United Way of Kaw Valley

Happy World Read Aloud Day!

In case you didn't know, we are pretty passionate about reading, especially about reading to kids. Since it's , we asked some of our staff what their favorite read aloud books were (in case you needed some inspiration)! You can also drop your favorite titles in the comments. Why is reading aloud important? Check it out: https://bit.ly/3CsFiFt

Jessica: Llama, Llama Mad at Mama
Kathy: Goodnight Moon
Brett: The Oxcart Man
Jacquie: Never Tease a Weasel
Valerie: Dinosaur vs. School
Angel: The Pokey Little Puppy
Jenna: Gregor the Overlander (YAY for reading aloud with older kids!)
Audrey: Fox in Socks
Sarah: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!
Donna: But Not the Hippopotamus
Judy: Old Witch and the Polka-Dot Ribbon (with a bonus make-together recipe on the back!)

Hey Topeka friends! Here's your chance to head back to high school for a few hours as a volunteer for SparkWheel's FutureNow: Finance event at Topeka High on Wednesday, February 5 and Thursday February 6. No experience needed, and 2-hour shifts make it easy to swing by and help. First shift starts at 8 am, last shift at 1 pm. Get more details and sign up on our free volunteer site: https://www.kawvalleyvolunteers.org/need/detail/?need_id=1015145.

You can also use the "Become a Fan" function to be notified whenever SparkWheel posts new volunteer opportunities or updates. Opportunities are already posted for spring FutureNow: Finance sessions at Topeka West and Highland Park high schools.

SparkWheel, a Midwest-based nonprofit, serves more than 30,000 students annually throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Iowa. For more than 25 years, SparkWheel has been inspiring students and engaging families in ways that remove barriers and help them to thrive. In Topeka, they provide supports at five schools, serving nearly 5,000 students and their families.

The mission of SparkWheel is to remove barriers and provide those they serve with the tools and resources they need to thrive, now and into the future. Through SparkWheel’s Integrated Student Supports framework, they help support students’ academic and non-academic needs, resulting in an increased sense of well-being and greater success in school. The SparkWheel Integrated Student Supports model is evidence-based, helping students and families overcome challenges that hinder learning or prevent students from attending school regularly. They customize services for every school, placing a Student Support Coordinator in each location to provide supports for individual students, as well as supports accessible by the whole student body.

ALICE is important in the Douglas County conversation around Guaranteed Income. Get to know ALICE on the United For ALICE website and then come to the data walk and screening of "It's Basic" at Eudora High School on February 12 to join the discussion.

Fact: ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households are in every county, in every state in the country. That means whether you're in a bustling city, a serene suburb, the mountains, or by the beach, *you* can make a difference for ALICE.

Visit our website (link in the comments) to learn more about ALICE in your community – and spread the word.

Learning to build a healthy community is a key component of our Aleshire Venture Grant partnership with Washburn University. For 15 years, the Aleshire Venture Grant has been offered through the Washburn University's LE300: Leadership Skills Development course in partnership with the United Way and Washburn University Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement (previously the Leadership Institute).

The Aleshire Center is a new academic department that was created through the merger of the Leadership Institute and Washburn’s Learning in the Community (LinC) programs and officially launched on July 1, 2024, after a generous gift was made to the program by Venture Grant benefactors Joe and Janet Aleshire. The program is committed to developing leaders through high-impact community-engaged learning.

For the Venture Grants, the Aleshires donate $10,000, which the leadership students award through a competitive proposal process to a Shawnee County nonprofit serving children prenatal to age 5. Over the course of the semester, students explore the process of creating a Request for Proposal, evaluating proposed programs, choosing recipients, and presenting their recommendations at a United Way board meeting.

The beneficiaries for Fall 2024 were:

$6,500 to Community Action to enhance their Baby Basics Group, which educates new or new-again parents on topics like developmental milestones, nutritional health, safe sleep and infant care.
$3,500 to the TARC Feeding Clinic to cover the cost of feeding therapy for children (this intensive therapy is offered at no cost to families).

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To the stars, through difficulties. Thanks to all of you, our stars, on this Kansas Day. Together, we keep reaching for the future that ALL Kansans deserve.

Kansas Day Anthem When Senator John James Ingalls first proposed “Ad Astra Per Aspera” as the state motto, Kansas had already gone through its share of difficulties. The years...

Thanks to Briggs Topeka, Subaru of America, Inc. and Operation Warm for outfitting Pauline Central Primary School students with more than 200 pairs of shoes and the socks to go with them! We love making the connections this event for Subaru and making life a little warmer and happier for our young friends during the winter--especially this year.

Thanks also to WIBW and reporter Carson Shea for the coverage!

Pauline Central students receive shoes from a generous donation United Way of Kaw Valley paired up with Briggs Subaru to hand out over 200 shoes and make sure Pauline Central students are outfitted for further cold this season.

‼️Tomorrow‼️

Don't miss our special broadcast right here on our page at Noon on Friday as we chat with our Shawnee and Douglas County Campaign Chairs to get an update on where we are with our annual campaign, and what you've made possible so far!

Check out this NPR Planet Money piece that does a great job explaining how the ALICE Essentials Index paints a clearer picture of how much it costs to live in our state. United Ways of Kansas partners with United For ALICE so our Kansas data can inform our policy and decision making.

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1226038393

Inflation has continued to wreak havoc on the budgets of struggling families, even as many have said it's been cooling. The ALICE Essentials Index helps explain why. NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money shines a spotlight on the Index, weaving in commentary from National Director Stephanie Hoopes! Listen to this engaging piece through the link in the comments.

What an amazing morning with presenter Nicole Rials! We really strive for a unique experience with this MLK Day of Service opportunity, and Nicole was the perfect presenter to help us understand that volunteers need to care for themselves even as they serve others. Here's just a small slice of today's participant feedback:

"I love having service mixed with information."
"I thought it was a great program. I enjoyed everything, the keynote speaker and the service project."
"I loved this seminar. Thank you so much for the opportunity."

What did you find most valuable?
"Remember to take time for ME!"
"All the opportunities for discussion and reflection. Hearing from people with diverse experiences."
"Having these discussions on capacity and boundaries."

Thank you to Harvesters - The Community Food Network for making their gorgeous new space available and for coordinating our service activity! Thanks to the Kansas Volunteer Commission for providing an MLK Day of Service grant to support this opportunity.

What volunteer service topics would you like United Way to address in future learning and engagement opportunities?

Jan. 20 is a day of service, and a time to reflect on our values. For the past 137 years, United Way has been building a future where everyone, everywhere, can thrive. Our commitment to service remains unchanged. As part of this global network, United Way of Kaw Valley invites you to explore ways to serve at https://www.kawvalleyvolunteers.org/.

Both our Topeka and Lawrence offices will close at noon today (Friday) for a staff gathering. We also will be closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. We'll be back in the office Tuesday morning. If you need help locating services near you, please call our referral specialists by dialing 211 anytime.

Don't forget that we have several great learning and engagement opportunities coming up. January 17 is the last day to register of our MLK Day of Service Seminar on January 22, "Room Enough To Care: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Providing Social Services."

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F4x75EPmZ/

United is the Way to make a meaningful impact for our most vulnerable citizens!

We're thankful to two of our Shawnee County corporate partners- FHLBank Topeka and Mars, Incorporated for coming together to provide kits that will be distributed to unsheltered individuals by our partners at Valeo Behavioral Health Care during the annual homeless point-in-time count. These kits contain important hygiene items, as well as items to keep warm during the winter months.

FHLBank generously provided the funding for materials, and Mars employees got together to assemble the kits- filling 25 boxes total!

Did you know that just over half of the nation’s 65+ households are either in poverty or ALICE – unable to afford life's basics? As many struggle to navigate programs like Social Security, SNAP, and Medicare, they're sharing insights gained over the years. 's Stephanie Hoopes sheds light on some of the changes that are needed.

Click the link in the comments to read the full Business Insider article!