Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
Last year, United Way of West Central Minnesota raised nearly over $800,000 for the 10th consecutive year and we were able to help more than 30,000 of family, friends and neighbors in Kandiyohi, Meeker, Renville, Chippewa, and Swift counties. By focusing on Education, Health and Basic Needs we are helping people out of poverty, putting food on their table, providing a warm, safe place to stay and supporting their education to provide opportunities for a good life. We are helping more than 2,600 children read and spend quality time with their families by providing over 55,000 books through our Imagination Library program. We have put preschool screening backpacks into the hands of 900 more children and their parents. We have narrowed the gap for more than 5,000 people dealing with food insecurity and provided support for families and children to learn about hunger. Through our volunteer events and online volunteer portal we connect more than a thousand volunteers to organization that need help and had over 8,000 volunteer hours.
Current Goals
EDUCATION - Making sure that our children come to school prepared to succeed, supporting them through high school, and helping people of all ages gain job skills creates a ripple effect of success throughout our United Way of West Central Minnesota communities.
Aspirations around Education:
Prepare children of West Central Minnesota for kindergarten and support learning opportunities for ages 0-6.
Every youth (Pre K to 12th grade) engaged in ongoing experiences that build positive life skills and receive the support they need to be successful.
Promote education to address adult needs to enhance financial stability and independence.
HEALTH - Health is essential to quality of life. Quality health keeps children on track in school and adults productive at work.
Aspirations around Health:
Promote access to affordable and quality physical, mental and dental health care.
Promote independent living and quality of life by investing in programs that help older adults and those living with disabilities.
Promote access to programs that teach healthy behaviors and promote wellness to prevent future problems.
BASIC NEEDS - United Way of West Central Minnesota works hard at building the long-term future and strength of our communities by targeting key areas and conditions that if improved, will have a profound positive and lasting impact on our region for years to come.
Aspiration around Basic Needs:
Supporting agencies that provide building blocks for a good life for individuals and families in West Central Minnesota.
Community or Constituency Served
We serve a wide range of community members from the very young (age birth to 6 years old) all the way up to the elderly (age 65 and older). United Way of West Central MN supports agencies and programs that cover all ages and stages of life.
Geographic Area Served
United Way of West Central Minnesota serves Atwater, Benson, Bird Island, Blomkest, Clara City, Clontarf, Cosmos, Danube, Danvers, Darwin, DeGraff, Grove City, Hawick, Kandiyohi, Kerkhoven, Lake Lillian, Litchfield, Maynard, Murdock, New London, Olivia, Renville, Pennock, Prinsburg, Raymond, Sacred Heart, Spicer, Sunburg, Svea, and Willmar.
This encompasses an approximate 30-mile radius from the town of Willmar and includes all of Kandiyohi County and portions of Chippewa, Meeker, Renville, & Swift Counties.
