Otsego County United Way

09/04/2026

After losing her home to a devastating fire, our own Kim Akin faced another overwhelming challenge—a 10-month battle with her insurance company.

By sharing her experience, Kim offers an important reminder: During a crisis, keep advocating for yourself. Know your rights, understand your insurance policy, prepare before disaster strikes, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Stay strong. Keep fighting for what is right. And if you’re unsure where to turn, reach out—we’re here to help connect you with support. 💙

Kim Akin, a Ga***rd resident and United Way executive director, successfully secured a $468,000 insurance settlement after her home was destroyed by fire last October.

09/03/2026

💙 Last year, our community showed exactly what can happen when people come together to care for their neighbors.

During Day of Caring, volunteers packed and delivered approximately 100 bags of groceries to Alten Zimmer residents following the ice storm.

This year, we’re carrying that same spirit forward—and we’re thinking even bigger.

🌟 Day of Caring: United for Hunger
📅 Friday, September 11
⏰ Multiple volunteer shifts available throughout the day

In partnership with The Outreach Program, volunteers will work side by side to package thousands of nutritious, shelf-stable meals. Every meal will remain right here in our community to help local individuals and families facing food insecurity.

We would love to see local businesses, organizations, churches, clubs, families, and groups join us! Build a team, wear matching shirts, challenge another organization, or start a little friendly competition to see who can bring the most volunteers. However you show up, you’ll be part of something that matters. 💛

Ready to roll up your sleeves and LIVE UNITED? Sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904094AAEA829A0FC1-65402026-dayofcaring #/

09/03/2026

💙 A Nation of Service ❤

Mary Ann and Cathy serve because every person deserves to NOT FEEL HUNGRY. Both women volunteer at the Otsego County Food Pantry.

AmeriCorps Seniors Program Volunteers like Mary Ann Skibinski and Cathy Nut show how kindness, experience, and commitment strengthen Otsego County.

08/31/2026

Monday morning blues? Meet Monday morning QUILTS! 🎉

Four different volunteers dropped off handmade masterpieces this morning! Is it just us, or does Otsego County have the best volunteers?

These quilts are like cozy blankets with a side of hope, wrapping kindergarteners and cancer patients in all the good feels! 💕

08/28/2026

💙 Introducing Day of Caring: United for Hunger!

One day. Thousands of meals. One BIG impact.

We’re partnering with The Outreach Program to bring our community together to package nutritious meals for local families facing food insecurity. We’ll then carry that spirit of service into preparing for our United at the Table Community Meal—from the first package to the final plate.

🙌 JOIN US
Grab your coworkers, friends, family, church, or community group and spend a few hours making a difference!

Sign up to volunteer:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904094AAEA829A0FC1-65402026-dayofcaring #/

🍽️ HELP US REACH OUR MEAL GOAL
Can’t volunteer—or want to do even more? Help us purchase the meals we’ll be packaging! Each meal costs just 35¢.

Every $10 = about 29 meals for our community!

Donate online (please note United for Hunger):
https://ocuw.ddock.gives/?showBg=

Venmo:

Or stop by Otsego County United Way with a cash or check donation.

💙 Let’s package hope, feed our neighbors, and live united! United is the way!

***rdMI

08/27/2026

❤ We will be closed tomorrow, Friday, August 28th, for staff training. 💛

The Otsego County Food Pantry will still be open from 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Please call ahead for other services.

08/26/2026

“We Feed People.” 🧡

It’s a simple motto, but the volunteers at the Otsego County Food Pantry live those words every single day.

As one of RSVP’s largest volunteer stations, this incredible crew works tirelessly to make sure our neighbors have food on their tables. Rain or shine. Ice or summer heat. Bright and early in the morning, some Saturdays, and even some evenings — they show up and get to work.

And here’s something pretty amazing: the Otsego County Food Pantry is 100% volunteer run. Every box packed, shelf stocked, delivery unloaded and person served happens because volunteers choose to give their time to help others.

So, this time, we got to serve them. 🥞☕❤️

RSVP hosted an appreciation brunch yesterday to spoil this wonderful group with a delicious breakfast and, more importantly, remind them just how much their hard work means to our community.

To our Otsego County Food Pantry volunteers: thank you for showing up, digging in, lifting, sorting, stocking, packing, delivering and doing whatever needs to be done — all so you can do exactly what you say you do: WE FEED PEOPLE.

We are so lucky to have you! 🧡

08/25/2026

We welcomed 480 guests.
We distributed 16,905 pounds of food.
We helped fill the kitchens of 400+ neighbors.
We sent 300+ kids home with new backpacks.
We gave 60 kids fresh back-to-school haircuts.
We connected hundreds of people with resources, services and support. ❤️

Those are some pretty big numbers. But what happened at Project Connect was so much bigger...

We connected families with housing and utility assistance, shared mental health and counseling resources, provided substance use prevention and drug safety education, connected people with recovery resources, screened hearing and vision, provided immunizations, shared school supplies, introduced mentoring and volunteer opportunities, offered support for parents and families, shared resources for seniors, helped people explore education and employment opportunities, filled backpacks, provided information on health care and insurance, connected those experiencing homelessness with assistance, and helped our neighbors discover programs they may not have known were available to them.

And none of it happened because of one organization or one group of people.

Agencies brought their resources. Volunteers gave their time. Businesses and organizations provided support. Community partners said yes. People hauled tables, packed bags, cut hair, handed out food, welcomed guests, answered questions and jumped in wherever they were needed.

It truly took a village. And last Thursday, that village showed up in a BIG way.

To every partner, sponsor, volunteer, organization, committee member and person who played even the smallest part in making Project Connect happen — thank you.

And to the 480 people who walked through our doors: thank you for spending the day with us, trusting us and connecting with us.

This is what community looks like. ❤️ United is the way!

***rdCommunity

08/24/2026

🍎 Welcome back, Ga***rd Community Schools staff! 📚

Otsego County United Way was grateful for the opportunity to spend some time with GCS staff this morning as they prepare for another school year!

Thank you for welcoming us and allowing us to share more about United Way Payroll Deduction and our Teacher Grant opportunities—two ways we can work together to support our schools, our students, and our community.

We wish all of the incredible teachers, staff, and administrators at Ga***rd Community Schools a fantastic start to the school year. Welcome back—we’re cheering you on! 💙

***rdCommunitySchools ***rdMI

08/21/2026

As we gather our thoughts about yesterday’s Project Connect, we wanted to take a moment to simply be in awe of this community. 💙

The volunteers. The partnering organizations. The sponsors. The businesses. The individuals who donated their time, talents, resources and helping hands. Every single person who touched a piece of Project Connect helped make yesterday possible.

We are amazed. We are grateful. And our hearts are very, very full.

There is so much more to share — and a proper Project Connect recap is coming next week. But for today, we just want to say:

Thank you, Otsego County. Look what we can do when we come together. 💙

***rdMI