Due to changes in fundraising trends, United Way of South Central Michigan is no longer supporting community fundraising for United Way in Vicksburg, Gull Lake, Comstock or Galesburg-Augusta. As a result, the local Vicksburg United Way committee recently made its final distribution to the following organizations which submitted a grant request for funds raised in 2022: Vicksburg High School’s Bulldog Fueling Stations for VHS athletes; Friends of Vicksburg Youth for re-development of Camp Char Le Maude on Barton Lake; Generous Hands for Backpack Bonanza; and The Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center to support its local nature camp and the upcoming Indigenous Nations children’s workshops.
United Way has re-organized itself with the goal of gaining greater impact. The organization expects to have a single more efficient and effective administration, tap into new funding at the federal, state and local levels, and strengthen the organization’s expertise. Rebranded as United Way of South Central Michigan, it now includes Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson and Kalamazoo counties. The focus of United Way continues to support education, financial stability, health, and families who have difficulty meeting basic needs. South County Community Services is South County’s only basic needs provider and receives significant funding from United Way. United Way funds the 2-1-1 link for those in need and also provided $3 million in disaster relief during the pandemic.
South County residents are encouraged to participate in maintaining this essential safety net by donating at their workplace. If you are a South County resident who does not have access to workplace giving this year and you want to continue supporting United Way, contact Karen Townsend at k.townsend@UWSCMI.org.