Today’s call to action asks for your help, as food pantries struggle to balance a record number of clients in need but shortages in supply. The 36 local food pantries followed up on their letter with a press conference at the state Capitol this morning. They compared numbers with other local food pantries last February and found that, over the last two years, demand has gone up by 112%.

Ellen Carlson is director of WayForward, a food and housing resource non-profit in Middleton spearheading this campaign. She says that the rising need started once pandemic-era resources went away.

“People throughout our community are increasingly showing up at food pantries and seeing a lot less options. And we know that we are a lifeline for so many and we really wanted to make people aware.”

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MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – A Dane County organization is investing $25,000 into a Madison east side community impacted by gun violence.

The money is being granted by United Way of Dane County (UWDC) to grassroots organizations working with the Harmony Apartments neighborhood to create change.

“It’s very important to not rush the process and allow them to feel whatever it is that they may be feeling,” grant recipient Myesha Thompson said.

Thompson wants to serve the Harmony Apartments community the right way. Those who lived in the neighborhood have been through a pair of homicides over the last year, resulting in the loss of Devon Grant and Kyesha Miller.

“Whether or not if it’s sadness, grief, anger, they are entitled to their emotions. They are entitled to their opinions about how the community, the people in our community, is responding,” Thompson said.

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MADISON (WKOW) — More than $25,000 is being distributed to youth-led organizations and organizations in Dane County thanks to a round of grants from the By Youth for Youth program.

By Youth for Youth (BYFY) is a collaborative program through the Dane County Youth Commission, United Way of Dane County and other organizations. High school leaders reviewed and identified grants that will benefit other young people.

“The applications that the group solicits and reviews are designed by or implemented by youth themselves. So that’s why it’s called by Youth for Youth. The youth are preparing the grant applications or working on the grants in some way, and the youth are reviewing the applications and deciding which ones received funding,” Lindsey Gearin with the United Way of Dane County explained.

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In 2019, I gave birth to my first child. As a first-time mother, I was anxious and afraid, but I was also excited and very well prepared. By the time I arrived at my hospital’s labor and delivery unit that morning, all illusions of a natural birth had vanished. As many women can attest, the pain of childbirth is as universal as it is staggering. So, I was surprised when, in between mind-bending contractions, an L&D nurse leaned over me and said, without any kindness in her voice, “If you don’t quiet down, we won’t give you an epidural.” I was stunned, but I was also in pain and afraid. As a graduate student researching the Rhetoric of Race, I knew the concepts, the arguments, and the statistics to explain what I was experiencing. I knew that I was less likely to be believed or treated well because of the color of my skin. But I also knew that I needed the hospital’s help, and that was not the moment to stand and fight. I did my best to be quiet.

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United Way of Dane County’s 2023 Community Fundraising Campaign raised $16.8 million thanks to over 16,000 individuals and 500 businesses across the county.

On Friday, United Way of Dane County hosted a Community Celebration with more than 500 community members at the Monona Terrace.

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Every morning, I look at my wife and say, “Lori, time to wake up and try to make the world a better place today.” This affirmation guides us to be involved across the community and has led me to take on the important role of chairing United Way of Dane County’s 2023 Campaign.

With the end of the year just around the corner, I want to express my sincere gratitude to every person who has generously donated their hard-earned dollars to a worthy cause in our community. And I humbly request that you consider making an even greater difference with United Way of Dane County, the organization that mobilizes us to act together for greater impact. There’s still time to create opportunities for neighbors before we ring in 2024.

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MILWAUKEE — The newest edition of the Nonprofit Total Rewards Survey out of Dane County shows Wisconsin nonprofits are facing expanding challenges, in part, thanks to the economy, inflation and ongoing issues tied to worker retention.

“A lot of non-for-profit organizations are experiencing the many challenges that other organizations are facing coming out of the pandemic and with our tightened labor market,” said Rebekah Temple, vice president of human resources consulting with The QTI Group. “Wages have had to increase from what we used to see at around $15 per hour, now we’re seeing those have increased to around $17.70 per hour or $18 per hour just for entry-level jobs.”

An annual effort by QTI and the United Way of Dane County, this year’s analysis surveyed more than 60 nonprofit groups in and around Dane County.

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December 6, 2023

The Cap Times asked eight community leaders to reflect on what they’ve learned and experienced in Madison in the 10 years since the Rev. Alex Gee’s groundbreaking essay “Justified Anger.” This is what they wrote.

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• Grace Ulch

Nov 13, 2023 Updated Nov 13, 2023

 

• MADISON(WKOW) — United Way of Dane County is currently working to raise money for its housing efforts in honor of National Homelessness Awareness Month.

  “Having a safe and stable home is a launchpad towards well-being,” Communications Director for United Way of Dane County, Ashley Manthei, said.

  Manthei says United Way hopes to address homelessness at the root cause. That’s why they partner with organizations like Community Action Coalition (CAC).

  “We seek to transform all communities by fostering conditions where everyone can achieve social and economic security,” Casework Coordinator with CAC, Cielo Lazo, said.

  Lazo works directly with families to find stable, reliable shelter. Most recently, she was working with a woman named Rosa whose family’s apartment became infested with mites. Lazo says the infestation got so bad, Rosa and her kids started living out of their car.

  Read the full Article Here

• ETHAN FERRELL ethan.ferrell@apg-sw.com
• Oct 19, 2023 Updated Apr 10, 2024