UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY
3150 BRUNSWICK PIKE SUITE 230, LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ 086482420 www.uwgmc.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY (UWGMC) IS HELPING HARD-WORKING, STRUGGLING FAMILIES. THIS IS MORE THAN 55,000 HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE COMPRISED OF FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS, AND NEIGHBORS. THESE INDIVIDUALS WORK HARD, YET CANNOT AFFORD NECESSITIES LIKE HOUSING, FOOD, CHILDCARE, HEALTH CARE, AND TRANSPORTATION. AS A RESULT, THEY MUST MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES IN THEIR LIVES WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. WE BELIEVE PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. THE MISSION OF UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY (UWGMC) IS TO PROPEL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY UNDER-SERVED OR MARGINALIZED, CREATING A THRIVING COMMUNITY. WE CARRY OUT OUR MISSION BY IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS THAT USE EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES AND DELIVER MEASURABLE OUTCOMES. OUR MISSION AND DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FILLING COMMUNITY GAPS AND EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTION.

TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF COMMUNITIES.

FINANCIAL STABILIY AND MOBILITY: FREE TAX PREPARATION/VITA: WHEN LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, EVERY PENNY COUNTS. HAVING TO PAY A TAX PREPARER THE AVERAGE $400 IT COSTS TO FILE YOUR FEDERAL TAX RETURN MEANS SKIMPING ON FOOD, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, OR UTILITY BILL. UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY'S FREE TAX PREP PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) IS ESSENTIAL TO ENABLING LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS GET THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY BACK INTO THEIR POCKETS. LAST YEAR, 1,300+ MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY'S FREE TAX PREPARATION PROGRAM (VITA), RESULTING IN MORE THAN $1.8 MILLION BEING PUT BACK INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. FINANCIAL WELLNESS: UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY PARTNERS WITH VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL WELLNESS RESOURCES INCLUDING COACHING AND WORKSHOPS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. IN RESPONSE TO THE UNANTICIPATED FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THAT COVID-19 HAS BROUGHT, UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY'S GOAL IS TO ADDRESS A HOUSEHOLD'S ENTIRE FINANCIAL SITUATION, INCLUDING PAYING FOR ESSENTIALS, UNDERSTANDING DEBT REPAYMENT OPTIONS, BALANCING HOUSING COSTS WITH CREDIT CARD DEBT, AND STUDENT LOANS.

BASIC NEEDS, EMERGENCY SERVICES & HEALTH: COMMUNITY BENEFITS ENROLLMENT: UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY IS RESPONDING TO THE INCREASE DEMAND FOR FOOD AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS SERVICES BOUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC. THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS ENROLLMENT PROGRAM ENABLES INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILIES TO ACCESS FEDERAL AND STATE RESOURCES. UNITED WAY STAFF SCREENS AND ENROLLS FINANCIALLY STRUGGLING HOUSEHOLDS IN NJ FAMILY CARE, SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP), SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, THE LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND PARATRANSIT RESOURCES. IN ADDITION, UNITED WAY STAFF PROVIDE LIGHT CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT. THE STRIKE OUT HUNGER (SOH) INITIATIVE: UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY'S STRIKE OUT HUNGER INITIATIVE APPLIES A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. (1) BRINGING GREATER AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE WITH ADVOCACY EFFORTS. (2) GALVANIZING THE COMMUNITY BY HOSTING A COMMUNITY-WIDE MEAL PACKING EVENT. MEALS PACKED ARE THEN DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD PANTRIES IN THE MERCER COUNTY AREA. (3) PARTNERING WITH ROLLING HARVEST AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING FRESH PRODUCE AND DAIRY INTO THE COMMUNITY. FOR FY 2019-20, OVER 5,000 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED FOOD AND FRESH PRODUCE (FRUITS, VEGETABLES, EGGS, AND OTHER PANTRY STAPLES). (4) AWARDING GRANTS TO COMMUNITY AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICE, MERCER STREET FRIENDS FOOD BANK, MOUNT CARMEL GUILD AND CAPITAL AREA YMCA, TO EXPAND THEIR FOOD INSECURITY PROGRAMS. FAMILYWIZE PRESCRIPTION SAVINGS PROGRAM: UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY PARTNERS WITH FAMILYWIZE TO MAKE PRESCRIPTIONS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. THE PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD IS ACCEPTED AT PHARMACIES NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING MAJOR CHAINS AND INDEPENDENTS. NEARLY $500,000 WAS SAVED LAST YEAR ON PRESCRIPTION SAVINGS ON MENTAL HEALTH, DIABETES, ASTHMA, AND HEART DISEASE MEDICATIONS. MOST INDIVIDUALS USING THIS SERVICE ARE WORKING ADULTS BETWEEN 25 AND 64. UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY IS MAKING SURE NJ 2-1-1, A MULTI-LINGUAL 24 HOURS/7 DAYS A WEEK EMERGENCY HELPLINE IS AVAILABLE FOR MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS. FY 19-20, 16,284 CALLS WERE ANSWERED BY THE NJ 2-1-1 HOTLINE. NJ 2-1-1 IS AVAILABLE TO ALL RESIDENTS OF MERCER COUNTY REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCE. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE HOTLINE EXPERIENCED TWICE THE CALLS ABOUT ACCESSING FOOD, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, AND LEGAL SERVICES.

ACCESS TO EDCUATION: FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA): STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS ARE NOT FILING OR RENEWING THEIR FAFSA APPLICATION AT THE SAME RATE AS HIGHER-INCOME STUDENTS. UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY OFFERS WORKSHOPS AND ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION TO ENSURE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME BACKGROUND STUDENTS GAIN ACCESS TO FINANCIAL AND BASIC NEED SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO THEM SO THEY CAN PURSUE COLLEGE. UNITED WAY OF GREATER MERCER COUNTY IS MAKING BOOKS ALONG WITH ACTIVITY KITS AND SCHOOLS SUPPLIES AVAILABLE TO LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. TOGETHER WITH VOLUNTEERS AND INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE SUPPORTERS, UNITED WAY IS IMPACTING YOUNG LEARNERS. FOR FY 19-20, MORE THAN 200 BACKPACKS AND EDUCATION KITS EQUIPPED WITH BOOKS AND ACTIVITIES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS.

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