NEWS & UPDATES

MARCH 2025

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Our Main Phone Number (920) 682-888 is Once Again in Service!

HUGE Thank You to Those Who Helped with Our Move!


Anyone who has moved office locations - including a large downsize - knows what a monumental task it is. We want to give a huge shoutout to our amazing volunteers who did most of the heavy lifting and the not-so-heavy lifting, tasks such as:


  • Sorting through each and every object (large and small) and deciding what's being kept and what we need to find new homes for.


  • Organizing and staffing a 2-day rummage sale.


  • Sorting through a mountain of bank boxes full of paperwork.


  • Shredding boxes of paperwork no longer needed.


  • Moving heavy furniture and boxes, and so much more!

Dolly thinks the new place is starting to feel like home.

Staff member Frankie Bender posing by last year's collection box.

Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive


Thank you to everyone who stopped by our office with donations for The Family Radio Network's Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive!


The Family's annual hygiene drive partners with the community to help stock the shelves of 121 homeless and crisis programs in 20 Wisconsin communities. The goal of the program is to supply a year's worth of products to each agency. Donations remain in the community they come from.

Supporting Working Families Through Childcare: A Community Call to Action

On Tuesday, March 18, United Way Manitowoc County’s Director of Impact Strategies, Ben Peters, and Lynn Palama, Child Care Development Coordinator at Lakeshore CAP, co-presented to the Lakeshore CAP Human Resource Council on behalf of the Early Childhood Education Support Network (ECESN). Their presentation focused on the challenges working families face due to the shortage of quality, affordable childcare—and how these challenges impact local employers and early childhood educators alike.

 

With around 25 agency representatives in attendance, the conversation was engaging and affirming. Participants echoed the calls to action outlined in the presentation, reinforcing the urgent need to support families, employers, and childcare providers in building a stronger early childhood education system for our county.

 

If you're interested in learning more or want to explore how you or your organization can support this important work, contact Ben Peters at United Way Manitowoc County at ben@unitedwaymanitowoccounty.org. Together, we can help build a community where every child—and every working family—has the opportunity to thrive.

Dolly Parton Imagination Library Update

United Way's Dolly Parton Imagination Library program currently has 764 active children and 88 graduates. A grand total of 852 kids have been served and 6,198 books have been distributed since January of 2024. Total books distributed between January 1, 2025 & today equals 1,807.








United Way's Director of Impact Strategies Ben Peters visited Little Sips Play Cafe in Manitowoc on March 21 to read to the littles from Imagination Library books and to promote the program to attending parents and caregivers.

Learn About the Hunger Coalition of Manitowoc County


Are you a member of a local service organization interested in scheduling a presentation to learn about the Hunger Coalition of Manitowoc County?


Coalition members will present on the current landscape of food insecurity in Manitowoc County, food pantry numbers and needs, fundraising/food raising needs, and volunteer opportunities.


Email info@unitedwaymanitowoccounty.org to schedule a presentation today!


The Hunger Coalition of Manitowoc County's mission is to advocate for and create solutions that advance equitable access to food throughout Manitowoc County.


Members:

  • Laura Apfelbeck, UW-Madison Extension FoodWise
  • Ash Bender, United Way Manitowoc County
  • Vince Coonce, Community Volunteer
  • Amber Daugs, Grow It Forward
  • Shing Her, The Salvation Army of Manitowoc County
  • Heather Ihlenfeldt, Two Rivers Senior Center
  • Natasha Khan, Manitowoc County Health Department
  • Laura Novak, Grow It Forward
  • Lexi Otis, Healthiest Manitowoc County
  • Ben Peters, United Way Manitowoc County
  • Matthew Sauer, First Presbyterian Church
  • Lynette Simonar, Manitowoc Public School District
  • Samantha Tamayo, The Salvation Army of Manitowoc County
  • April 30 - Community Partners Appreciation Luncheon
  • May 15 - VolunteerFest
  • May 29 - The Volunteer Center's Impact Awards
  • June 20 - Day of Action
  • September 13 - Dollywalk
  • October 4 - Curd Crawl
  • November 27 - Thanksgiving Community Meal

In Every Issue:


Volunteer Center Newsletter


Did you know that United Way Manitowoc County is the Volunteer Hub for our community?


View the current edition of the Volunteer Center's monthly newsletter!

Talk United


Talk United is a weekly, 5-minute program with WOMT Radio that airs every Tuesday morning at approximately 11:20am.


Talk United is sponsored by Rob's Family Market and Nelson Truck & Equipment.


Listen to episodes here!

Hello Lakeshore with United Way

The Hello Lakeshore Podcast with United Way is hosted by Craig Dillon of WCUB Radio and Ben Peters of United Way Manitowoc County. Each week Craig and Ben chat with a different nonprofit in Manitowoc County.


Podcasts air every Friday and can be found here or on Apple Podcasts.


Are you a nonprofit that would like to be featured on the program? Call United Way at 920.682.8888.

UNITED WAY MANITOWOC COUNTY
unitedwaymanitowoccounty.org
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