2016 United Way Community Engagement Opportunities

Get Involved!

Together, we can do more than any one person can do alone.

VOLUNTEER TO MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN AS A GROUP OR INDIVIDUALLY United Way Readers School year sessions (Fall and/or Winter/Spring): Volunteers provide one-on-one assistance to a child who’s behind in learning to read. They work together at the child’s school, in Enfield, Hartford, New Britain or Windham, once a week for an hour to improve reading comprehension and vocabulary skills.

Volunteer training is provided.

One day reading opportunities for volunteers are also available including: • National Education Association’s Read Across America Day – March (Dr. Seuss’ birthday) • Jumpstart’s Read for the Record – October After attending orientation in the morning, volunteers read to one assigned classroom at a school in the Greater Hartford region. Recruiting volunteers for these national events is one part of United Way’s work with its partners to ensure that children read on grade level by the fourth grade.

Learn more: UnitedWayInc.Org/UWReaders

United Way Volunteer Budget Coaching Four month sessions (Fall and Winter/Spring): Volunteer budget coaches work with individuals on a monthly basis to re-organize their finances by making better decisions, as a team. Volunteers help participants create and maintain a budget, pay bills on time and save for the future. Volunteer training is provided. Space is limited based on the time of year.

Learn more: UnitedWayInc.Org/BudgetCoaching

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Mid-January through mid-April: IRS-certified volunteers prepare and file taxes for lower-to-moderate income families and individuals for free, getting them the refunds and credits they’ve earned. They also connect filers to other tools that help them on their paths to financial security. Volunteer training is required and provided.

Learn more: UnitedWayInc.Org/VITAVolunteer

United Way Day of Action June: Every year on or around June 21, volunteers from communities around the world take action to improve lives and change conditions where they live and work. Locally, volunteers participate in projects that help children and families succeed.

Learn more: UnitedWayInc.Org/DayofAction United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut • 30 Laurel Street • Hartford, CT 06106 • 860-493-6800 • unitedwayinc.org Join the conversation: facebook.com/unitedwayinc • @unitedwayinc • pinterest.com/unitedwayinc • instagram.com/unitedwayinc

Back-to-School Celebrations August/September: In support of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in Hartford and New Britain, volunteers help raise awareness about the importance of attending school every day at a variety of celebrations. Volunteers provide families with the tools to help their children start the school year off right.

Learn more and sign up by contacting: Maura Cook at mcook@unitedwayinc.org

United Way Year of Caring Year-round: This year will mark the 25th anniversary of United Way Day of Caring. Held on three days in the fall, United Way will mobilize volunteers to participate in 25 projects focused on supporting education, financial security, and meeting basic needs in our community. In addition, United Way Year of Caring volunteer projects will continue to be available throughout the year to provide workplaces the opportunity to enhance their profile, improve our community and engage employees.

Learn more: UnitedWayInc.Org/YearofCaring

United Way Literacy Kits Year-round: Volunteers use their creativity along with arts and crafts to design related props, games or other activities to make reading more interactive and enjoyable for everyone involved. Literacy Kits, which include books and props, are then given to local children to deepen their reading experience and help them continue to build their own libraries at home. Customized themes (such as financial literacy kits) are available.

Learn more: UnitedWayInc.Org/LiteracyKits

United Way Stuff the Bus and Stuff the Sleigh In August and September, United Way invites local workplaces, groups, organizations and community members to donate school supplies to help students stay on track with homework. In November and December, groups and individuals are also invited to donate hats, mittens and gloves, which are given to local students as an incentive to increase school attendance.

Learn more and sign up by contacting: Maura Cook at mcook@unitedwayinc.org

RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT COMMUNITY ISSUES THROUGH GROUP ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES To sign up for any of the following engagement activities, contact Maura Cook at mcook@unitedwayinc.org or 860-493-1131

Making Choices and Making the Grade Activities Despite working hard, one in three households in our region struggle to pay bills, put food on the table, make ends meet and give their children the lives they deserve. These households are called ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. United Way created two opportunities for people to walk in ALICE’s shoes. During the activities, people work as a family, making tough decisions that working families experience every day in order to stay afloat.

Learn more: UnitedWayInc.Org/MakingChoices

Documentary Screening and Discussion United Way staff facilitates and leads dialogues focused around family financial security in our community and how it affects a child’s ability to learn.

Discussions also raise awareness about the challenges lower-to-moderate income working families face. This opportunity is offered on-site with employee groups, or at the United Way 2-1-1 call center, which includes a tour.

Community Conversations United Way staff facilitates conversations hosted by local community groups or companies focused around the aspirations and concerns shared by community members. Community conversations are hosted with 12-15 of your co-workers, neighbors or any other type of group.

For more opportunities: UnitedWayInc.Org/Volunteer