Additional funding opportunities still available for 2023 projects
A record-setting United Way campaign has led to record-setting support for community needs in Logan County.
Forty-eight human service programs of 27 agencies will split more than $954,000 throughout 2023. Allocations to Funded Agencies will increase 13 percent over last year and six internal United Way programs are also getting a boost.
It’s all thanks to the fall fundraiser that generated nearly $1.1 million in pledges. The United Way will announce final campaign totals at the LIVE UNITED Awards Breakfast Jan. 31.
According to the U.S. Census, the fastest growing segment of the Logan County population is senior citizens. As such, United Way is responding with $157,000 dedicated specifically for seniors. The amount includes $60,000 to RTC Services to help with their 60 percent increase in demand for transportation to take seniors to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and other errands.
Green Hills Community will receive $57,000 to support in-home hospice care and their adult daybreak service, which provides respite for caregivers. LifeCare Alliance will receive $40,000 to support more than 450 residents who receive meals-on-wheels and pet care.
Help with housing remains the number one reason why people call United Way. A total of $155,250 will be invested in programming to support the homeless population and to prevent others from falling into that state.
The United Way is putting $80,000 into its own Housing Stability Program, which works to provide case management and financial assistance to prevent evictions and utility shutoffs.
The Logan County Homeless Shelter ($35,000) and Caring Kitchen ($25,000) continue to be available for those already homeless. Also, Habitat for Humanity ($15,250) builds a home a year in partnership with a low-income families.
Overall, 38 of the 48 funded programs will receive what they asked for in 2023. Eighteen of the 48 programs are receiving increased funding. No agency that requested support this year was shut out of funding, though five program requests were denied.
New United Way Funded Agencies include CASA of Logan County ($10,000) to help train more volunteers to assist the court system in providing for abused and neglected children.
Give & Take Community Services which operates a food pantry and thrift store in West Mansfield will receive $2,500.
The United Way funded agencies for 2023 are:
• 211 Information and Referral Hotline — $15,000, 24/7/365 hotline to talk with live operators about any human service need.
• Bellefontaine Police Department — $5,000, outreach and education programs that help police build relationships and reduce crime.
• Boy Scouts Tecumseh Council — $2,000, character development, citizenship, and leadership skills for boys and girls.
• Bridges Community Action Partnership — $10,000, free income tax preparation and financial education for families in poverty.
• Caring Kitchen — $25,000, Urbana-based homeless shelter serving Logan County residents when our shelter is full.
• CASA of Logan County — $10,000, court-appointed advocates who serve children in abuse/neglect cases.
• Discovery Riders — $35,000, scholarships for therapeutic horse riding for persons with physical and developmental disabilities.
• Give & Take Community Services — $2,500, West Mansfield-based food pantry and thrift store.
• Greater Riverside Area Community Encouragers — $10,000, DeGraff/Quincy based food program feeds Riverside students on weekends.
• Green Hills Community — $57,000, in-home hospice care for terminally ill; adult daycare for senior citizens; Camp Braveheart grief camp for youth.
• Habitat for Humanity Logan County — $15,250, builds homes in partnership with low-income families.
• LifeCare Alliance — $40,000, Meals-on-Wheels to shut-ins; senior pet care.
• Logan County Cancer Society — $35,000, financial assistance to cancer patients for medicine, transportation, etc.
• Logan County Family & Children First Council — $24,000, case management for the community’s most vulnerable families.
• Logan County Homeless Shelter — $35,000, Bellefontaine-based short-term homeless shelter.
• Logan County Neighborhood Outreach Center — $5,250, summer meals for children at three after-school drop-in centers.
• Logan County Sheriff’s Office — $27,300, mental health counseling for inmates at the Logan County jail; Outreach and education programs that help law enforcement build relationships and reduce crime.
• Lutheran Community Services — $40,000, Our Daily Bread soup kitchen; Christmas adopt-a-family help.
• Mary Rutan Hospital Medication Assistance — $15,000, financial help for prescription medication.
• Midwest Regional Education Service Center — $7,500, Summer Autism Academy, seven-week program for youth on the autism spectrum.
• Recovery Zone — $30,000, peer support center for those in recovery from mental health and addiction.
• RTC Services — $60,000, free rides for senior citizens on Logan County’s public transportation.
• Second Harvest Food Bank — $60,000, Weekly Mobile Food Pantry truck distributions throughout Logan County.
• TCN Behavioral Health — $43,200, domestic violence shelter and support, mental health screenings for teens.
• Warm Clothes for Kids — $39,000, outfits students in grades K-8 with new winter clothes each fall.
• YMCA of Central Ohio — $15,000, scholarships for child care and programs at Hilliker YMCA.
• Other United Ways — $36,317, donor designations to United Ways in neighboring counties.
A total of $77,000 remains available for local entities to access for emerging opportunities and emergency needs via United Way’s Community Impact Fund. An additional $25,000 will be available soon for programs serving Logan County youth via the Student United Way grants.
Contact the United Way directly for more information about these funding opportunities. $48,400 was budgeted for pledge loss. The United Way’s overhead is 7 percent.
The United Way’s internal programs and projects for 2023 also include: Always United Endowment Fund, donor designations; Community Blood Center; Community Care Day, $4,000; Dolly Parton Imagination Library, $24,000; Housing Stability Program, $80,000; LIVE UNITED @ WORK Financial Wellness, $37,000; Lunch buddies, $3,000; MyFreeTaxes.com; Student United Way, $26,500; Stuff the Bus, $500; Women United, $3,000.