Why Give?
Did you know the average age of a homeless person in Genesee County is nine years old? Did you know that close to 50% of the grandparents in Genesee County are raising their grandchildren and that well over 50% of the Genesee County residents who use the services of the Food Bank are families of the “under employed” also referred to as the “working poor”?
Last year, the Salvation Army helped over 1,500 families in Genesee County during the holiday season and helped over 2000 families with utility bills. Their fear is the number of clients they will see at their door this winter will significantly increase.
One of my primary job responsibilities as your AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison at United Way is to assist union brothers and sisters when they or a family member needs the support of a health or human service agency. Whether you are a dislocated worker, have substance or domestic abuse family issues, health issues, economic problems, any problem that has a negative effect within your personal environment, it is my job to find assistance upon availability and to do so in a confidential and discreet manner.
Most of the agencies I refer people to have programs that are funded through United Way donations. When you designate your donation to United Way through your work site campaign, you are helping to support over 50 programs that benefit our community. Your designated dollars to United Way, go to the Shelter of Flint Emergency Shelter, North End Soup Kitchen, YWCA Safe House Emergency Shelter and Domestic Violence Programs, Center for Gerontology Adult Day Care, Family Service Agency In-Home Elder Care, Visually Impaired Center and Family Counseling, and the Salvation Army Emergency Services. These are just a few of the in-community programs that receive funding through your donations to United Way.
The United Way motto is “Live United”. One of the definitions for union is an act or instance of uniting two or more things into one. United Way and Unions are both committed to advancing the lives and well being of the residents in our community...reaching out, lifting up and LIVING UNITED.
For further information on how to donate, volunteer or if you need more information, call Cindy Cromwell AFL-CIO CSL, United Way of Genesee County at 762-5827.