Past: Community Invited to ‘Visit’ United Way Programs through Virtual Kickoff

What is it like to flee your home and escape to the Safe House for Women? What happens when you seek help from First Call For Help? What does leaving look like through the eyes of a child in foster care? How great does it feel to graduate from One City’s Work Life Program?

Join us on Facebook Live to view the United Way network of partners from the eyes of those your donations help! Our Virtual Kickoff September 15-17 allows you to spend your lunch hour with different partners each day who support our three focus areas: Education, Income and Health. Each tour will conclude with an opportunity for you to ask questions of agency directors and program participants to learn what you can do to help these organizations and those we serve. Visit https://www.facebook.com/unitedwayofsemo/ from 12-1 September 15, 16, 17.

Tuesday, September 15, our focus on education will give you the perspective of students benefiting from one of our backpack programs and the programs we invest in to mentor future leaders, including Tiger Lilies, Big Brothers Big Sisters, 4H, and Scouting. You will be educated by ABCToday on “student mobility,” “trauma informed learning,” “couch surfing,” and other terms that impact a student’s ability to succeed in school.

Wednesday, September 16, we ‘visit’ partners supporting our investment in the health of our community. Experience what it’s like for someone in a wheelchair to learn to cook with help from SADI, the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence. Tour the new Safe House for Women through the eyes of a victim of domestic violence. And see dogs train humans when we drop in on EPIC (Early Prevention Impacts Community) to learn about youth substance abuse and prevention.

We conclude our Virtual Kickoff Thursday, September 17, when we focus on financial stability and visit some partners we invest in that provide income stability to the four counties we serve: Cape Girardeau, Perry, Bollinger, and northern Scott. Learn what it’s like to visit one of our food pantries or a warming center. What exactly happens when you call First Call For Help or walk into Community Partnership seeking assistance? Our virtual Income Tour also will let you experience the joy of obtaining an entry-level job through the eyes of a One City Work Life graduate.

This is your opportunity to see the work our partners do every day through the eyes of those your donations support. Give us an hour, and we’ll give you insight into the need in our community and how the United Way of Southeast Missouri network fights every day to meet it.

Now, more than ever, we must LIVE UNITED.