United Way: Success Stories

Thanks to You:

3,962 school-aged youth participated in safe and supportive after-school programs.

14,160 people feel safer and more committed to living in their own neighborhoods.

201,227 people received food to feed their families when they found themselves unable to provide it on their own.

"Be the change you want to see in the world."
-Mahatma Gandhi

The Foodbank

His 37th birthday marked another milestone for Alan … he made his first trip to a food pantry.

Married for 13 years, Alan and his wife Maggie worked hard over the years to build a solid life for themselves and their two children, ages 7 and 8. They rented a nice home in Old North Dayton and were saving money to one day realize their dream of owning a home of their own. They were doing all the right things – working hard, saving money, and living within their means.

Six months before his birthday, everything changed. Alan was injured on the job and unable to return to work for a package delivery company. He started the long, difficult process of filing for disability benefits, but was told it could take six to eight months just for the intake interview. At the same time, the airline that employs Maggie went through a major restructuring. Her full-time, 40-hour week was cut to a 24-hour-a-week schedule made up of sleep-depriving split shifts.

With their savings exhausted, Alan and Maggie made the difficult decision to leave their home and move the family into her mother’s house across town. Yet, after purchasing tags and insurance for the car that Maggie needs to get to her job, there was nothing left to pay for food or household necessities.

Fortunately, the family could turn to a neighborhood food pantry that is a member of The Foodbank. A United Way Partner Agency, United Way funding helps provide emergency food for local pantries at an extremely low cost. United Way also supports the Good to Go Weekend Backpack program which stocks backpacks with healthy food for children who rely on meals at school and would otherwise go hungry over the weekend.

The Foodbank is just one of numerous United Way agencies helping families in crisis and providing the support they need to achieve financial stability.