Four students are alive today, thanks to you. At a presentation of NAMI’s Ending the Silence at Beacon High School, four teens wrote cries for help on index cards. Working with school guidance counselors, the NAMI representative was able to identify the teens with two of them finding help through hospitalization and ongoing treatment.

But that’s not the end of the story. Weeks afterward, other students were no longer silent. Jen was one of those that came forward to speak to a counselor about her daily struggles. Without United Way’s support, NAMI would not have been able to present that program — and these students might not be alive. Thank you for your support of United Way. It saves lives.

A few months ago, one of the volunteers in a program that helps mentor children came to us almost in tears. She and her mentee Anita had just finished reading a book about dreaming big and when she asked Anita what was her big dream, Anita’s answer brought her to tears. Anita wanted a loaf of bread. She wished that there always would be food in the refrigerator. That her mom and dad wouldn’t be worried all the time. And that she could have a slice of bread so when she went to bed the sounds of her stomach growling wouldn’t keep her awake.

Anita and her family were able to get food and other help to tide them over that month, thanks to you. We want to make sure that all children have the food they need to grow strong. Families do not have to choose between eating and having a place to live. Help us help them.

One slip is all it takes. John’s been clean and sober for years, but this year was really tough. He lost the place he was living and found himself bunking down with friends on good days — or in shelters on bad ones. He also had to have his leg amputated. 

Because he is in recovery, the medications he’s prescribed are carefully chosen and nonaddictive. But at one of the places he was staying they were stolen. His insurance refused to pay for replacements and John was close to using again because of the pain. Thanks to United Way’s support of Cornerstone Family Healthcare’s Healthy Connections, the cost of the medications John needed was covered. Now, he’s found a safe place to live and he’s continuing his recovery.

Barbara had finally gotten herself and her kids away from her abusive ex, but they were still living in fear. Not only from her ex, but the fear of how they were going to survive as he was not providing any support – even when ordered to do so by the court.

Facing eviction, she called United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline and was directed to go to Safe Homes of Orange County for help. Safe Homes and Catholic Charities of Orange & Sullivan, both funded by United Way, helped Barbara cover immediate expenses, avoid eviction and not wind up with her kids on the street.

Thanks to you, Barbara and her family are not homeless, but are getting back on their feet. Her kids no longer are waking up with nightmares. And Barbara’s learning to regain stability, dignity, and independence.

Without your donations to United Way, Barbara and her family would not be on their way to stability. Thank you.

A group of local college students were at a local bar in Poughkeepsie, celebrating before their graduation ceremonies. Ben was happy to be with his friends and had arranged an Uber, so they could all carpool safely back to campus. They’d been drinking. Maybe drinking a lot. But they were all of age and had a lot to celebrate.

Once in the car, Ben realized that a few students he didn’t know had jumped in. One girl was seriously drunk and the guy sitting next to her. kept touching her, asking what her name was. Immediately, Ben thought about what he learned in Family Service’s Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Training he’d undergone that semester at school. He asked the girl if she knew this guy. She rolled her eyes and said, “No way.” The guy became aggressive and said, “She’s going home with me.” Ben immediately asked the Uber driver to pull over and escorted the man out of the cab.

The next day the girl, Annie, found Ben on campus and thanked him. She had been afraid, but was too drunk to know what to do. Thanks to United Way’s support of the MVP Program, Ben was able to know how and when to intervene.

Manuel didn’t know where to turn. Winter was coming and his house was falling down. He didn’t have heat or electric. Manuel had served his country for years as a Marine, but now found himself unemployed and almost homeless.

A friend told him to call United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline. Directed to Hudson River Housing, Manuel not only found an apartment, but also job training and placement especially for veterans that’s funded by United Way’s MISSION UNITED™. He now loves where he’s living and has a great job — thanks to your support of United Way.