Spokane County United Way

☕️ Save the date!

On Friday, July 4, 10% of your purchase at (in-store or online) supports United Way of Spokane County.

PLUS: We're hosting a children's book drive to benefit local refugee and immigrant families through RICS.

Let’s brew good together—one cup and one book at a time. 📚💙


📣Please Share!

📚💙 Big thanks to Walmart for their generous $10,000 donation to support Spokane County’s Imagination Library!

Their team truly understands the power of early literacy and is committed to keeping it front and center in the impact they strive to make. By investing in our youngest learners, Walmart is helping build a Spokane where every child has the tools to create a brighter future - because they know that kids are the key to a thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

👏 THANK YOU, Walmart Spokane - W Wellesley Ave Walmart Supercenter Spokane Valley , Walmart Spokane - N Colton St Walmart Spokane - S Hayford Rd , Walmart Spokane Valley for believing in our mission and fueling the future - one free book at a time!

💸 Looking to boost your financial confidence?

Check out our weekly Financial Literacy Tips & Tricks blog - packed with practical advice on budgeting, saving, managing debt, and more.

This effort aligns with our United for ALICE mission to lift individuals and families out of financial insecurity and into long-term financial stability. Because everyone deserves the tools to thrive—not just survive.

📲 Learn More Here https://www.unitedwayspokane.org/resource-blog

📰 Stay connected with what’s happening in our community!

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get updates on local impact, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and ways you can make a difference.

It’s a quick read that keeps you in the know - and inspired 💙

👉 Sign up today at https://www.unitedwayspokane.org/newsletter

We had the absolute joy of visiting The Community School's final presentations where students showcased the nonprofits they chose to support! 🙌💙

It’s inspiring to see the next generation so passionate about giving back. We also stopped by their Spring Fest to cheer them on as they made their final fundraising push!

Every dollar raised will go to nonprofits doing vital work across Spokane. Huge shoutout to these students and educators for showing what community in action really looks like! 💪✨

Two full-time jobs. $15/hour. Still not enough.
In fact, two workers making $15/hour can only afford the basics in 7% of U.S. counties. That’s the harsh reality for ALICE families - those who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

These are your neighbors, coworkers, friends — working hard, yet still struggling to afford rent, groceries, childcare, and health care.

💡 Hard work should pay off. But it doesn’t — not for everyone. That’s why the data matters.
Explore the ALICE Wage Tool (link in comments) to see how far a dollar really stretches in your community.

Let’s start the conversation. Let’s change the system.

Hard work should pay off.
But for too many families, even two full-time jobs aren’t enough to cover the basics.
It’s time to change that – and it starts with the data.

Check out the ALICE Wage Tool (link in comments) and share your findings with your peers. Together, let's build a future where every family can meet their needs.

Did You Know? 🤔
Over 1 in 3 households in many U.S. communities are ALICE—working hard but still unable to afford basics like housing, food, and healthcare.
ALICE families earn too much to qualify for federal assistance, but not enough to cover the real cost of living. They often hold essential jobs—teachers, caregivers, food service workers—but an unexpected expense, like a car repair or medical bill, can throw everything off course.
The ALICE threshold varies by region, but it always reflects the true, local cost of survival—not just the federal poverty line.
Every ALICE family is doing their best to make ends meet and build a better future. Let's take action to support them.

Behind every paycheck-to-paycheck story is a person with hopes, responsibilities, and resilience.
Join the conversation about ALICE—our neighbors who work hard but still struggle to get by. 💬
Let’s dig deeper than the data and talk about what it really means to live on the edge.

🔑 Last week we were honored to attend SNAP Power of Connection Luncheon — a powerful reminder of what a key really means.

Every time SNAP helps someone into permanent housing, they add a key to their Key Board.

It’s more than just a symbol - it represents safety, stability, and a fresh start.

Thank you, SNAP, for the invite and for helping unlock hope for so many in Spokane County. 💛

🔊Washington Cuts Funding for Kids’ Books

Washington State has pulled funding from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—an early literacy program that sends free books to kids under 5 across the state.

Since 2022, the program has delivered 3+ million books to families, helping children build reading skills before they start school. Now, local chapters may shut down without support.

Let’s keep books in the hands of Washington’s kids!

REMINDER❗️❗️❗️

United Way of Spokane County’s Red Robin Fundraiser is NEXT WEDNESDAY!

“Want to give back to your community and have a yummy meal at the same time? Head to either the Northpointe or Spokane Valley Red Robin locations any time on Wednesday, April 30th!

20% of all food sales will go to us, at United Way, to provide free books to children in our community through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

❗️❗️All you have to do is show your server this flyer or simply tell them that you’re there for the fundraiser!

So, go to Red Robin this April 30th to support United Way of Spokane County and the children of our community! 🍔🍟

(and psst, every Wednesday at Red Robin is 50% off kids meals, in case you were curious👀)”

When a child graduates from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, they receive this special book, “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” by Nancy Carlson. Did you know that in Spokane County alone, 5,021 children have graduated in just a little over two years? That’s about 200 full kindergarten classrooms of early readers ready to learn!

Early literacy and childhood education are key to addressing systemic challenges like poverty, homelessness, and low graduation rates. By investing in children, we’re building a brighter future for everyone in our community!

Happy National Kindergarten Day!📚🍎