Meeting Local needs

That’s how many people went hungry across the globe last year, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, a report issued by the UN. Child hunger and malnutrition continues to rise, and does racial and ethnic disparities in food insecurity. Across the world, United Way is working with partners to help make health food more available to more people.

At 16 years old, Miriam realizes the importance of mental health awareness for teenagers in her area. She says, "To me, it is important that the people who need help reach out and know there are people who care and understand them." Her view is one of the key takeaways from United Way of Santa Cruz County's (Santa Cruz, CA) Jóvenes SANOS Youth Mental Health Awareness Week. Jóvenes SANOS (JS) is a youth leadership group working to change the conversation around mental wellness and increase youth access to mental health resources. The program builds mental health resilience, raises awareness of mental health issues to reduce stigma, and increases opportunities for peer-to-peer connection. The program is a partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Santa Cruz County and the Watsonville Public Library.

How CSRF helped the Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre reach more people in need of nutritious food
 

COVID-19 has increased stress for everyone. Call or visit 211.org if you need local resources for mental health support. #Team211 #worldmentalhealthday

United Way’s blood pressure monitoring program helps expectant mothers catch health risks early

As COVID-19 took hold, many of us have turned to online grocery delivery services to keep our families fed and thriving. But many rural areas, like Virginia’s Eastern Shore, may lack the digital infrastructure for online grocery services. Shore Delivery Corps, partially funded by United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, mobilizes volunteers to provide free grocery delivery services to older adults and individuals with existing health issues. Volunteers check participant's eligibility, location and schedule deliveries. To learn more, check out this Innovation Case Study created by United Way Worldwide. it tells the inspiring story of how a community rallies around its most vulnerable.