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 A Volunteer's Story
"About 20 years ago, I was in D.C. at a conference and heard a speaker tell the audience that almost 90% of people in prison are functionally illiterate."
Lee Livingston, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, talked recently about how he got started with volunteering. Working with members of his Synagogue in New Brunswick, a mentoring program was started with students in a nearby school.
"We had kids who had never dreamed of going to college." That changed as a result of volunteers who committed to spend 2 to 3 hours a week with students. That showed them that they were important - and helped them with their school work.
"I don't understand why the government doesn't focus more resources on literacy. Teaching someone to read is a lot cheaper than paying for someone in prison - especially if volunteers are part of the solution."
United Way is focusing on this issue. It is a place where people can make a difference.
Even handing out school bags to kids builds hope and increases the opportunity for low-income children to use the school supplies they get.
"I worked with a girl in 6th grade - nobody in her family could speak English, and when she said she wanted to go to college, her family said she should get a job in a factory instead. Well, she got a scholarship to Douglass and earned a Masters Degree. Now she is working with the County and on track to get a doctorate."
If more people can get involved and help these students to believe in themselves and their future, we can make an impact on the entire community. Find out how you can get involved in community change strategies by calling Gloria Aftanski: 732 247-3727.
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 Year Round Taxes at UWCJ
If you're late it costs more.
That's the unsurprising truth that a few tax procrastinators learn on Wednesdays when volunteer tax preparers go to the United Way to help lower income wage earners with their late tax filing.
One late filer needed help with 6 years of returns and had to pay about $4 thousand to the IRS. He would have had a refund for one of those years - but it was too late to collect.
In general, the late filing penalty is a minimum of $135, depending on what is owed, and interest charges are 3% on top of the federal short-term rate - compounded daily.
UWCJ continues to offer help with preparation of tax returns one day a week. Recently, there were 6 volunteers who helped 15 filers - many of whom had several returns from prior years to file.
During the 3 months following April 15th, 125 returns have been filed. Thanks to those volunteers who continue to serve others after the very busy tax season. If you have any questions, please contact Charmaine Rodriguez at 732 247-3727.
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 A Baby With a Heart Defect
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Terry Shields is a specially trained nurse who works with low-income women to help ensure healthy birth outcomes and early development in United Way's Nurse Family Partnership.
She works with one mother who has 11 month-old twins, one of whom has Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) - a serious heart defect. This twin has had 3 open-heart surgeries and suffers from low oxygen saturation levels - among other symptoms. Low oxygen saturation can cause motor and neurological problems. Her medical insurer would not cover the cost of an oxygen saturation monitor, so Terry found the money to get one.
Mom and Dad are living in a Stepmother's living room with other siblings and two pit bulls.
Dad is employed but has learning disabilities, so is working with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Terry is hoping he will qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The family does not qualify for housing assistance because the children qualify for SSI but they have found an inexpensive apartment that needs a lot of repair.
Terry has found them two cribs, some diapers and clothes but they will need furniture etc. if they get this apartment. Terry was able to find a sponsor who adopted the family during the holidays but they will need help at least until Mom can find daycare so she can go out to work. Her regular monitoring of the babies' weight and development led Terry to refer the family for help from the State's Early Intervention Agency. A therapist works to address motor skills deficiencies common with TOF.
"Caring for a baby is hard enough but two babies, and one with heart problems is really hard," Terry said. "They are doing great - with the challenges they have and their age -probably better than I would be doing," she said.
United Way is able to provide help for families and children because of the people who support initiatives like Nurse Family Partnership. Thank you. Call Gloria Aftanski at 732 247-3727 to learn how you can help.
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| | Building Trust
Stephanie, an AmeriCorps member working in United Way's Parent-Child Home Program, visits her families twice a week. She models parent-child interaction that stimulates brain development. It helps parents make a commitment to their child's literacy. By delivering stimuli for verbal interaction - and measuring resulting behavior change - Stephanie is implementing a research-based program that works. (20% increased graduation rates in one matched cell test!)
She also builds Trust with low-income care givers who have a broad spectrum of needs. Stephanie and her colleagues can help fill out applications for electricity and gas subsidies, pre-school applications and help get access to social services. Recently they were able to distribute donations of furniture, clothes and an air conditioner. It all helps.
In one case, the home visitor continued to make regular visits during a tumultuous period for the family. The mother, an addict, left her child in the care of her grandmother. During the mother's absence, the home visitor from United Way continued to visit twice weekly - providing a consistent presence. Mom is back with the family and doing well in school and with a part-time job. Her child has finished Kindergarten and is reported to be doing well in school.
United Way thanks our home visitors who continue to fulfill their clients' trust. Please call Gloria Aftanski, 732 247-3727, to support United Way of Central Jersey.
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The Case for
Out-Of-School Time Support
We all win when a child succeeds in school. Every $1 invested in out-of-school time programs results in a $10.51 return with the benefits of improved school performance, reduced crime and welfare costs, and increased wages.
Participation in high-quality, out-of-school time programs results in:
- Increases in student performance on standardized tests
- Improved work-study habits and homework completion rates
- Stronger feelings of engagement and school connectedness
- Increases in self-esteem
- Improved relationships with peers and adults
- Declines in negative, risk-taking behavior
Learn more about UWCJ's education initiatives. Call Gloria Aftanski, President, 732 247-3727
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| Kenya Graham to Measure Outcomes
Kenya Graham is a recent graduate from Rutgers University and an AmeriCorps VISTA member. During her year of service at UWCJ, Kenya will focus on the Outcomes Measurement project. She will conduct research, develop recommendations and assist in the design and implementation of a cost-effective outcome measurement system that will support programs in which United Way invests.
For additional information, you can reach Kenya at 732 247-3727 or kgraham@uwcj.org.
Welcome Kenya.
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Volunteers at Work
UWCJ volunteers helped L'Oreal on their Community Support Day. Over 300 kits of beauty products were assembled for distribution to the homeless. Thank you L'Oreal.
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UPS volunteers restored landscaping and did maintenance to prepare a camp for low-income children to attend this summer.
Reuters volunteers assisted at a 5K run in support of developmentally disabled populations in NJ.
UWCJ staff member, Rich Hyjack, spoke to an audience at the Veteran's Memorial Home about the benefits of volunteering.
Rich has arranged for volunteer groups to visit the Memorial Homes resulting in hundreds of hours spent socializing with the residents.
UWCJ would like to thank the many volunteers who actively engage in community support.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Charmaine Rodriguez at 732 247-3727.
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Stuff the Bus
Every year the United Way of Central Jersey has a "Stuff the Bus" program to collect "NEW" school supplies for children in need in Middlesex County.
All public schools in Middlesex County are contacted via Superintendent/Principals to inform them that we will be distributing supplies for children in need in their districts. The school then sends UWCJ the number of children who qualify. (Usually, the free or reduced price lunch numbers are used).
After the collections are done through area companies and our "Stuff the Bus" in August, the school supplies are distributed throughout the schools according to need. We try to give each school the numbers that they ask for. But that depends on how much is collected.
We do not ask for children's names, just ages and gender, so we can try and match supplies accordingly. We leave it up to the discretion of the school administrators to disburse the supplies among their students.
For information, please contact Patricia Desiderio, 732 247-3727.
School supplies are needed by the week of August 18th, so they can be sorted and delivered in time for the start of school.
3 Ring binders
Backpack
Blunt Tip Scissors
Colored Pencils
Composition Notebooks
Crayons (24 Count)
Markers (12 Count)
Pencil Case
Pencils
Pens (Black & Blue)
Ruler
Spiral Notebooks (One subject)
Dry-Erase Markers (Washable)
Elmer's Glue (4 oz bottle)
Erasers
Folders
Glue Sticks
Hi-liters
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 Strategies for
Improving Health
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Because childhood obesity increases children's risk of developing chronic disease later in life, targeting childhood obesity is one way to achieve significant, measurable results in health across communities.
Strategies for Improving Health
- Improve physical activity and access to healthy foods and beverages and limit screen time
- Increase availability of safe places for exercise and increase emphasis on physical activities
- Reduce the cost of healthy foods
- Increase awareness about the benefits of healthy nutrition and exercise - particularly among vulnerable populations
Join United Way of Central Jersey to address this community-wide challenge.
Contact Gloria Aftanski at 732 247-3727 to learn how you can be part of this important work.
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 AmeriCorps VISTA
and UWCJ
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UWCJ participates with the Federal Government's Corporation for National and Community Service to help improve the lives of citizens through service. AmeriCorps VISTA has been on the front lines fighting poverty since 1965, helping improve the lives of low-income individuals and communities across the country.
UWCJ hires qualified youth through AmeriCorps and VISTA and invests in skills training to help make it possible for these youth to get related jobs in our community after their service is completed. UWCJ is able to expand its service while developing capacity in the community. AmeriCorps and VISTA members are currently involved (as described above) in early child development and outcome measurement initiatives.
Questions? Call Gloria Aftanski at 732 247-3727
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