The Jewish Community and several other local partners are raising funds to provide warm, heavy duty coats for the homeless population as part of their Coats for Christmas Day program.  Coats will be distributed at their annual holiday dinner for the homeless on December 25.

Coats will be purchased from San Luis Obispo Camp N' Pack which is providing an extensive discount.  Coats range in price from $25 - $57.  The goal is to raise enough funds to provide nearly 250 coats to the local homeless population.

 Since 1997, volunteers have provided a Christmas day dinner; live entertainment and much needed basic items such as sleeping bags, clothing, rain gear and toiletries to the area's homeless.  The Jewish Community initiated the event to serve those with the greatest need on Christmas Day, since it is not a day that is part of the Jewish tradition. 

Donate online at www.unitedwayslo.org.

Kevin Main Jewelry continues to serve as the downtown SLO donation site for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. You too can give the gift of reading to a child.

Kevin Main Jewelery generously donated $1,000 to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a program of United Way, and have challenged the community to exceed their donation this holiday season. The community is invited to visit the store in downtown San Luis Obispo from now, through January 31, and make a donation to change a life for a child. Kevin Main Jewelry is located at 720 Higuera Street, and can be reached at (805) 547-0662.

To LIVE UNITED means that we are willing to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.  It means that we are willing to invest in our friends, neighbors, and community.  This spirit of selfless giving is imbedded in the culture of San Luis Obispo County.  As the year comes to a close, we would like to remind you that a gift now to the Community Impact Fund will help numerous SLO county residents during 2011 and 2012.

United Way is a leader in connecting the community to the resources available and a great mechanism in finding and funding the programs that are most needed in our county.  Through the Community Impact Fund, your gift will go to where it will do the most good, with the most tangible results.  As you know, the demand is greater than ever due to the many challenges we face today.  Nonprofit agencies work around the clock to help create a tremendous system of services which are not provided anywhere else.  The clock is ticking for those who need your help.

Please make a contribution this year to the Community Impact Fund.  Your assistance, at any level, will be greatly appreciated and returned to you in many more valuable ways.  Click here to see a list of past Community Impact Fund grant recipients.  Your donation stays local and keeps giving throughout the year.

The SLO County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Coalition is seeking volunteers to provide supervised basic federal/state income tax return preparation utilizing Tax Wise software for families and individuals earning less than $40,000 per year. Volunteers will learn the basics of tax preparation and assist low income families and individuals with their taxes as part of the free income tax assistance program.  There are three Saturday training classes at Cuesta College on January 8, 15, and 22. Contact Rachel Cementina for more information.

This past year has been amazing for our local Workplace Giving Programs.  Here are just a few of the many highlights form 2010:

• American Perspective Bank, City of Paso Robles and Illinois Tool Works (Slime) launched their first time programs in 2010.
• Aera Energy, AT&T, AAA, Bank of America, Best Buy, Chevron, City of San Luis Obispo, Costco, County of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College, Exxon Mobil, FedEx, IQMS, JC Penney, Plains Exploration & Production, Promega Corporation, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, Susan Polk Insurance Agency, Target, UPS and Walmart invited United Way to make presentations and/or have displays during their open enrollment period.
• PG&E and Lucia Mar Unified School District organized onsite charity vendor fairs.
• Cal Poly Corporation, City of Arroyo Grande, Housing Authority of SLO, Kohl's, Lowe's, San Luis Costal Unified School District, Scolari's and Superior Courts of California ran active informational programs during their open enrollment period.
• California State Employees ran a "100% ask" campaign where every state worker had the opportunity to pledge to the charity of their choice.
• Kohl's, First Bank, Glenn Burdette Phillips & Bryson, Target, Wells Fargo Bank, and Zurn Wilkins had employees that volunteered at Make A Difference Day, KidSpree, Stuff the Bus and other events.
• KSBY, Office Max, Lucia Mar USD, San Luis Coastal USD and Paso Robles USD supported our Stuff the Bus event.
• Dozens of local companies supported our second annual Flavor of SLO.
• Over 100 local and national workplaces supported our Community Impact Fund and hundreds of nonprofits through their Workplace Giving Programs.

2011 promises to be just as amazing with MindBody Online working with United Way on their first ever 100% green campaign. Find out how you can start a workplace giving program in 2011 by contacting Horace Morana.