6 minute read
Non-Profit Spotlight
areas: education, income, and health. They bring togeth-areas: education, income, and health. They bring together community leaders, various businesses, government er community leaders, various businesses, government agencies, and NGO’s to discuss the most pressing mat-agencies, and NGO’s to discuss the most pressing matters in local communities and how they can positively ters in local communities and how they can positively impact those issues. United Way of Northwest Louisiana impact those issues. United Way of Northwest Louisiana has been serving the residents of our local communities has been serving the residents of our local communities since 1921. Their programs have provided opportunities since 1921. Their programs have provided opportunities for those who may have never been given a chance had for those who may have never been given a chance had United Way not been there. United Way not been there. United Way of Northwest Louisiana has offices in Shreve-United Way of Northwest Louisiana has offices in Shreveport and Minden and offers a variety of services to anyone port and Minden and offers a variety of services to anyone For 134 years the United Way organization has been a life changer and life saver for millions of people around the world. It was 1887 in the city of Denver when Frances Wisebart Jacobs, the Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. O’Ryan, Dean H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman gave birth to the idea of an organization that would provide much needed assistance and bring hope to the communities of Denver. What began as a movement to help one city would eventually become the world’s largest, privately funded, non-profit organization. or 134 years the United Way organization has Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. O’Ry the communities of Denver. What began as a movement regardless of financial situation. However, their target demographic can be summed up in one acronym, ALICE. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE households are homes where financial stability is a dream because the breadwinners of the family are barely making ends meet. They are lucky to make it paycheck to paycheck. If they do, it is still never enough. No one should have to decide whether to pay the light bill or buy groceries, but everyday there are men and women who must make these difficult decisions to keep their families afloat. Fortunately, United Way of Northwest Louisiana through the Shreveport Financial Empowregardless of financial situation. However, their target demographic can be summed up in one acronym, ALICE. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE households are homes where financial stability is a dream because the breadwinners of the family are barely making ends meet. They are lucky to make it paycheck to paycheck. If they do, it is still never enough. No one should have to decide whether to pay the light bill or buy groceries, but everyday there are men and women who must make these difficult decisions to keep their families afloat. Fortunately, United Way of Northwest Louisiana through the Shreveport Financial Empow-
United Way has thousands of chapters in 41 countries United Way has thousands of chapters in 41 countries erment Center the help families in our area need to get erment Center the help families in our area need to get striving to advance the common good through three key on the right financial path. The Financial Empowerment on the right financial path. The Financial Empowerment
Center is a free service offered to has been placed on medications go-to for any type of assistance one go-to for any type of assistance one anyone who is in need of financial that they need to keep themselves that they need to keep themselves could possibly need. The hotline is could possibly need. The hotline is literacy. Those who apply for the healthy. The SingleDare Assistance designed to pair individuals with designed to pair individuals with program will work with trained fi- Program is free to anyone in North- community and government agen-community and government agennancial counselors to learn things west Louisiana who would like to cies that are able to assist with ev-cies that are able to assist with evsuch as budgeting, saving, building save an average of 45% on their save an average of 45% on their erything from housing and food erything from housing and food credit, and eliminating debt. Pro- prescription medications. The pantries to mental health coun-pantries to mental health counviding individuals with proper fi- cardholder shows the prescription seling. Since the beginning of the seling. Since the beginning of the nancial literacy helps increase the card to a pharmacist at checkout pandemic, Louisiana 211 has been pandemic, Louisiana 211 has been likelihood of them being able to ad- and the savings are automatic. This a number one tool for thousands of a number one tool for thousands of equately provide for their families. program is a godsend for those who those in need of assistance and di-those in need of assistance and di This steppingstone gives individu- require expensive and/or multiple rection. rection. als hope and helps break the cycle medications. of poverty in communities. of poverty in communities. This year, marks 100 years of ser-This year, marks 100 years of serTwo services that United Way vice for United Way of Northwest vice for United Way of Northwest of Northwest Louisiana is well- Louisiana and the organization Louisiana and the organization known for are their free tax prepa-known for are their free tax prepa- plans to celebrate their centennial plans to celebrate their centennial ration services and their 24/7 all year long with tons of exciting all year long with tons of exciting resource hotline Louisiana 211. additions and events such as a 5K additions and events such as a 5K Every year, trained tax profession-Every year, trained tax profession- run in June and the 100 Stewards run in June and the 100 Stewards als prepare taxes for anyone mak-als prepare taxes for anyone mak- of Service awards ceremony in of Service awards ceremony in ing less than $57,000. Individuals ing less than $57,000. Individuals August. With innovations in the August. With innovations in the One vital expense that countless who make more than $57,000 are who make more than $57,000 are making and communities that are making and communities that are individuals are unable to afford offered a free, safe, and easy way offered a free, safe, and easy way always in need of a helping hand, always in need of a helping hand, are prescriptions. The reality for to file for themselves through My-to file for themselves through My- United Way of Northwest Louisi-United Way of Northwest Louisimany people is that they just are many people is that they just are FreeTaxes.com. Louisiana 211 is FreeTaxes.com. Louisiana 211 is ana will be around for at least an-ana will be around for at least annot able to afford the price tag that known throughout the area as the known throughout the area as the other century. other century.
WE CARRY EACH OTHER
It’s how we do things in Louisiana during times of challenge. We’re stronger together and we know our strength lies in the helping hands of our neighbors. So let’s wear a mask and
