Newsletter | Feb. 16, 2023 |
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Teaming up for our community |
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Battelle Energy Alliance and its employees lead largest United Way campaign in Idaho |
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Battelle Energy Alliance, operator of Idaho National Laboratory, and its employees pledged contributions of over $685,000 to the United Ways of Eastern Idaho and their partner agencies in 2023.
This is the largest United Way workplace campaign in the state of Idaho.
“This campaign is possible due to the efforts of dedicated employees who are passionate about making our communities better places for everyone to live and work," said John Wagner, INL director. "I’m proud to say our campaign is the largest United Way campaign that Idaho has ever seen."
The INL United Way campaign is distinctive in that it covers a large geographic area, supporting United Way in three different service regions in eastern Idaho. This reflects both the size of the INL site, which spans 890 square miles, as well as the over 5,700 employees living across the area.
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United Way of Southeastern Idaho hosts 3rd annual virtual 5K Your Way |
United Way of Southeastern Idaho is hosting its third annual 5K Your Way from Feb. 17-25. The event is virtual, and each person decides when and how to participate through walking, running, snowshoeing, biking, skiing or using indoor equipment.
All proceeds from this event will go to United Way’s newest initiative, Ride United, which is designed to fill in the gaps in local access to health care. Your entry fee supports two free rides for community members in need to get to doctor’s appointments, dental care, wellness counseling or to simply get groceries for the month.
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Shane Hunt named new board president of United Way of Southeastern Idaho |
The United Way of Southeastern Idaho's new president of its Board of Directors is Shane Hunt, dean of Idaho State University College of Business and professor of marketing.
“My time on the board has given me the opportunity to see first-hand the incredibly positive impact the United Way has across our region, and I am thrilled to work with our outstanding team and board to continue helping our amazing community," Hunt said.
Hunt has served on the United Way of Southeastern Idaho board of directors since 2021, most recently as president-elect, and served on the board of the United Way of Northeast Arkansas from 2013-2020. In his new role, he brings with him many strong relationships with regional business leaders and connections in the communities across Southeast Idaho.
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United Way of Southeastern Idaho offers 'Read Talk Play Every Day' kits at local libraries |
United Way of Southeastern Idaho and its Bannock County Early Learning Collaborative now have “Read Talk Play Every Day” kits available to check out at both Portneuf District Library and Marshall Public Library.
Each Read Talk Play kit is designed for pre-kindergarten children ages 3 to 5 and has everything parents need to read, talk and play with their early learners. Available to anyone, each kit comes with two picture books to read with materials to practice retelling the stories, wordless picture books to inspire talking, and toys, magnetic letters and numbers for play.
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Mobile learning lab makes its debut at Tyhee Elementary School |
The maiden voyage of United Way of Southeastern Idaho's mobile learning lab was at Tyhee Elementary School in December.
With the goal of delivering hands-on STEM learning opportunities to children in our communities, the mobile learning lab – called Think, Make, Create (TMC) Lab – is a makerspace trailer that comes equipped with art supplies, educational materials, maker-tools and curriculum for science, technology, engineering, arts and math education and is geared for kindergarten through 8th grade.
The mobile learning lab will be used to expand access to STEM opportunities to rural students with a mobile learning lab.
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Team advocates for early education initiatives at the Idaho State Capitol |
Shantay Bloxham, CEO, Tennille Call, Interim Director of Education, and Drema Carnaroli, imPACT East Idaho Early Learning Collaborative Coordinator, advocated for early education initiatives in Southeastern Idaho on Feb. 6 for Early Learning Day at the Idaho State Capitol.
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United Way's Get Healthy Idaho Bannock County Health Needs Assessment results are in |
In partnership with Idaho State University, the Pocatello Free Clinic, and the Department of Health and Welfare, the United Way of Southeastern Idaho completed an assessment of how social determinants of health are shaping the lives of Bannock County residents. Data were collected from populations that typically have worse health outcomes to help us understand what is driving those disparities.
A total of 313 community members were surveyed. Of those, 47.9 percent have at least one unmet social need, 29 percent of respondents have unmet housing needs, and 28 percent of respondents have unmet food needs. Related to health, 5 out of 10 have an unmet healthcare need and among survey respondents under 50, a quarter are uninsured. Additional survey results below:
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Nearly 2 out of 5 people under 50 years old of those surveyed in Bannock County have an unmet housing need.
1 in 3 of those surveyed in Bannock County have unmet food needs.
1 in 5 people of those surveyed in Bannock County have an unmet transportation need.
1 in 10 of those surveyed in Bannock County under 50 have an unmet need for childcare.
1 in 2 of those surveyed in Bannock County under 50 report experiencing quite a bit or very much stress.
Nearly 1 in 2 of those surveyed in Bannock County under 50 have fewer than two social interactions with friends and family a week.
1 in 5 of those surveyed in Bannock County said that they felt physically or emotionally unsafe.
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2 out of 5 of those surveyed in Bannock County said that they have fair or poor health. 2 out of 5 also reported that their health affects their ability to take care of their family and/or work.
1 in 4 of those surveyed in Bannock County under age 50 do not have health insurance.
1 in 3 of those surveyed in Bannock County delayed seeking healthcare services in the past year.
1 in 5 of those surveyed in Bannock County reported that they delayed routine healthcare services in the past year.
2 in 5 of those surveyed in Bannock County over 50 reported that they had unmet healthcare needs due to service unavailability, cost, lack of insurance, time, transportation, etc.
3 in 5 of those under 50 who were surveyed reported that they had unmet healthcare needs due to service unavailability, cost, lack of insurance, time, transportation, etc.
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Teaming up for financial stability |
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Ride United, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Idaho, is a United Way of Southeastern Idaho initiative that offers free transportation for health-related activities for community members who are patients of the Pocatello Free Clinic, the South East Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center, and the Hope and Recovery Resource Center. Ride United is continuing to expand its offerings and is funded through a Get Healthy Idaho grant from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
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United Way of Southeastern Idaho is working with partners to expand the reach of findhelpidaho.org into rural communities and among Spanish-speakers in Idaho. There will be a findhelpidaho.org training co-hosted with Conéctate at the Idaho Falls Public Library on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.
- United Way of Southeastern Idaho's Director of Health Amy Wuest is the new chair for the Region 5 Housing and Homelessness Coalition. The Coalition works to end homelessness by designing and implementing community-based solutions. For example, the Coalition created parking meters to raise funds for organizations that support unhoused individuals. A new meter was recently installed inside Station Square in addition to one in front of Ridley's in Historic Downtown Pocatello. The meters are a great way to get rid of change and help some key community partners.
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Inside United Way of Southeastern Idaho |
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Rainbow Maldonado joins United Way team |
Rainbow Maldonado joins the United Way of Southeastern Idaho team as the new Community Engagement and Capacity Building Specialist through the Americorps Vista Volunteer Government program.
“I am excited for the opportunity to work with the United Way team again in this capacity due to its powerful community engagement and their valuable emphasis on the success of a thriving community," Maldonado said.
Americorps Vista is a national service program designed to alleviate poverty.
Maldonado joins United Way with more than 27 years of successful sales, PR, advocacy, philanthropic and continuous growth marketing methodology experience.
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From left, KPVI's Misty Inglet interviews Director of Donor and Community Engagement Wendi Ames, and Director of Health Amy Wuest. |
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United Way staff appear on KPVI News at 5 |
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Wendi Ames and Amy Wuest talk live on KPVI about United Way's virtual 5K Your Way and how it benefits Ride United, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Idaho, that will offer free transportation for health-related activities for community members who are patients of the Pocatello Free Clinic, the South East Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center, and the Hope and Recovery Resource Center.
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Will you team up with us? |
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We are a leader, a collaborator, a supporter and - at times - a creator to solve complex community issues. Our all-women powerhouse team of eight punches above our weight, working every day to improve outcomes for children, families and individuals in need in our seven-county region. We find solutions through our community impact work, and we team up with powerful partners to create a healthier, more financially stable and educated Southeastern Idaho. |
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TEXT TO GIVE OPTION:
Text UWSEI TO 44-321
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United Way of Southeastern Idaho
101 N. Main St.
Pocatello, ID 83201
(208) 232-1389
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