United Ways across Pennsylvania celebrate PA 211 Day
If you dial 211 in Pennsylvania you'll be connected with someone who can refer you to housing, food, or utility assistance. The resource is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Last year 6,761 people in Blair, Cambria, and Somerset Counties reached out to the United Way of the Southern Alleghenies for help with housing & shelters, food security, utility assistance, and caring for an aging relative.
'We're seeing a lot of increasing needs around housing and utility assistance in particular. A lot of people are feeling the pinch of the economy and need a little bit of extra support these days,' Karen Struble Myers, President & CEO of United Way of the Southern Alleghenies said.
Centre County gives nursing home $900,000 in funding, more potentially on the way
In 2024, Blair County also had the most referrals, which means the county had the most need.
'We bring a lot of local programming here through 34 different partner agencies, all devoted to helping the health, education, well-being and economic stability of residents across Blair, Cambria and Somerset counties. So there's really a lot of great work that gets done by our community-based nonprofit, as well as a direct service work we do here at the United Way through resource, referral, our diaper bank program, as well as our snap at the market program to enhance food security,' Myers said.
There are several ways to connect with a United Way in your area. You can dial or chat with 211. You can also text your zip code to 898-211.
The PA211.org website was recently updated to make it easier to find local resources.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
A 30-foot sculpture is planned for Broad Ripple. Some welcome it; others call it 'tall scary man'
Artist Jason Myers designed his new sculpture — slated to stand at a high-profile Broad Ripple intersection — to be a welcoming modern-day guardian that embodies the neighborhood's movement, transformation and artistic expression. But many residents have the opposite feeling about the 30-foot-tall figurative man that will light up at night. On social media and at a public meeting, they have said they find the work, which they have seen depicted in drawings, to be grotesque, unwelcoming and a potential distraction for drivers. The recent outcry has surprised the organizers who are bringing the sculpture, called "Gavin-Divergence," to the northwest corner of College Avenue and Westfield Boulevard. Plans have been in the works for 18 months, said Tag Birge, a real-estate developer and investor who co-founded the Birge Family Foundation, which is funding the art as part of a partnership that includes the Indy Art Center and Penrod Society. Business owners and community members at a February public meeting responded positively to the piece, he said. But as the Nextdoor posts have circulated, more residents have spoken out about the sculpture. About 20 attended a Broad Ripple Village Association Land Use and Development Committee meeting July 22 to voice their concerns. At this point, "Gavin-Divergence" is under construction and not a done deal, Birge told IndyStar. He said organizers are awaiting an upcoming Board of Zoning Appeals public meeting that will determine whether to grant a variance to adjust the sightlines for the sculpture at the intersection. In the mean time, the dispute about how the proposed sculpture will represent the community is ongoing. The Birge Family Foundation has largely focused on education and healthcare initiatives. Now, it's adding public art to its portfolio to help reinvigorate what Birge calls the city's woefully underfunded arts infrastructure. "When I grew up, Broad Ripple was the arts and cultural district, and now we have competition," Birge said. "Carmel is really pulling a lot of the arts and cultural energy that we've had in Broad Ripple for years. We have to reinvest in our arts and cultural districts. It can't be static. You can't just rely on what you had in 1980 and hope that things go well." Eventually, the foundation plans to join with more partners to raise at least $1 million to create five pieces of public art in the neighborhood by multiple artists, Birge said. He declined to say how much the foundation is paying for Myers's "Gavin-Divergence." The Birge Family Foundation commissioned the piece from Myers, which the Indy Art Center will own and maintain. Myers, whose main U.S. studio is in his hometown of Logansport, lived in the Circle City for about 15 years starting in 2001, residing in Broad Ripple and operating the Artbox gallery at the Stutz. While there, he met Birge, who grew up in and around Broad Ripple. The two have remained in touch. "I've put pieces in Cologne, Germany; and Amsterdam; and Miami; and Palm Beach; and Napa, California. You know, I'm probably more excited about this piece in Broad Ripple than any of those just because (of) its relationship to me and where I grew up and where I'm part of that community," Myers said. At Birge's request, the Broad Ripple Village Association listed several locations where public art would be a good fit, and the corner of College and Westfield was most impactful, Birge said. The association did not select the art but has tried to spread the word about it among its newsletter subscribers and membership, said executive director Jordan Dillon. "We tried to be a resource for a citizen or a charitable group who wanted to bring a piece of art into the community and to help kind of share with them best practices," Dillon said. "We provided a lot of different locations where we think public art could be great in the area, and there's no shortage of them in Broad Ripple. We tended to agree with them that this location was going to be the most impactful for our area." But many Broad Ripple residents are not sold on the sculpture. Resident Brett Rathmell posted on the social media app NextDoor recently, sparking a plethora of comments that were mostly complaints. He said he became aware of "Gavin-Divergence" in mid-July, when his neighbor received notice of a public hearing about the variance petition for the area. Rathmell said he likes the sculpture but thinks it would be better placed elsewhere, like the Indy Art Center. For the intersection in question, "(it) just feels like it'd be nice to enhance what they have there or just add something that evokes community, people, warmth, emotion, going out, entertainment, warm and fuzzy things — not a tall, scary man, singular, that evokes fear," he told IndyStar. A July 22 Broad Ripple Village Association Land Use and Development Committee meeting on the variance petition, and not the sculpture itself, drew about 20 people. Several came to comment about the sculpture or its impact. "That does not say 'Welcome to Broad Ripple,'" said Nancy Siebert, who's lived in the neighborhood for almost 50 years. Across his 40 years as a resident, Glenn Plaster said he's watched Broad Ripple evolve from a cultural gem to a mishmash of parking garages and high-rise buildings. In his mind, "Gavin-Divergence" doesn't speak to the village's history. "I don't know what this artwork is supposed to represent. I don't see how it represents anything," Plaster said. John Pantzer said he wasn't opposed to the sculpture itself but was worried about whether such a tall piece of art would distract drivers at a busy intersection where cars, pedestrians and cyclists converge. "For the people who do want to come see it: Where are they going to stand? Where are they going to congregate? Could it cause accidents?" Pantzer said. While committee chair Bo Boroski cited recent city data saying the intersection has not seen collisions and injuries, the committee moved to recommend approval of the variance petition and included a recommendation to remove the right turn on red for those traveling south on College to west on Westfield. So far, "Gavin-Divergence" will proceed as planned for the intersection, Birge said, but he's open to more discussion. "If the BRVA came to me and said, after the public meetings were done and working on this for 18 months, that they thought there was a more impactful location, I would be open to it," Birge said. "But I think this is probably the most impactful location to start bringing art to activate the area." Myers said people will connect better with the in-person sculpture than with the computer-aided drafting drawings, which were intended to engineer the piece. He said similar sculptures on his website at give a better idea of what it will look like. And, as a seasoned artist, he said he understands criticism. "Public art is supposed to generate conversation," Myers said. "Not everyone's going to connect with the piece right away. But people are reacting, whether it's curiosity, confusion or even criticism. That means people are engaging in their community, and that means people are taking some responsibility for the art in their environment." Public comment about the variance petition will be welcome during an upcoming hearing of Division 1 of the Board of Zoning Appeals at 1 p.m. Sept. 2 on the second floor of the City-County Building. This Indy newsletter has the best shows, art and eats
Chicago Tribune
15-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Backpacks being filled as part of Stuff the Bus program; ‘We want to get them to the kids who need them the most'
By the time a group of nine volunteers from the Great Lakes Credit Union finished filling backpacks with school supplies as part of the United Way of Lake County's Stuff the Bus program, they had provided enough for seven classrooms — 196 altogether. 'It makes me really happy,' Jessie Flores, one of the volunteers, said. 'The kids need these essential tools to be successful in school. Every student needs these. They are our present, and they are our future.' Flores and her colleagues put notebooks, pencils, folders crayons, scissors, earbuds, stylus pens and more into the backpacks on Tuesday at the United Way office in Gurnee as part of an effort to put more than 3,000 backpacks in the hands of Lake County students in time for the upcoming school year. Bobbi Selvik, United Way's manager of community engagement, said items like earbuds and stylus pens were added more recently because of the increase in the use of technology in education. 'Most of the kids have tablets or another electronic device provided by the school,' Selvik said. 'They use the stylus-like pens. It makes it easier for them. So do the earbuds. We want every child to start school with the same resources as any other child.' Jennifer Strom, United Way's director of marketing and communications, said last year the organization oversaw the distribution of 3,775 backpacks and 300 teacher kits to four school districts and a host of community organizations who put them in the hands of under-resourced students. 'That's what the teachers use when the kids run out,' Strom said, referring to the teacher kits. 'Every year, we look to do as much as we can. We want to get them to the kids who need them the most.' Starting the annual program on May 1 — it began in 2018 — Strom said United Way takes direct donations in the form of supplies from donors, as well as financial contributions. The money is used to purchase supplies and backpacks. Once those are in hand, Strom said volunteers come into the office to complete the packages. Donations are accepted through July 30, and both the school districts and community organizations will receive them by Aug. 15. Selvik said a calendar is developed to ensure the backpacks are ready for each school before the first day of class. One school got its supply on Tuesday. Volunteers helped 'Stuff the Bus,' which was actually a car this time around. Patrick Basler, the Great Lakes Credit Union's chief experience officer, said the organization has participated in Stuff the Bus each year of its existence. The 90-year-old financial institution started serving the enlisted and civilian personnel at Naval Station Great Lakes. Now, it has 23 branch offices in Lake, Cook, Kane and McHenry counties. 'This aligns with our mission of community give-back,' Basler said. 'This is one of our volunteer programs. Schools provide the foundation of financial empowerment and education. Students need to understand the daily financial basics and what to do over the long term.' Among the school districts receiving backpacks directly are Waukegan Community School District 60, North Chicago School District 187, Round Lake School District 116 and Mundelein School District 75. For larger districts, Selvik said United Way supplements the overall backpack effort. With approximately 14,000 students in District 60, Superintendent Theresa Plascencia said United Way is one of many sources that help supply backpacks, which will be distributed at its annual resource fair on July 26. 'It helps supplement the work we do to ensure students have the supplies they need to start the school year ready to succeed,' Plascencia said in an email. 'We're grateful for United Way and the generosity of its partners. Efforts like this truly make a difference in our schools and community.' Joining the school districts as recipients of the backpacks are a number of community organizations that are regular partners of United Way. Selvik said they include the Lake County Health Department, HACES, the Lake County Housing Authority and the Family First Center of Lake County.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Grants from United Way bring summer camps and housing aid to region
The United Way of North Central Massachusetts has awarded nearly $700,000 in grants to 38 community-based agencies, according to a community announcement. The grants were distributed through two targeted programs to address critical regional needs and expand access to after-school and out-of-school time opportunities for children and youth across North Central Massachusetts. For the 2025–2026 funding cycle, the Community Impact Fund awarded $550,000 to 27 nonprofit organizations, supporting 45 programs in key focus areas including early education and care, youth development, basic needs, and housing and homelessness. These areas reflect some of the most pressing challenges facing families in the region. Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts Inc. was among the grant recipients. 'Through the Critical Home Repair program, Habitat NCM helps residents stay safely in their existing affordable homes, and the United Way grant will allow us to expand the program to help more local seniors and families,' said Carolyn Read, executive director. 'The United Way mobilizes the caring power of our community, and our partnership will bring that care to more of our neighbors in need.' In addition, UWNCM awarded $131,271 to 11 local agencies through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education After School and Out-of-School Time Program. The funding comes from a DESE grant awarded to a regional collaborative of United Ways serving Central, North Central, and South-Central Massachusetts. The initiative supports and enhances after-school and summer programs, ensuring that children and youth have access to safe, enriching environments. This round of DESE funding will support a wide range of summer programming, offering young people opportunities to attend camp, visit museums and take part in educational field trips. To date, UWNCM has distributed almost $2 million in DESE grant funds to local nonprofit organizations, public school systems and municipalities. The Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts received a DESE grant to support their summer camp programs. 'We are grateful to the United Way of North Central Massachusetts for their support of our Community-Based Programs,' said CEO Theresa Lynn. 'This funding allows us to bring the Girl Scout experience to girls who might not otherwise have access. From exploring creativity and wellbeing through Joy in Art & Nature, to building confidence in STEAM and social media literacy, and promoting wellness through Your Best You, these programs empower girls. We're thrilled to launch these opportunities this summer, thanks to the United Way of North Central Massachusetts.' Judy Tomlinson, UWNCM director of community impact, emphasized the importance of these investments. 'Funding local nonprofit organizations is an investment in our communities. These organizations are often on the front lines, addressing urgent needs and creating lasting impact where it matters most. Supporting them means empowering local solutions and strengthening the social fabric around us.' The United Way of North Central Massachusetts serves the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Pepperell, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon. This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Gardner News: United Way funds 38 agencies to support kids, housing and more
