United Way of the Plains

📣 Change starts with YOU 📣 Join the movement... Be a #ForceForGood

📢The Opportunity on the Plains grant application portal is NOW OPEN! 🌟 This is United Way of the Plains’ largest community investment, designed to help nonprofits address our community’s most complex needs and support every person in reaching their potential. If you’re a nonprofit in our service area, take a moment to review the application and see how your work could benefit. 🗓️Submission Deadline: Noon, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024

The Opportunity on the Plains grant application portal is OPEN and NOW is the time to apply! This is our largest community investment. United Way strives to impact complex social needs to allow every person to thrive. Nonprofits in our service area are encouraged to review the application and apply. IMPORTANT DATES Virtual Training: Noon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Submission Deadline: Noon on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.  LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/gwff-a4c 

No ghosting here 👻 With your help, we connect people to possibility and create pathways to opportunity for all! #forceforgood #unitedwayoftheplains #teamunited #ghostphotoshoot #halloweenweek

We had an amazing time at Arkalala 2024! Our team got to meet many amazing families, hand out some books and other goodies AND our own Jessie Gorges-Sawhill MC'ed the parade. #ForceForGood #Arkalala

Starting this morning off feeling thankful for all the good that exists in our community. Yesterday, Wichita Habitat for Humanity hosted a trunk-or-treat for kids in our city. For all the things they do to provide housing stability and financial freedom for people in Wichita, their leadership is thoughtful enough to extend kindness to children and parents. Thank you, Habitat! Yesterday was also the screening of 'Homeless in the Heartland: Wichita's Quest to end Homelessness.' This documentary explores the work of our homeless services nonprofit community, and the need for a Multi-Agency Center where all of our citizens in Wichita and Sedgwick County can access programs to help stabilize their lives. We, as a city and a county, are primed to be the next region in our country to provide affordable and safe housing for all of our citizens who experience homelessness, but it won't happen unless we continue the spirit of collaboration that defines this community. We can do this. Also, last night, the Urban League of Kansas celebrated 70 years of building a legacy of impact and advocacy here in Wichita, KS. The grit and determination to grow the organization and become more visible these past three years is inspiring. Thank you to the leadership of Urban League for providing hope to so many in our city. At the same time, Goodwill Industries of Kansas hosted their annual awards gala to celebrate all the opportunity, independence, and confidence they provide in our state. From workforce development to re-entry programs, Goodwill is truly more than a thrift store and a valued asset for all Kansans. I say all that to say this... The work done by the organizations listed above doesn't happen because their leaders focus on 'the bad.' They recognize what's going wrong, they lean into the problem and focus on solutions. None of this work happens in a bubble, and it's happening daily. If you woke up this morning feeling the need to complain, I challenge you not to. Instead, find something that needs to be done or someone that needs your help in our community. If you're not sure where to start, I have plenty of friends that can help you. #ForceForGood

You power our work! See how your contributions are being leveraged to strengthen our community. #ForceForGood #LiveUnited

Mobilizing our community to take action starts with our United Way of the Plains team. We meet monthly to share updates and celebrate wins. We challenge each other to show up in new ways in order to continue to engage and elevate our partners, volunteers, and advocates, and we remind ourselves that together, we're an unstoppable #ForceforGood.

PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT 💡 At yesterday’s meeting with the Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County, we were able to highlight the work of Danielle and the team at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center. Danielle (second from the left) is a Homeless Outreach Social Worker who has a passion for helping someone end their episode of homelessness.  We learned a bit about her day-to-day work, which includes conducting outreach, managing hotlines, performing consults, running group sessions and completing client intakes. Her coworkers say she is super-human with such a high task load. And we say thank you. The work Danielle does to help our neighbors secure housing is having a positive impact on our broader community.

"I give to United Way because of the tremendous need in our community. Our neighbors have a lot of challenges, and the United Way is stepping in to help with those needs." - Doug Ledbetter, EY For over 100 years, United Way of the Plains has been tackling the most urgent issues affecting our community. Consider a donation today to help strengthen the safety net for our most vulnerable neighbors. LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/ggihExkE #ForceForGood