UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC

LEVEL UP IS A MULTI-FACETED, MINDSET CHANGE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL MOBILITY FOR WORKING RESIDENTS STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. SUPPLIED IN A ONE-ON-ONE SETTING, THE STAFF HELPS STRENGTHEN CLIENTS' RESOLVE TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. LEVEL UP ASSISTS WITH SOCIO-EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS BY GUIDING CLIENTS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES, SOFT SKILLS TRAINING, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATIONS AND CONNECTIONS. PROGRAM DURATION IS APPROXIMATELY 12 TO 18 MONTHS. RESIDENTS MEETING MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS CAN APPLY TO THE PROGRAM AT WWW.UNITEDWAYNWI.ORG/LEVEL-UP. RESOURCE ROUNDUP-WWW.RESOURCEROUNDUP.COM-IS AN ONLINE, PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORY FOR NORTHWEST INDIANA RESIDENTS WHO NEED TO ACCESS INITIAL INFORMATION ON A VARIETY OF SERVICES THAT CAN HELP THEM GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE SERVICES PROGRAM OFFERS ADVISORS TO ASSIST RESIDENTS IN FINDING COMMUNITY RESOURCES MORE QUICKLY. ADVISORS ANSWER GENERAL INQUIRIES, ASSESS RESIDENTS' NEEDS, AND CONNECT CLIENTS TO LOCAL SERVICES. UNITED WAY AMERICORPS SENIORS/RSVP PROGRAM DEPLOYS 361 SENIOR (ADULTS 55 AND OLDER) VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST NORTHWEST INDIANA NONPROFITS BY DELIVERING MEALS, HELPING AT FOOD PANTRIES, PROVIDING SENIOR AND FAMILY COMPANIONSHIP AT HOSPICE AND SENIOR CENTERS, TRANSPORTING SENIORS AND VETERANS TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, AND MORE. THE PROGRAM SERVES LAKE, LAPORTE, PORTER, AND STARKE COUNTIES AND ENDED ON MARCH 31, 2024. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND BASIC NEEDS GRANT SERVICES PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO NONPROFITS WORKING IN EDUCATION, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND HEALTH. FUND SUPPORT INCLUDES THE UNITED WAY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND, THE FEMA EMERGENCY FOOD & SHELTER GRANT PROGRAM, AND THE COVID-19 RELIEF FUND. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH APPROXIMATELY 35 AREA NONPROFITS. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACTION IN DISASTER COALITION (COAD) CONNECTS RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO NETWORK AND STAY INFORMED ABOUT DISASTER RELIEF SERVICES. UNITED WAY HELPS COORDINATE AND IMPLEMENT FEMA-SUPPORTED RECOVERY INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS IN NORTHWEST INDIANA.IRS VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES VOLUNTEER-LED (10 VOLUNTEERS), FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES FOR LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS. UNITED WAY READING BUDDIES IS A REGIONAL LITERACY PROGRAM WITH 10-15 VOLUNTEERS THAT PROVIDES ALMOST 4,000 NEW STUFFED ANIMAL READING BUDDIES TO OVER 160 FIRST-AND SECOND-GRADE CLASSROOMS IN 35 SCHOOLS IN LAKE, LAPORTE, AND PORTER COUNTIES.WOMEN UNITED AIMS TO SUPPORT WOMEN IN RECOVERY BY OFFERING LIFE SKILLS CLASSES AND SOCIAL EVENTS. MEMBERS COMMIT TO HOSTING CLASSES AND/OR DONATING FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT. THE PROGRAM'S PRIMARY FUNDRAISER IS ITS ANNUAL BUNCO BASH EVENT. THE GROUP HAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MEMBERS.UNITED WAY REGIONAL VOLUNTEER CENTER MATCHES NORTHWEST INDIANA RESIDENTS WITH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE CENTER PREVIOUSLY COORDINATED THE DAY OF CARING, A REGION-WIDE, SINGLE-DAY VOLUNTEER EVENT. NORTHWEST INDIANA AMERICORPS HAS BEEN A UNITED WAY PROGRAM SINCE 2007 BUT ENDED IN AUGUST 2023. THE PROGRAM BUILDS CAPACITY FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE AND DIRECT SERVICE SUPPORT. IT SERVES LAKE, PORTER, LAPORTE, AND MARSHALL COUNTIES.