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Hunger Has a Local Address:
What our neighbors are teaching us about food insecurity—and how we can help
By Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer
Sometimes, it takes getting closer to a problem to truly understand it.
As we begin our work at Peace River Elementary through the United Way Community School, supporting efforts such as the school food pantry, we are seeing more clearly the challenges families face every day. Food insecurity is no longer just a statistic. It has a local address, and it affects children, parents, and working families right here in our community.
When we think about hunger, we may picture unemployment or a family in crisis. Yet many households struggling to put food on the table are working every day. They are childcare workers, home health aides, retail associates, and others who keep our community running. They are doing what we encourage people to do: work hard and provide for their families. Yet, for too many, hard work is not enough.
To read the full column in The Daily Sun, please Click Here.
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Celebrate the Season at Festival of Wreaths!
Get into the holiday spirit while making a difference in our community!
Join United Way Charlotte County on December 9 for our annual Festival of Wreaths, a festive celebration of creativity, generosity, and giving back.
There are so many ways to get involved!
Attend the event, donate a beautifully decorated wreath, or rally your workplace to participate in our Business Wreath Challenge starting November 23rd, where local businesses compete for votes while raising funds to support our community.
Every wreath makes a difference, and together, we can make the season a little brighter for our Charlotte County neighbors!
To learn more about joining the Business Wreath Challenge, please email:
Kristen Szych Director of Development at rd@unitedwayccfl.org
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2026 Business Woman of the Year
We’re proud to celebrate Angie Matthiessen, CEO of United Way Charlotte County, on being named 2026 Business Woman of the Year – Port Charlotte by FIERCE Magazine!
A well-deserved recognition of her leadership, compassion, and dedication to making Charlotte County a stronger community. Please join us in Congratulating, Angie!
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Day of Caring: A Community United in Action! 💙
What an incredible Day of Caring! On October 1, volunteers rolled up their sleeves and spread out across Charlotte County to make a difference for local nonprofits, in total there was 7 agency projects with 45 volunteers. From painting and sprucing up outdoor spaces to organizing donations and tackling much-needed projects, our volunteers brought energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to help wherever needed. Every project completed was a reminder of what we can accomplish when our community comes together. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing volunteers, participating nonprofits, sponsors, and community partners for making this year's Day of Caring such a success. Together, we're making Charlotte County stronger, one act of kindness at a time! The next Day of Caring will be January 18, 2027, more details will be available soon.
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Power of the Purse. A Beautiful Day!
What a fabulous afternoon of fashion, fun, and giving back!
Our second annual Women United Power of the Purse was a sold-out success, bringing together an incredible group of women at the beautiful Sunseeker Resort.
From the fabulous handbags and stunning waterfront views to the unforgettable runway appearances by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, the energy was contagious!
A heartfelt THANK YOU to our generous sponsors, handbag donors, volunteers, guests, and everyone who helped make this event possible.
Special thanks to Sean McLaughlin for keeping the excitement going as our emcee!
Beyond the handbags and laughter, the day was about something even more meaningful—women coming together to make a difference for local families. We couldn't have done it without you!
Because of your generosity and support, Power of the Purse was more than a fabulous afternoon—it was a celebration of what women can accomplish when they come together for their community.
We can't wait to continue sharing the success of the Women United Yearly Campaign Goal of $50,000!
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Wednesday, November 18 - Join Women United for Friendsgiving! To register, please Click Here.
Wednesday, December 9 - Festival of Wreaths! To register, please Click Here.
Monday, January 18 - Day of Caring SAVE THE DATE more details coming soon!
Thursday, February 11 - Annual Women United Lunch To register, please Click Here.
Friday, February 26 - Bordeaux & Bourbon, UWCC Signature Event To register, please Click Here.
To learn more about sponsoring a event or becoming a corporate sponsor, please email
Kristen Szych Director of Development
rd@unitedwayccfl.org
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We’re sincerely grateful for the support of our
corporate partners and investors.
2026-2027
AdventHealth Port Charlotte, Florida Power and Light, HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital, Mosaic Florida Operations, Publix Super Markets, Truist, Charlotte Community Foundation, Charlotte County Board of Commissioners, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, The Patterson Foundation, and Gasparilla Inn
| | Mission: Mobilizing the power of our community so all can thrive | | | | |
