helped workers get bills paid when they lost hours, and many were able to access job training programs when they were laid off. Healthy Roanoke Valley and Healthy Franklin County teams quickly mobilized to staff feeding programs and are now volunteering at vaccination clinics. We remain committed to equity in our work and mission, and are helping ensure targeted outreach to our most vulnerable populations. UWRV also continues hosting monthly virtual check-ins with more than 100 of our region’s non-profits and community leaders, reporting needs and progress in all aspects of safety and social services. We are optimistic that we’re emerging from the pandemic as an even stronger Roanoke Valley.
UNITED WAY OF ROANOKE VALLEY RECEIVES GRANT TO HELP FAMILIES WITH CHILDCARE NEEDS
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Parents now have more emergency childcare options for their school-age children, thanks to a $1.5 million state grant administered by United Way of Roanoke Valley, as part of the Ready Regions aid package. The grant from the Virginia Early Childcare Foundation fosters strategic collaborations that increase the supply of safe, quality childcare slots in our region. It’s a big help to families continuing to navigate the effects of COVID-19, still struggling with childcare issues. United Way of Roanoke Valley is creating diverse community partnerships involving nonprofit organizations, childcare facilities and schools, workplaces, local government, healthcare, food security and social services. “We’ll use the funding, distributed in two phases, to identify untapped resources and new options for increasing assistance to families, at the same time addressing the barriers that they find themselves facing,” said Vivien McMahan, Vice President of Community Impact at UWRV. “The priority is on finding solutions quickly that meet their unique needs, so we can bring some relief and support to the children and families who most need help to make it through the rest of the school year.” More than $1 million in funding has been designated to support tuition costs in the cities of Roanoke, Martinsville, Covington, Lexington and Buena Vista, and the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Rockbridge and Henry. These are the areas identified by the Virginia Department of Social Services based on the number of children who receive free or reduced lunch, are without internet access, and have parents in the workforce while schools are on hybrid or virtual schedules and area childcare providers have closed. The remaining funds will be used to support the opening of new classrooms to increase childcare capacity in the localities.
PRE-SCHOOL REGISTRATION FOR 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR NOW OPEN Pre-school programs staffed by certified teachers and instructional assistants are offered free of charge to eligible children in Virginia, with bus transportation provided. To simplify the process, parents of 3 and 4-year-olds can now register their children for area pre-school programs using the Smart2Start website as their sole point of contact. Smart2Start.org efficiently guides parents through early care and education programs, ensuring that all families have access to these early childhood resources. For more information, contact Nicole Dudding at 540.283.2773, or nicole@uwrv.org.
UNITED WAY OF ROANOKE VALLEY FIGHTS FOR THE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE A COMMUNITY IS ONLY AS STRONG AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN IT. It’s not simple or easy. When you commit to solving complex community problems, the collaborations, the advocacy, the sweat equity, the hours, and the details are countless. That’s why your support, at any financial level, is crucial to the work we do to create lasting change in the Roanoke Valley region. When times are tough, we rally together. We work hard. We lend a hand. When we stand UNITED, we make things happen. Here are some ways your dollar goes to work for local families in a time of need:
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