We have a lot to celebrate in Columbus. Our United Way is ranked second in the nation relative to our peer group communities with populations of 50,000-100,000. Yes, you read that right. Not second in the state or second in the Midwest, but second in the nation!
How has our United Way been so effective? There are many reasons. First, we have an amazing community that steps up to help our neighbors when needed. Second, our United Way focuses on breaking the cycle of poverty. For sure this is no easy feat. Breaking the cycle of poverty requires diligent efforts of many people and organizations in the community.
Why does breaking the cycle of poverty require multiple avenues of support? Well, imagine if you have no job, no car, not even a proper place to live. Imagine if you are living in this condition and you also have kids and/or an elderly parent. How do you go from this circumstance to one of self-sufficiency? Well, here is how: United Way’s Avenues of Opportunity draws and pulls from our many great organizations in town to rally support.
Avenues of Opportunity might help connect the individual and family to Sans Souci for clothing, Love Chapel for food support, the Housing Authority for stabilizing inadequate housing, vouchers for transportation assistance, and perhaps Children’s Inc. or Just Friends for extended family support. In addition to this, Avenues of Opportunity will help coach the adult(s) of the family in interview and job skills such that they can rise above the poverty line and then reach self-sufficiency. Each individual and family needs different support.
Understanding what support families need and how to help pull the strings to get that support to rise above and achieve self-sufficiency takes a village. The greatest success of this work are the seeds of success that spill down to the children of our community. With one in five children in the county currently food insecure, getting as many of these children a stable home and a stable source of food leads to greater success for the child’s development and growth to also live with greater opportunity.
The success of this program speaks for itself. In 2021, 215 individuals reached self-sufficiency, 90% of individuals who went through job training and coaching gained employment, 2,500 children received out-of-school mentoring and literacy support to be able to keep up academically.
As we recognize the success of our United Way, I cannot miss mentioning the visionary hard work and dedication of Mark Stewart, president of the United Way Bartholomew County and his small but phenomenal team who focus on what it takes to permanently break the cycle of poverty.
To be the most effective, the United Way needs you. Our community needs you. How can you help lift a child out of poverty? Give to the United Way of Bartholomew County. Advocate and spread the word of the amazing work our United Way in Bartholomew County is achieving in helping individuals and families to a place of self-sufficiency. Volunteer your time to support the partner agencies that can be found at www.uwbarthco.org/who-we-are/partner-agencies.html.
You will not be disappointed at how your time and treasure will impact our community.
Ginger Lirette of Columbus is a member of the United Way of Bartholomew County board of directors. She is a program leader with Cummins Inc. and has lived in Columbus for the last 24 years. Send comments to [email protected].
