NEW RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS NEEDS OF CHILDREN

The latest ALICE report from United Way of West Florida and our research partners United for ALICE shows 53% of children in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties lived in financial hardship in 2019. While 16% of all children in our community were deemed in poverty in 2019, the report shows that 37% – more than twice as many – lived in families defined as ALICE. ALICE households earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than what it costs to live and work in the modern economy. Those families don't bring home enough income to meet the basic costs of housing, childcare, health care, transportation, and a smartphone plan. “Undercounting the number of children who are at risk can have lifelong consequences,” said Laura Gilliam, United Way of West Florida President and CEO. “Thousands of children are locked out of receiving critical supports for stable housing, food, and quality education, all of which can inhibit healthy child development.”  Learn More

WHAT IS ALICE?  ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These households earn above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but cannot afford the basic cost of living. While the FPL for a family of four in 2019 was $25,750, the average bare-minimum cost of living for a family in Florida according to the ALICE Household Survival Budget was nearly $70,000.

CONGRATULATIONS & WELCOME!

211 Northwest Florida Resource Manager Avalon Mallory recently earned her AIRS (Alliance of Information and Referral Systems) certification badge for Information & Referral Coaching. Mal was 1 of only 10 professionals selected by AIRS throughout the country to go through the initial certification process and help pilot the learning curriculum.  Her selection is an acknowledgment of Mal's extraordinary work at 211 and her commitment to helping people in our community.  We are so proud to have her on our team. Congratulations, Mal!

Dr. Janet McCoy has joined UWWF as the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Manager. Dr. McCoy recently served two years as a VISTA volunteer at the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation. Before retiring from higher education, she taught public relations at Morehead State University in eastern Kentucky.  Dr. McCoy brings a passion for service and volunteering to her new position. Come meet her at the RSVP Open House on April 28. More information is below. The event is come and go, but reservations are requested to ensure there is enough food.

RSVP for Open House

THANK YOU!

Thank you to the amazing group of volunteers who helped at our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites this year! VITA volunteers worked around 2,000 hours to provide free tax preparation for low-income families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, saving those families more than $103,000! We are so thankful for the hard work of these volunteers, as well as our partners at Florida Blue, Goodwill Easterseals, the IRS, Pensacola State College, SouthState Bank, the University of West Florida, and Wells Fargo. We couldn't operate our VITA program without them.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Save the Date for Day of Caring Ready to roll up your sleeves and take part in the single largest day of volunteerism in northwest Florida? Day of Caring is full of service projects at nonprofit agencies and schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Mark your calendar for October 7, 2022 for the next Day of Caring.

Help us Stuff the Bus Stuff The Bus works to ensure that students in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are equipped with the tools they need to succeed in the upcoming school year. It is the only school supply drive supported by both local school districts. Look for more information soon on how you can help us Stuff The Bus in July!

Let's Stamp Out Hunger! You can help your letter carriers Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 14. Stamp Out Hunger is the largest, national, single-day effort to put food on the table for millions of Americans. Food collected in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties stays in our community, helping to feed our neighbors who struggle with food insecurity. Learn more about how you can help.

FUN WAYS TO MAKE AN IMPACT

PHINS FISHING CLASSIC The Phins Fishing Classic is underway now! This virtual fishing tournament features six categories of fish to win prizes in, and even a high school division. The deadline to get your fish counted has been extended to May 15. This gives you plenty of time to reel in the BIG one! For more information or to register visit phinsfishingclassic.com/

THANKFUL THURSDAY Alga Beer Co. will host Thankful Thursday on May 19 to benefit United Way of West Florida. The event will run from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Alga Beer Co., 2435 N. 12th Ave. in Pensacola.  There will be giveaways, a chance to win a gift bag, and $1 of every beer and root beer sold during that time will be donated to United Way of West Florida. Visit the Facebook event

GULF COAST CULTURE FEST The 2nd annual Gulf Coast Culture Fest, benefiting United Way of West Florida, is May 21. This arts festival celebrating diversity and inclusion takes place at Seville Square and Bartram Park from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. Admission is free to the public. They are looking for vendors and volunteers. For more information visit gulfcoastculturefest.com/

THANK YOU SPONSORS

United Way of West Florida | uwwf.org

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