United Way of the

Eastern Upper Peninsula

We are a 1st point of help for callers (since 2010) and all human service agencies refer to us. Last year we took 104 calls for help. We also had 35 agency postings for assistance. We are a resource hub and are able to provide wraparound services for families, along with adding MIBridges. We are a full service resource hub, and we follow up with our clients after they have utilized our services. Satisfaction surveys show greater than 95% satisfaction and clients report they would use our services, if necessary, again as well as refer family and friends. In the last 18 months we have been able to offer more intensive services such as budgeting, credit checks and more in-depth financial literacy programming. The value of this service is that these clients are not going door to door to other human service agencies and are gaining knowledge of how to better manage their funds so we aren't putting out fires, but are educating them and making them more self-sufficient members of our community.

• Monday, Sept 29th Lake Superior State University Hockey Spaghetti Dinner at the CCHall from 430-7pm.  We will need volunteers! 
• U.P. Non-Profit Conference Oct 9th NMU. 
• Chili Cook-off tentatively Monday, November 10th-look for more details soon! 

  

Together we can be the difference.

Tracey Laitinen

Executive Director 

United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula

tracey@unitedwayeup.org 

Chippewa County's Project Backpack is set for August 15th and the supply drive is getting started! We need your help to stuff the buses with backpacks and school supplies for Chippewa County students Pre-K through Middle School.  Donated items can be dropped off in the Fill a Ford Truck at Soo Motors, the United Way office, or look for the Project Backpack School Buses at Central Saving Bank, Wal-Mart's Vision Center, or other businesses and organizations across town.

Wow, here we are at August already! Summer is in full swing and before we know it, it's going to be time to send the kids back to school. For a lot of people, this time of year can be very stressful, questions such as "How are we going to afford new backpacks and school supplies?" "I have a hard time keeping food on the table, where am I going to get the money to buy school clothes?" begin to put extra pressure on parents in our tri-county area. Thankfully, there are some really great opportunities for families who are already stretched too thin financially. Each of our three counties hosts their own Community Care Connections and Project Backpack events. I will be at each of these with Financial Empowerment information for parents who would like some help figuring out how to get through the school year without going broke. Please be sure to stop by and say hello, or refer your clients to me. All Financial Empowerment Services offered are free!

August 15th: Project Backpack, Van Citter's Field in Sault Ste. Marie 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - free backpacks and school supplies for families in need (Quantity limited and dispersed on a first come, first served basis) Bring the kids there will be lots of fun things to do and see!

August 21st: Luce County Community Care Connections, American Legion, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Lots of resource information for families and individuals who might need a little extra help.

August 27th: Mackinac County Community Care Connections/Project Back & 2nd Annual Back to School Carnival, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Ferry Lane in St. Ignace. Join us for a big end of summer block party - there will be so much to see and do for the whole family. Community Care Connections and Project Backpack will be held in The Hope Chest - they'll have lots of resource information for the Mackinac County area. The Back to School Carnival will again be held in the parking lot of Gateway Lanes/Fred's Pub and The Salvation Army of Sault Ste. Marie will be providing a free hot dog lunch beginning at noon. Join us for all the fun!

As always, if you have any questions about my service or what I may be able to do to help your clients, email or call - americorps@unitedwayeup.org or 906.632.3700 ext. 4#

As part of the United Way Day of Action, the United Way of the EUP held a finacial literacy event at Baylis Public Library on June 20th. Children enjoyed a reading of the Bernstein Bear's "Trouble With Money" and discussed ideas for saving money. Then the kids made their own banks. Each child in attendance went home with a financial literacy kit that included a copy of the book, a drawstring bag, and a board game based on the Bernstein Bears book that was designed by Sault High Students.

United Way of the EUP was one of 8 United Way's world-wide that were invited to film their United Way Day of Action event. Footage was compiled at United Way Worldwide, check out the final result.  For more information on the United Way Day of Action click here!

Day of Action Inspires Change Across the Globe

Thanks to everyone who came out to participate at to Bayliss Public library for hosting, and a huge thanks to our volunteer videographer, Michael Bradley, who shot all the footage from our local event. 

Engadine 

When: Saturdays, 9:00am until Noon.

Newberry

When: Thurdsdays, 3:00 - 6:00pm

Pickford 

Les Cheneaux 

When: Wednesday 4:00 until 6:30 PM
Where: Crossroads of Sault Ste. Marie: Portage and Ashmun Streets. (Under the Twin Peaks, behind the Eagle's Nest).  

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Project Backpack

Mackinac County Back to School Carnival

 Project Connect

Mark your calendars for upcoming Project Connects in the Eastern U.P.

Luce County - August 21st, American Legion Hall in Newberry. Agency Form. Event Flyer

Mackinac County - August 27th, Hope Check in St. Ignace

Chippewa County -, October 23rd, Avery Square in Sault Ste. Marie. Agency Form

Nugget of History  

In the spring of 1956, a committee of the Chamber of Commerce met to review the area's need for a fundraising campaign for non-profit organizations and to recommend a course of action.  This was prompted by the dissolution of the former Red Feather Community Chest and the proliferation of individual campaigns in the county.  The committee was attracted to the united technique developed in the Lower Peninsula, called the Michigan United Fund.  With help from key staff representatives where the "united" approach was already in place and interested citizens from this area, the Chippewa County United Health and Welfare Fund was created.  This new campaign was designed to eliminate the innumerable individual drives with a single, once a year, concerted effort.