Monthly News from United Way of Northeast Louisiana

February 2026 Edition

Did You Know?

Since the start of 2026, 78,850 neighbors have turned to United Way online for help — a powerful reminder that the need across Northeast Louisiana continues.

From food and utilities to housing and emergency support, thousands are looking for answers.

Dial 211 or visit our website to connect with available resources.

United Is The Way we connect our community.

Continuing the Work: Round 2 of Family Relief Effort Begins

Round 1 of Family Relief Effort distributions has been completed, and all Round 1 recipients have been contacted directly.

We are now moving into Round 2 of distribution. As in Round 1, assistance will continue to focus on:



• Impact on hardworking ALICE families struggling to make ends meet
• A lottery process, used to ensure fairness and equity when need exceeds available resources

To date, more than 11,000 families have applied for assistance, and the need continues to exceed the resources currently available. Our team is working urgently to secure additional funding so we can help more families in the next round.

If you’re able to help meet this overwhelming need:

• Text FAMILYRELIEF to 91999
• Click the link below to donate

We are grateful for the patience of those who have applied and for the generosity of our community as we continue this work together.

Powered by Generosity. Fueled by Community.

Thanks to our AMAZING community of donors and supporters for helping us exceed our goal! Because of your generosity, we’ve raised $179,125 as of the end of our Family Relief Effort Telethon. WOW!

Missed your chance to donate?

It’s not too late! Text FAMILYRELIEF to 91999 or click the link above.

For those who have applied for assistance:

Applications are being reviewed as quickly as possible, and assistance is released in rounds based on ALICE impact and a lottery process when need exceeds resources. If selected, you will be contacted directly. If you are not contacted right away, your application remains on file for future rounds.

Special thanks to our friends at KNOE 8 News for helping us bring this Telethon to life!

Sharing Our Community’s Story on a National Stage

In the aftermath of the recent ice storm, United Way of Northeast Louisiana worked not only to mobilize relief efforts — but also to elevate the voices and needs of our community beyond our region.

As part of the Family Relief Effort, our team participated in media interviews with The New York Times, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “As It Happens,” and Louisiana Radio Network to shed light on the widespread impact of the storm and the growing needs facing hardworking ALICE families.

These conversations helped bring national and statewide attention to the challenges our neighbors were experiencing — from prolonged power outages and food loss to financial instability — while also highlighting how our community was stepping up in response.

By sharing the realities on the ground, we were able to increase awareness, encourage support, and reinforce the importance of coordinated relief efforts across Northeast Louisiana.



When our community faces hardship, we respond — and we make sure the world understands both the need and the resilience that define our region.

Thank You to Chef Pat Nolan Catering for Fueling Our Team

As our team responded to families impacted by disaster, long days became the norm.

We were deeply grateful to Chef Pat Nolan Catering for providing lunch to our staff during this critical time.

Thoughtful acts like this helped sustain the people working behind the scenes to serve our community.



We are stronger together.

Entergy Louisiana Steps Up in a Major Way

Entergy Louisiana made a major impact during our recent Family Relief Effort telethon.

The company generously donated $25,000 and launched a $25,000 Business Match Challenge — doubling the opportunity for support across our region.

Through this challenge, Entergy committed to matching local business contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $25,000, amplifying the generosity of corporate partners who stepped up to support families impacted by the storm.

We are incredibly grateful for Entergy Louisiana’s leadership and commitment to helping our community recover. Their investment not only provided immediate relief but also inspired others to join in making a difference.

Walmart Invests in Education & Disaster Relief Across Northeast Louisiana

We’re grateful to share that our local Walmart has awarded United Way of Northeast Louisiana a $1,000 grant to support READ.LEARN.SUCCEED. in our community.

READ.LEARN.SUCCEED. connects volunteers with students to strengthen reading skills — helping place children on a path toward school success and increasing their chances of graduating high school.

In addition, Walmart provided a $5,000 gift card emergency relief fund to support our Family Relief Effort, assisting individuals and families impacted by the recent ice storm across Northeast Louisiana.

We are thankful for partners who step up to invest in both long-term educational success and immediate crisis response.

United Is The Way we support students.

United Is The Way we respond in times of need. 

Free Tax Preparation — No Waiting Required

Free tax preparation is available for households earning under $67,000 through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.


Simply drop off your documents at a participating location and return later — no long waits. Each drop-off appointment includes a 15–20 minute intake interview with an IRS-certified volunteer.

Drop-off dates: February 3 – February 27


Documents must be dropped off during your scheduled appointment time at your selected location.

Drop-Off Locations & Dates

Monroe

Financial Health Center

• 1001 DeSiard St.
• Dates: February 3 – February 27

Ruston

United Way of Northeast Louisiana Ruston Office

• 939 N. Trenton St.
• Date: February 17

Jonesboro

Jackson Parish Library

• 614 S. Polk Ave.
• Date: February 10

Tallulah

Madison Parish Library

• 403 N. Mulberry St.
• Date: February 24

Farmerville

Union Parish Library

• 202 W. Jackson St.
• Date: March 10

Need help scheduling an appointment? Call 211


Click the link below to schedule and appointment.

Building Financial Confidence for the Future in Lincoln Parish

On Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19, students from Lincoln Parish stepped into the real world at our Dollar & $ense Reality Fair!

Through this hands-on experience, students practiced making real-life financial decisions and gained knowledge about budgeting, saving, and banking. Dollars & $ense helps students better prepare for their future by building the financial skills they need to succeed.

We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers who made these two days possible. Your time, energy, and encouragement are helping set students up for success across Northeast Louisiana.

Thank you for investing in the next generation!

Dollars & $ense Empowers Richland Parish Students

On Monday, February 23, students from Richland Parish had the opportunity to participate in Dollars & $ense, our interactive financial literacy simulation.

Each student was assigned a monthly income and challenged to navigate real-life budgeting decisions — selecting transportation, groceries, housing, utilities, and other essential expenses. As they visited each booth, students experienced firsthand how quickly costs add up and the importance of making thoughtful financial choices.

Through this hands-on experience, students gained valuable knowledge in budgeting, saving, and banking — practical skills that will support their long-term success.

At the conclusion of the event, students heard from volunteer Ben Westerburg with Regions Bank, who shared personal financial insights and encouragement for their futures.



We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers who make experiences like this possible. Your commitment to preparing youth in Northeast Louisiana for success truly makes a difference.

Spreading the Word — and Support — This Mardi Gras

Big thanks to Regions Bank for stepping up in a BIG way to support our community!

Regions Bank volunteers helped attach Family Relief Effort donation flyers to toys and trinkets that were thrown during the Krewe de Rivière Mardi Gras parade — helping us spread the word so we can assist as many families as possible.

We’re incredibly grateful for partners who show up with heart, creativity, and action to help us better serve Northeast Louisiana families as recovery continues.

United is the Way we serve our community.

The Heirship Project: Protecting Homes, Preserving Legacies



The Heirship Project is an initiative aimed at educating residents who need help obtaining a clear property title or legal documents for final wishes (will) or transferring ownership of property to another person (deed). By addressing these critical issues, The Heirship Project empowers residents to protect their assets and secure their family’s future.

What is Heir Property? 

Heir Property comes about when necessary legal work isn't done after a property owner dies. Heirs who have a verbal agreement to live on the property, but no legal title could face many obstacles, including selling the property, making repairs on the property, or qualitfying for government aid to fix damages to the home. 

What is a will? What is a deed?

Wills and deeds are both legal documents, but serve different purposes:

• Will: A legal document that outlines how a person's assets and estate should be distributed after their death
• Deed: A legal document used to transfer ownership of real estate or property from one person (or entity) to another 

When is the Heirship Project?

• April 16 | 6:00 - 7:45 p.m. | United Way NELA Monroe Office | Community Members

Individuals seeking help to obtain a clear property title—or those wanting to learn more about heir property—can benefit from The Heirship Project. You can click the link below to view the workshops we offer for both community members and attorneys.

It’s time to mark your calendars! 

We’re excited to invite you to our annual Celebrating Excellence events this spring! Join us as we honor outstanding partners, share community impact highlights, and celebrate the power of working together.

Regional Event

Tuesday, April 22, 2026

University of Louisiana Monroe

Lincoln, Union & Jackson Parishes Event

Wednesday, April 23, 2026

Louisiana Tech University

Schedule for both events

• Doors open at 7:30 a.m.

• Breakfast & Program from 8:00–9:30 a.m.

More details coming soon. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Happy Birthday to Our Team Members!

In February, we had the joy of celebrating the birthdays of three incredible team members:

🎉 Nichelle Gee, Quality Assurance Specialist | February 5

🎉 Traci Canterbury, Chief Financial Officer | February 15

🎉 Jessica Hughes, Sr. VolunteerUNITED Manager | February 24

Through their dedication and heart, they help strengthen communities across Northeast Louisiana every day. We are proud and thankful to have them on the United Way of Northeast Louisiana team.

211 Day is a reminder of why this service matters every single day.

Since the onset of the winter storm, 211 call volume has increased by 400%. That means thousands of neighbors across Northeast Louisiana are reaching out for help with heat, food, shelter, and other essential needs.

Behind every call is a neighbor looking for stability—and a real person ready to help connect them to available resources.

Dial 211 — free, confidential, and available when it matters most.

Reinvest Your Refund. Strengthen Louisiana 211.

At any given moment, someone, somewhere in Louisiana is reaching out to 211 for help. Callers are often searching for assistance with housing, utilities, food, or other essential support for their families. Louisiana 211 listens, responds, and connects individuals to available resources in their communities.

Since 2020, Louisiana 211 has served more than 1 million help seekers, providing over 1.75 million referrals to meet immediate needs across the state.

In 2025 alone, Louisiana 211:

• Provided more than 327,000 referrals
• Helped meet over 169,000 individual needs

This tax season, consider reinvesting your Louisiana state tax refund by donating a portion to support Louisiana 211.

Your contribution helps ensure that Louisiana 211 remains a free, confidential, and accessible resource for Louisiana residents 24/7.

How to Give

Reinvesting your refund is simple:

• When filing your Louisiana Income Tax Return (electronically or by paper), designate your gift to the Louisiana Association of United Ways / LA 211 on Schedule D.
• Inform your tax preparer that you would like to allocate part of your state tax refund to the Louisiana Association of United Ways / LA 211.

For additional information, please contact Sarah Berthelot, President and CEO of the Louisiana Association of United Ways, at (225) 341-2928.

Together, we can ensure that help is always just three digits away.

Life happens. 211 helps.

United Way of Northeast Louisiana 211 is a free, confidential service that connects people to essential resources in our community. Whether you need help with housing, food, healthcare, transportation, crisis support, or just someone to talk to, 211 is here for you—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When life throws you a curveball, simply dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 to get connected with support you can count on.



Help us spread the message—view and download additional materials below. You never know who might need it!

211 DASHBOARD:

This dashboard presents aggregate, non-personally identifiable data on United Way 211 help seekers since January 1, 2019, including their locations, referrals, expressed needs, and demographics.

211 DATABASE:

The 211 database connects people to a wide range of local resources and services, and it is available 24/7 through a computer, phone, or other devices for convenient and immediate access.

Connect with us!

United Way of Northeast Louisiana | unitedwaynela.org