United Way of Porter County

01/15/2021

www.unitedwaypc.org

“Some of our volunteers couldn’t make it through their first month of retirement. They call and tell me that they need something to do. I tell them, ‘We have plenty to do!’ There are some senior volunteers who are not sure what their purpose is. But when you get up early in the morning to give your neighbors a meal, that work is purposeful. They’ve done well in life and want to give back to those in need. They have huge hearts," says RSVP Director Evelyn Harris.

Thanks to The Savvy Retiree for highlighting the incredible opportunities that AmeriCorps Senior Retired and Senior Volunteers have! #liveunited #seniors #seniorvolunteers unitedwaypc.org/files/galleries/RSVP_Savvy_Retiree.pdf

01/13/2021

Walmart is supporting your local United Way by giving shoppers the opportunity to round-up their purchases to the nearest $ and donate the change. Round-up is available on WalMart.com and the Walmart app through Jan. 29. #liveunited

01/12/2021

One simple way to teach children to give back? Try what the Herren family does — whenever they shop together at Kohl's, they buy an extra stuffed animal to donate to the Reading Buddies program. Thank you, Herren family, for your big hearts! ❤ #liveunited #readingbuddies

01/07/2021

10 tips for a healthy 2021

Still looking for a new year's resolution? Here are some ideas to help to make 2021 your healthiest year yet, from our partner FamilyWize.

Make your new year the best yet with these 10 tips.

01/05/2021

Chester, Inc.

We're so thankful for incredible partners and neighbors like Chester, Inc.! When our office was unexpectedly closed during the Reading Buddies collection drive, Chester, Inc. stepped up to be our collection site. Because of them, students throughout the region still have their reading buddies to help develop reading and speech skills. ❤ #LiveUnited #readingbuddies #childhoodliteracy

Proud to be part of United Way of Porter County and this extremely important program for our children!#readingbuddies #chesterinc#nwi#valpolife

01/02/2021

It's a new year — a fresh start. How are you planning to #liveunited this year?

12/29/2020

Who are you thanking today? ❤ #liveunited

12/26/2020

Even COVID can't stop Women United Porter County County from spreading cheer! These caring women dropped off gifts for the women at Alice’s Halfway House for Women. Due to COVID, Women United hasn’t been able to interact with the ladies of Alice’s House as much this year, so this is one small way to show them that they’re not forgotten!

If you're interested in joining this dynamic group of women in 2021, email Kasie at [email protected]. #liveunited #womenunited

12/24/2020

Happy Holidays! We're wishing you a safe and joyful holiday season with your loved ones. #LiveUnited

12/24/2020

Saving the Smith Family Christmas

"My children will not go without a home or Christmas this year. We are grateful there are people in the world that still care about others. We’ve learned to plan for unexpected emergencies and save for them, even if, it’s only a small amount at a time.”

More than 20,000 residents like the Smiths are receiving the emergency assistance they need, thanks to donors like you. Thank you! unitedwaypc.org/Post/Saving-Smith-Family-Christmas

12/22/2020

We're so thankful for the incredible generosity in our community as Hebron Police Department shopped for Hebron students in need! This outing rounded out four total holiday shopping trips provided by Meijer for students in need in Chesterton and Hebron. ❤

Hebron Police Department cars lined-up at the Valparaiso Meijer earlier this week to work with United Way of Porter County as they shopped for Hebron students in need. Take a look at this event that has brightened the holiday season for the 3rd year in a row:

https://portage.life/article/united-way-of-porter-county-and-hebron-police-department-shop-for-children-in-need/

Hebron High School

12/22/2020

Here in Porter County, your United Way and Porter County Community Foundation joined forces to establish the We Are Porter County Emergency Response Fund to provide our residents with an efficient way to support the needs that were becoming apparent and urgent. Hundreds of caring folks quickly and generously responded to the tune of $468,511. #LiveUnited #localnonprofit #communitynonprofit #communitystrong

Think back to January when 2020 started like any other turn of the calendar. Who could have imagined the challenges lurking in wait? By March, our conversations routinely included words like pandemic, COVID, mask, social distance, sanitizer, test, Zoom, shut down, quarantine, work remotely, shelter-in-place, and e-learning. It quickly became apparent that communities across the country would face disruption on an imposing scale.

Here in Porter County, your Community Foundation and United Way of Porter County joined forces to establish the We Are Porter County Emergency Response Fund to provide our residents with an efficient way to support the needs that were becoming apparent and urgent. Hundreds of caring folks quickly and generously responded to the tune of $468,511.

To date, $280,705 has been granted to organizations experiencing an increased need for their services and to help them acquire PPE and cleaning and disinfecting supplies to keep themselves and their clients safe. At the time of this writing, the virus is surging again. We stand ready to deploy additional funds to bolster our ability to care for our friends and neighbors. Your generosity makes this possible.

Contributions can still be made to the fund, please visit www.pccf.gives/weareporter. Thank you all!

12/21/2020

Portage Township School district donors battled it out for the coveted inaugural Live United trophy for most donors at a single location. And, the winner is...Willowcreek Middle School! Congrats for winning TWO years in a row! Thanks to the support of partners like Portage Township School Corporation, we are able to provide programs at the schools, such as Kinder Camp, Reading Buddies, AmeriCorps, to support you in your endeavors. Thank you! #liveunited

12/16/2020

Impact of staying home

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, you will get a call or text with information about how to keep your child and others safe. Please answer. It could protect someone else’s world. #AnswerTheCallIN AnswerTheCall.in.gov

12/11/2020

Donations of up to $300 are now easily deductible when you file your taxes in 2021! #communitynonprofit #nonprofit

Following special tax law changes, cash donations of up to $300 made before Dec. 31, 2020, are now easily deductible when people file their taxes in 2021. See #IRS details at: https://go.usa.gov/x79jx #COVIDreliefIRS

12/10/2020

A big THANK YOU goes out to Computer Services, Inc. and Meijer for helping children in our community this holiday season! CSI donated 254 pairs of socks and 282 pairs of underwear for boys and girls in our community who often go without these basics. And Meijer donated $3,000 to shop for kids in Chesterton and Hebron. Thank you, Linda Farris of Meijer, for your incredible coordination, and Chet Nay of Graycor for your help shopping! #liveunited #happyholidays #communitynonprofit #nwi

12/05/2020

Feeding Hungry School Children

On #GivingTuesday, you helped raise more than $2000 for the Backpacks United program to provide students in need with food for weekend meals. Thank you!

#GivingTuesday might be over, but you can still give to Backpacks United online at unitedwaypc.org/backpacks-united. Don't miss your chance to change a child's future. When kids are ready for school on Mondays, their health, behavior, school attendance and test scores benefit!

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ever-increasing numbers of children and families are suffering from hunger. While schools are working hard to provide children free breakfasts and lunches during the school week, it isn't always enough.

12/04/2020

Here’s what you can do now to Get Ready to file taxes in 2021! go.usa.gov/x7puA #IRSTaxTip

Prepare now for tax filing season so you can file your federal tax returns timely and accurately in 2021. To learn more, click here: https://go.usa.gov/x7yr2

#GetReady

12/03/2020

"I am blessed beyond measure by the women I meet on Monday nights," said Debbie Napier, Women United Porter County member of two years. "As often as possible I volunteer to support these fierce and strong overcomers. They have no idea how spending an hour with them fills my cup." ❤️💛💙

Check out this great news: United Way of Porter County Women donated an incredible $10,000 to support PACT Recovery Connection, to reconnect those with addiction to the community, and The Caring Place, Inc., to support their emergency shelter program for victims of domestic violence.

More details here: https://portage.life/article/united-way-of-porter-county-women-united-donates-10000-to-support-pact-recovery-connection-and-the-caring-place

12/01/2020

This #GivingTuesday, ensure kids in our community have access to the food they need to grow and succeed in school—and in life.

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ever-increasing numbers of children and families are suffering from hunger, especially on the weekends. Through your donation to Backpacks United, students are given enough food for weekend meals—so they can go to school ready to learn on Mondays.

Will you give today? Join the global generosity movement! #LiveUnited #backpacksunited

12/01/2020

United Way of Porter County

Give back to your community this holiday season with HoliDays of Caring! Now through the end of January, find your perfect volunteer fit to give comfort and joy at http://nwivolunteer.org. #volunteer #holidays #holidayseason #communitynonprofit

11/26/2020

Happy Thanksgiving from your United Way of Porter County! It's been a tough year—but what are you thankful for today? #happythanksgiving #thanksgiving2020

11/24/2020

Here’s what taxpayers can do now to Get Ready to file taxes in 2021 | Internal Revenue Service

Preparing for the 2021 tax season? Here's what you can do right now to ensure you receive the tax return you expect. Need help preparing your taxes? United Way of Porter County offers free tax preparation assistance to taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $56,000 or less. For more information, visit https://www.unitedwaypc.org/VITA

COVID Tax Tip 2020-159, November 23, 2020

11/23/2020

Explore these programs that can offer you and your family huge savings on everyday prescriptions! When you use your RXGO coupon, RXGO.com will donate 15% of the claim to help with medical needs in Northwest Indiana. unitedwaypc.org/Prescription-Discount

11/20/2020

HealthLinc

What's one of the best ways to protect your baby this winter? Getting a flu shot! #HealthLincStrong

What are some of your must haves for having a baby? The flu shot is on our list and we think it should be on yours too! Like, share and tag someone you think could benefit from this information for a chance to win a new baby kit! #HealthLincStrong

11/19/2020

Help make Christmas possible for families in our community affected by COVID-19! Adopt a child or family in the Angel Tree program and make the holidays special. 🎄

Help The Salvation Army to Rescue Christmas in Your Community!
This year due to COVID-19 more people than ever in our community are struggling to make ends meet. The Angel Tree program of the Porter County Salvation Army helps families in need by providing new clothing and toys to over 400 children each year. This year we have had more families than in years past come to us for Angel Tree due to layoffs, or job loss due to COVID-19.

Your generous gift from this Walmart registry will bring joy to a local child and help us Rescue Christmas.

Please click on this link to participate:
https://www.walmart.com/registry/registryforgood/9af29bc4-63c8-4e60-b841-af44a615b842/view

Thank you for helping these families in our Porter County communities.

11/18/2020

A pandemic might stop many things — but it shouldn't affect childhood literacy! Thanks to incredible program sponsors like Graycor and Family Express, kids in our community are being sent home with reading buddies! #readingbuddy #LiveUnited

11/14/2020

Plant Swap with Purpose: Supporting Backpacks United

Don't miss this amazing event by NWI Plant Swap! Bring your plants, cuttings, and seeds to swap and share with others—and support the Backpacks United program. 🌱 Your ticket will cover the cost of 2 backpacks that will give children healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner options over a weekend or the holiday break!

Swap plants, cuttings, seeds, and knowledge to support Backpacks United from United Way

11/12/2020

Autumn is a time of change, and change can be beautiful. How will you change your community for good during this season? #liveunited #localnonprofit #autumn

11/11/2020

Thank you to the heroes who have served and sacrificed for our country. Happy Veteran's Day! #VeteransDay

Thank you to the heroes who’ve served our country. As they served us, we serve them and their families through Mission UnitedⓇ. Find out how you can get involved: https://untdwy.org/2UgPOpn

11/07/2020

Thanks to the generosity of Don Quijote Restaurante and Imports and patrons, and the partnership of Pines Village Retirement Communities, the VNA of NWI's Meals on Wheels program has a new walk-in refrigerator! Due to COVID-19, the program saw a 57% increase in need. The $60,000 raised will allow the VNA Meals on Wheels to serve 300 Porter County seniors daily!

11/06/2020

Exciting news! Thanks to an incredible matching grant from the Lilly Foundation and Indiana United Ways, you can easily double your impact in our community. Are you a new donor? Every new gift of $100+ will be matched!

Are you a recurring donor or community leader? Discover the inspiring ways your donation will double at bit.ly/2I2Jn73. #liveunited #giveunited #donationmatch #communitynonprofit

11/05/2020

Duneland Today - Fall 2020

When the pandemic hit, our community now "had a whole new population of folks who didn't know how to find help," says Kim Olesker, our President and CEO. "Staying proactive while at the same time, constantly being reactive is the name of the game for the United Way of Porter County, and for all of us during these times."

We're honored to be featured in this issue of Duneland Today from the Duneland Chamber of Commerce! Check out the full interview on page 15. #liveunited #community #communitynonprofit

Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Easily share your publications and get them in front of Issuu’s millions of monthly readers. Title: Duneland Today - Fall 2020, Author: Duneland Chamber, Name: Duneland T...

10/31/2020

How to have a healthy Halloween

This year, Halloween will look a little bit different because of COVID-19. Follow these tips from our partner FamilyWize to ensure you and your family stay safe and healthy while trick-or-treating! #happyhalloween #halloween2020 #trickortreat2020 #communitynonprofit

Halloween looks a little different this year. With these tips you can ensure that your family will have a safe and healthy Halloween.

10/30/2020

VNA of NWI

So happy to help! Thanks for all you do, VNA of NWI! ❤️ #hereforyou #Communitystrong

Today's a great day for a message from our CEO, Bob Franko! #upcomingevents #bestdays #vnanwi #northwestindiana