On Thursday, October 17th from 3:00pm to 7:00pm, at Mount Saint Mary College, United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region will present the program, Resilient Communities, Challenging the Opioid Epidemic. This school-focused community program, is part of United Way’s “New School Initiative,” supported by a grant from AmerisourceBergen.
Have you ever wondered if you could afford buying a home? If so, join us for the First Time Homebuyers Seminar on Wednesday, October 9th from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory (8 North Cherry Street, Poughkeepsie). Learn the strategies of how to qualify for a home purchase, budgeting skills, and what to expect from the home buying process. Financial Literacy Workshop is copresented by Rhinebeck Bank, United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region and Hudson River Housing.
United Way of Dutchess-Orange Region will celebrate the 26th anniversary of Make A Difference Day this year, not just for a day, but for almost an entire week, from October 24th to October 28th. The eight Make A Difference Day projects will provide people and businesses with an opportunity to volunteer to help their local communities.
United Way's staff wishes you a very Happy Labor Day Weekend. Our office will be closed for the holiday and will reopen on Tuesday, September 5th.
If you have a non-life threatening emergency or question, remember that United Way's 2-1-1 Help Line is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 2-1-1 (1-800-899-1479) for the answers you need.
Sean was at a loss and didn’t know where to turn when called United Way’s 24-Hour 211 Helpline and spoke to Andrea. Sean explained to Andrea that his wife, Pat, was in a rehabilitation center after a severe accident. For Pat to return home, they needed a stair lift. However, like many people in our community they didn’t have emergency funds saved for this unexpected expense as they lived paycheck to paycheck. When Sean contacted a stair lift company, they quoted him a price ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 for installation.
Andrea directed Sean to a United Way funded program where his case manager found a stair lift through a loan closet and advocated for a much less expensive installation rate. Thanks to your support, Pat was able to return home with the care and mobility assistance she needed.
Sandra is a single mom who lives in Pleasant Valley.The job she’d had since leaving high school barely covered the cost of raising her three-year-old daughter, Abby.
With help from her aunt, Sandra enrolled in classes at Dutchess Community College so she could get a college degree and find a better job. Abby was in preschool, while Sandra worked, but in the evenings when she went to classes she couldn’t afford baby sitters, until her aunt agreed to watch Abby. For three semesters, things were going really well and Sandra was getting close to graduating. Then her aunt got sick.
Without child care at night, Sandra thought she was going to have to drop out of school. She couldn’t think of any solution. That’s when Sandra called United Way’s 24-Hour 211 Helpline. With our support she was able to pay for child care and stay in school. She’ll be graduating on time and loves it when Abby, who’s now 5, says she wants to “be smart like my Mommy when I grow up.”
Rosa and her boyfriend Jorge live in Newburgh. Both of them have two children from previous relationships and their son, Jorge Jr., who is just six months old. They met and continue to work at a restaurant in Beacon, Rosa waiting tables and Jorge in the kitchen.
Last year, Rosa called United Way’s 24-Hour 211 Helpline looking for help, because they’d hit a pot hole and their car had a flat tire that was not repairable. It would cost $125 to get a new tire and they just didn’t have it, as they were living paycheck to paycheck. Their rent was due in two days and it was getting cold out.
Rosa didn’t know what to do. Without a working vehicle, neither of them would be able to get to work. In tears, Rosa spoke to Jim at United Way’s 211, worried for their jobs and their family. With United Way’s help, Rosa and Jorge were able to buy the new tire and get to their jobs. In addition, Rosa learned of other resources available to help them through United Way. She is thankful that this hardship didn’t evolve into a crisis.
Karen beams when she discusses how she found her job. After being a stay-at-home mom for years with her special-needs daughter, Karen finally separated from her verbally-abusive husband. She had to get a job to pay the bills that were accumulating, but was concerned about her daughter who, on top of epilepsy and developmental delays, had just had heart surgery. Calling United Way’s 24-Hour 2-1-1 Helpline, Karen was directed to a program where she received job counseling and interview suiting.
Karen found the perfect job after a series of interviews and now volunteers with the same program that helped her re-enter the workforce. Her job allows her to afford tuition for a special school for her daughter. Karen continues to give back, helping out at annual clothing sales to support the program, while mentoring other women. Without your support of United Way, none of this would have been possible.
José never feels as proud as when he and his abuela make dinner together — with vegetables he grew in his own garden! José and his family watch every penny and they rarely had fresh vegetables for dinner as they were too expensive. After taking part in a school garden program, Jose dug a small garden in their backyard, planting seeds his teacher had given him. When the tomatoes and greens were ready to harvest, Jose ran into the kitchen with them.
Together he and his abuela cook dinner most evenings. She tells him stories about her garden in Puerto Rico and all the things they grew. Together with his abuela, José tends his garden, planting seeds from things they eat — even some from oranges that are now growing into small trees next to the aloe in the pot! Before his mother washes his clothes, she has to go through each pocket to empty out the seeds he has squirreled away. Thanks to the United Way supported school garden program, José and his family are learning to eat healthier and spend more quality time together.
