According to the local United Way, four in 10 families in St. Joseph County struggle to meet basic needs.
Notre Dame faculty and staff consistently step up to help reduce that number. Employees here donate more to the agency than any workforce in the county.
Your contribution to the United Way supports efforts that include the agency’s own assistance programs as well as those offered by the Center for the Homeless, YWCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Joseph County and other community partners. A full list is available at uwsjc.org.
Additionally, 5 percent of the donations received go toward Notre Dame’s Compassion Fund, an emergency assistance program for employees experiencing a temporary financial hardship. (For eligibility requirements, visit unitedway.nd.edu/compassion-fund.)
Pledge or donate
Place pledge cards you received at home into campus mail, addressed to: United Way Campaign, 501 Grace Hall. A one-time donation can be made with cash, check or credit card. To pledge online, visit unitedway.nd.edu. There you’ll find that you can “donate now” or consider becoming a continuous donor. Notre Dame’s 2019 campaign runs through Dec. 31.
On a mission to help those in need
The mission of the United Way of St. Joseph County is to move people from poverty to possibility. The agency helps people living below the poverty line as well as the working poor, also known as ALICE families.
ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed) families do not fall within poverty guidelines, but are struggling to stretch their income from paycheck to paycheck. These families may not qualify for many government-funded programs and benefits but are likely one emergency away from falling into the cycle of poverty.
Originally published by at ndworks.nd.edu on October 14, 2019.