A New Year of Impact

Hi Uniters!

As we reflect on the past year, we are deeply grateful for people like you – those who give, advocate, and volunteer to make life better for others. Because of your generosity, hope shines brighter across Martin County, and more individuals and families are building stronger, more stable futures.

As we look ahead to 2026, we know there is still more work to be done. Together, we can continue creating opportunities, strengthening our community, and ensuring everyone has the chance to thrive. If you’re not already part of this journey, we invite you to join us.

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find:

WHAT'S COMING UP

VITA Tax Preparation

Community Conversation

Grant Application Process

Volunteer Opportunity

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Friends & Neighbors

Carol G. Houwaart-Diez, President & CEO at United Way of Martin County, contributes a monthly article to Friends & Neighbors Martin County, offering valuable insights into the perspective of a non-profit organization like United Way.

In her January article, Carol underscores an important reality: although many are familiar with the United Way name, fewer understand the depth and range of our work. By sharing highlights from 2025, she reminds readers "why a strong, healthy, local United Way is so important to our community."

Read the full story by clicking the button below.

A Non-Profit Perspective

Toys For Tots Holiday Project

Because of you, the 2025 United Way Holiday Project delivered joy and holiday magic to more than 850 families across Martin County, with remaining gifts reaching students served by local social service agencies.

Together, we served 854 families and 2,674 children by distributing 24,523 toys, including 428 bikes and 26,878 pounds of food. To our 359 incredible volunteers who donated 1,536 hours of their time: thank you for making this project everything it’s meant to be. We are endlessly grateful.

A HUGE thank you to our incredible sponsors, donors, referral partners, local agencies, collection sites, AmeriCorps Seniors, family members, volunteers, and staff who showed up with heart, energy, and generosity to bring this project to life. From collecting and organizing donations to shopping for and distributing gifts, every effort helped create holiday magic for so many in our community.

Swipe through the Facebook album to see just a few of the smiling faces who made it all possible, or read the news article to learn more about the project.

Photo Album

Stats Card

News Coverage

Students United

Thinking about the incredible work our Students United members have been doing!

Here’s what they’ve been up to:

Walmart Shopping Spree: Our high school students shopped for the Toys For Tots Holiday Project teen category (ages 13–15), which typically receives the fewest donations. With every item under $35 and a $5,000 budget, they carefully selected gifts they knew this age group would truly love – because who better to shop for teens than teens themselves!?
Toys for Tots Holiday Project: At the Martin County Fairgrounds, students rolled up their sleeves to sort the toys they shopped for, bag stocking stuffers, and organize books – getting everything ready for client distribution and making the holidays brighter for kids in our community.
CRP Overview & Literacy Kits: Students dove into a Citizen Review Process overview, preparing for three upcoming site visits and their final Capstone project, where they’ll step into the shoes of an agency to pitch for United Way funding. They also packed literacy kits for the Early Learning Coalition and students at Warfield Elementary, helping young learners get the resources they need to succeed.

So much learning, teamwork, and impact happening at once! Stay tuned – these students aren’t done making a difference yet.

SPONSORED BY: Cleveland Clinic

Photos

Federal Budget Cuts

When crisis strikes, United Way of Martin County steps forward to ensure that local families are not left behind. Through strategic investments, coordinated partnerships, and rapid response efforts, United Way continues to strengthen Martin County’s safety net – especially during moments of uncertainty and hardship.

Even as Martin County continued to recover from Hurricane Milton last October, federal cuts to SNAP, WIC, and other safety-net programs created new challenges for families and seniors. United Way of Martin County responded with $40,000 in supplemental funding, $20,000 each to House of Hope and the Council on Aging, ensuring access to food and essential support for those who need it most.

These investments reflect United Way’s commitment to proactively addressing gaps in the system and supporting partners who are on the front lines of service delivery.

Donor Appreciation Luncheon

We welcomed more than 40 local leaders to our 2025 Donor Appreciation Luncheon at Bonefish Grill, celebrating the generosity of donors who invest $1,000 or more annually in the community. President and CEO Carol G. Houwaart-Diez shared updates on disaster recovery efforts, advocacy around federal budget cuts impacting local nonprofits, and progress on initiatives like Ride United.

Thanks to nearly 400 leadership donors, more than half of the $2 million invested in local programs last year came from leadership giving – helping strengthen essential services such as food access and transportation. The event was proudly sponsored for the 15th year by Lesser, Landy, Smith and Siegel, with Bonefish Grill generously donating the luncheon.

Community Leaders' Celebration

What an unforgettable Community Leaders' Celebration honoring the heart and soul of our community! From well-deserved recognition to joyful connections, the Community Leaders’ Celebration brought together passionate changemakers, generous partners, and dedicated advocates who make Martin County stronger every day. Thank you to everyone who joined us in lifting up local leadership and lighting the way forward. Swipe through the moments that made this day so special!

New Team Member

We’re thrilled to welcome Jenny Buntin as our new Community Impact Manager!

Jenny joins us from the UF/IFAS Extension Office, where she built a strong foundation in community education and engagement. As a wife, mom of two beautiful children, and an avid runner, she brings heart, energy, and experience to her work.

You’ll definitely be seeing Jenny out and about in the community, building connections and helping drive meaningful impact.

Please join us in welcoming and celebrating Jenny, the newest member of our United Way family!

Welcome, Jenny!

RESOURCES & SUPPORT

Ride United

Ride United offers complimentary, temporary Lyft rides to connect Martin County residents to education, employment, health care and other critical services. Those in need of transportation assistance should contact us or a participating agency to determine eligibility or schedule a ride.

Important Notes:

Ride scheduling is available during operating business hours (Monday-Friday from 8:30AM - 4PM). Early morning, evening and weekend rides are available with flexible links upon pre-scheduled request.
Must call at least one business day in advance of your needed ride.
Drivers are not employed through United Way; they are local community members employed by Lyft.
This program is funded entirely through donations and grants. While the program itself remains active, individual ride requests may be denied due to limited funding or misuse of services.

Learn More or Schedule a Ride

Meal Sites & Food Pantries

Martin County is committed to making sure no one goes hungry. Thanks to the support of local organizations and partners, residents can access a hot meal every day of the week. United Way of Martin County is actively working to expand and update this vital resource.

If your organization provides food assistance and would like to be included on the Food Finder map, or if you have updates to the current listing, please fill out the Food Finder Form.

Meal Sites & Food Pantries

Disaster Relief

If you’ve been affected by a disaster – whether it’s a hurricane, flood, or other crisis – you’re not alone. The Martin Interagency Network for Disasters (MIND) is here to help you get back on your feet.

MIND is a group of trusted local agencies, nonprofits, and government organizations that work together to provide coordinated support during times of disaster. This network exists to make sure residents in Martin County can access the recovery resources they need without feeling overwhelmed or alone.

When you connect with MIND through United Way of Martin County, you’ll be guided to services that may help fill the gap of your unmet needs.

The goal of MIND is to simplify the recovery process for individuals and families by bringing all the right resources together in one place. We’re here to listen. We’re here to support. And most of all, we’re here to walk with you on the road to recovery.

If you need assistance recovering from a disaster, please contact Cher Fisher at cfisher@unitedwaymartin.org or 772-283-4800.

Disaster Center

2024-2025 Community Impact Report

We’re proud to share the results of a year rooted in collaboration, compassion and measurable progress. Our 2024–2025 Community Impact Report highlights the programs, partnerships and people that helped improve lives in Martin County across our focus areas of education, financial security and health. Thanks to your support, we’re building a stronger, more resilient community – together.

Community Impact Report

THANK YOU TO OUR IMPACT SPONSORS!

EDUCATION Impact Sponsor

HEALTH Impact Sponsor

FINANCIAL SECURITY Impact Sponsor

CAMPAIGN Sponsor

REGISTRATION # CH1474 FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SERVICES A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY VISITING WWW.800HELPFLA.COM OR CALLING TOLL-FREE (800) 435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.