Everyone is feeling the crunch of our troubled economy. For some, the remedy is to tighten up a little – turn off lights when not in use, cut down the heat, or eat out less often. But for many in our community the story is much more serious – no power or heat and how will I feed my family today.? Our community is in crisis. Here are some local statistics:

 

• Calls for help to United Way’s 211 Call Center are up 30%
• Unemployment in the state is 5.7% up 3.4% from a year ago
• An average of 69 homeowners per week lost their homes last fall
• 650,000 Alabamians, 73 thousand children have no health insurance
• 1 in 7 people in Alabama are receiving food stamps with thousands more now eligible
  
  

These numbers are growing and putting even more demands on our social service providers. “The newly desperate,” those who’ve never asked for help before, are asking for help now. Resources to provide services are dwindling and donations are crucial to provide help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Crisis Fund Video

 

 

Community Crisis Fund Quick Facts

United Way’s Community Crisis Fund provides immediate relief to social service agencies stressed by dwindling resources and increased needs. They in turn help thousands in our community who have lost a job, had a medical crisis, missed a utility payment,

 

Increased Need:

• 9% of Alabamians are unemployed
• Home foreclosures up 269% since last year
• 16% increase in families receiving food stamps
• 14% increase in calls for help to United Way’s 2-1-1 Call Center

 

Decreased Community Resources

• United Way Community Food Bank Donations down 122%
• State contracts for services to local nonprofit down 10%
• Nationally corporations expect a 10% reduction in charitable giving
  

Click here for more information...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YouthServe used its Community Crisis Fund Grant to provide 200 households with fresh fruits and vegetables.  They partnered with other non profit organizations to identify households that needed extra food assistance. Here four YouthServe Volunteers make a delivery to Mrs. Lina Jackson who is 102 years old and lives along