WHAT WE DO

We all have a stake in our local communities. We all benefit when a child succeeds in school, when a family gets back on their feet and finds sustainability, when people are able to afford their medications and health care, and when those who can give back have an opportunity to do so. Your United Way fights for the health, education, and economic mobility of every resident of Lake and Sumter Counties.  We do that through in-house programs: Family Stability Services, Together for Health, Master Teacher, Mission United and more. What that looks like daily is keeping the lights on for families, assisting local preschool teachers set up for success in their classrooms, tax-preparation help or transporting disabled veterans to their doctor’s appointments. We also support more than 20 other local nonprofit organizations whose missions align with improving the health, education, and economic mobility of our community members. On that list are food pantries, health centers, educational providers and organizations that help the elderly and disabled communities and much, much more. The concept is simple: if all of us do a little, together, UNITED in PURPOSE, we can do a lot. We UNITE programs, resources, volunteers, donors, and finances in our Lake and Sumter communities to build stronger, healthier, and in many ways wealthier, citizens able to then sustain their own contribution to their community.

WHO WE SERVE

We serve the residents of Lake and Sumter Counties and all community stakeholders — educators, healthcare providers, business owners, veterans, workers, disabled individuals, children, the elderly, nonprofit groups, houses of worship, local leaders, and all of your neighbors. Many who seek assistance from United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties are part of the ALICE population. These are households with incomes above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), but not earning enough to afford basic household necessities. ALICE is the acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are the individuals and households who struggle to afford items such as housing, child care, food, health care, and transportation.