Carthage marks 25 years of volunteering with Day of Caring
Afterall, that's what the United Way's Day of Caring entails. Nationally, it began in 1992 as a way to connect employees of local businesses with the many agencies the United Way supports.
The Carthage Area United Way has now been a part of it for 25 years.
The volunteers we caught up with today were doing some garden work outside the 'Fair Acres Family YMCA.'
Carthage marks 25 years of volunteering with Day of Caring
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'We have nine different partner agencies that we support, but days like today, we get to help a whole bunch of other ones that don't necessarily need out financial support, but are happy to have us come do a little bit of sweat work, which is — which is so much fun,' said Kim Bausinger, Carthage Area United Way Exec. Director.
'As a nonprofit, we only have a part-time employee who has to take care of this, over 5,000 square foot garden. All of the vegetables that we raise in this garden go towards our feeding program, where we fed 50-thousand meals last year. And, so we get to add fresh vegetables to that service, and it's just amazing of getting to do that and see those kids get fed that might not be otherwise,' said Tericia Mixon, Fair Acres Family YMCA Exec. Dir. of Operations.
Volunteers in Carthage also spent time today at Crosslines Ministries, Innovative Industries, and St. Luke's Nursing Home.
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Fox News
31-07-2025
- Fox News
Exclusive eyewitness testimony reveals horrific details of deadly church attack in African nation
FIRST ON FOX - Dramatic testimony has been revealed exclusively to Fox News Digital, giving new details from the scene of the horrific massacre Sunday by Jihadists allied to the Islamic State of at least 49 Christians worshiping in a church in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Nine of those who were decapitated were children. Several other children, the number isn't clear, were abducted. The attackers were members of the Islamist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a sanctioned rebel group with roots in Uganda. With the assistance of Open Doors UK, Fox News Digital reached a local church partner of the organization in the DRC, who rushed to witness the scene of the attack, in the village of Komanda, just hours after it took place. Open Doors is a global Christian charity which supports and speaks up for Christians persecuted for their faith. From survivors in the village, including a shop owner who managed to be an eyewitness and remarkably escaped detection by the attackers even though his shop was burnt down, and the reported position of the bodies of those hacked to death, the church worker pieced together an account of how the attack happened. Judith, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, told Fox News Digital it was clear something was wrong even before she reached the village. "On our way we could see people already leaving, carrying their bags, heading for more secure areas. "In Komanda there were no activities, and people were standing in groups around the shops and the places that had been burnt. And people were sad. There was sadness everywhere." Fox News Digital has learned worshipers had come from surrounding villages to celebrate the church's Silver Jubilee in prayer and to pray for "the security situation" – to pray for peace. "Attackers came in" she said, "and they beheaded Christians in the church." The jihadis "killed those they met in the church hall. Those who tried to flee, they caught them and killed them in the compound. And then some others who managed to run towards the road, those also were caught and killed. All of them were killed with machetes. Most of those Christians who were killed, were Catholics." Another shopkeeper whose business was also burned down told Judith "we don't even understand why all this is happening." The U.N.'s MONUSCO (the Stabilization Mission in the DRC) shipped in earth-digging "Caterpillars" to dig a huge crater in the village, a mass grave into which simple boxes which formed coffins were placed for the dead. Some of those buried that day had come to Komanda for safety after already being attacked in other areas before. At Monday's funeral, Judith said, "People were crying, weeping, some crying for their children who had been kidnapped. One woman cried for the man she was shortly due to marry, now lying dead. Others were also crying that this is the person that was taking care of me. Now the person is no more. "There was sadness upon sadness everywhere. Everything they had is lost, they have nothing now." Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, on Monday condemned the attack on X, posting "This deadly escalation in their targeting of Christians makes the peace process, championed by @POTUS and @SecRubio even more urgent. We must focus all energies on eradicating these ISIS terrorists and forging a new regional economic path." "This is a crisis of biblical proportions", Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, told Fox News Digital, adding "This is a silent slaughter happening, which nobody is discussing. It's like the slaughter of the innocents in the Bible, really. I mean, women and children are being targeted along with men. Nobody is reporting on it. Nobody even seems to be particularly concerned about it." Blythe said that the Islamists are attempting to create a caliphate with its strict Islamic laws in a country which is 80-95% Christian. "Christians are not even sleeping in their houses at night. They would rather sleep in the jungle at risk of wild animals than be sitting ducks in their houses when the extremists attack. In this part of Sub-Saharan Africa, we think that more than 16 million Christians have been displaced as a result of the violence. The church is on the run. Christians are snatching up their children and running for their lives, often at night." "This is not an isolated event," Jo Newhouse, a Sub-Sahara specialist for Open Doors, told Fox News Digital. The organization reports that more than 80 local villagers, largely Christians, have been killed in other attacks in just this month of July alone. "We need the U.S. to pay attention about what is happening and use your influence for the church here. Do not be blind to what is happening here. Pay attention." Judith heard about President Donald Trump's brokered peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda. However, it hasn't so far made any difference to the situation where she is, in the eastern part of the country. "We have seen many peace accords which have not given any result," she said. "The peace accord that is needed is the one with the ADF. For now, they continue attacks on the people." Villagers saw the Islamist attackers withdraw to a point a few miles away. A local source says no arrests have been made. Another attack can come at any time. "If the Trump administration can put pressure on governments like Uganda and Rwanda to withdraw their forces here," Judith said "Congo would be fine".


Chicago Tribune
15-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Backpacks being filled as part of Stuff the Bus program; ‘We want to get them to the kids who need them the most'
By the time a group of nine volunteers from the Great Lakes Credit Union finished filling backpacks with school supplies as part of the United Way of Lake County's Stuff the Bus program, they had provided enough for seven classrooms — 196 altogether. 'It makes me really happy,' Jessie Flores, one of the volunteers, said. 'The kids need these essential tools to be successful in school. Every student needs these. They are our present, and they are our future.' Flores and her colleagues put notebooks, pencils, folders crayons, scissors, earbuds, stylus pens and more into the backpacks on Tuesday at the United Way office in Gurnee as part of an effort to put more than 3,000 backpacks in the hands of Lake County students in time for the upcoming school year. Bobbi Selvik, United Way's manager of community engagement, said items like earbuds and stylus pens were added more recently because of the increase in the use of technology in education. 'Most of the kids have tablets or another electronic device provided by the school,' Selvik said. 'They use the stylus-like pens. It makes it easier for them. So do the earbuds. We want every child to start school with the same resources as any other child.' Jennifer Strom, United Way's director of marketing and communications, said last year the organization oversaw the distribution of 3,775 backpacks and 300 teacher kits to four school districts and a host of community organizations who put them in the hands of under-resourced students. 'That's what the teachers use when the kids run out,' Strom said, referring to the teacher kits. 'Every year, we look to do as much as we can. We want to get them to the kids who need them the most.' Starting the annual program on May 1 — it began in 2018 — Strom said United Way takes direct donations in the form of supplies from donors, as well as financial contributions. The money is used to purchase supplies and backpacks. Once those are in hand, Strom said volunteers come into the office to complete the packages. Donations are accepted through July 30, and both the school districts and community organizations will receive them by Aug. 15. Selvik said a calendar is developed to ensure the backpacks are ready for each school before the first day of class. One school got its supply on Tuesday. Volunteers helped 'Stuff the Bus,' which was actually a car this time around. Patrick Basler, the Great Lakes Credit Union's chief experience officer, said the organization has participated in Stuff the Bus each year of its existence. The 90-year-old financial institution started serving the enlisted and civilian personnel at Naval Station Great Lakes. Now, it has 23 branch offices in Lake, Cook, Kane and McHenry counties. 'This aligns with our mission of community give-back,' Basler said. 'This is one of our volunteer programs. Schools provide the foundation of financial empowerment and education. Students need to understand the daily financial basics and what to do over the long term.' Among the school districts receiving backpacks directly are Waukegan Community School District 60, North Chicago School District 187, Round Lake School District 116 and Mundelein School District 75. For larger districts, Selvik said United Way supplements the overall backpack effort. With approximately 14,000 students in District 60, Superintendent Theresa Plascencia said United Way is one of many sources that help supply backpacks, which will be distributed at its annual resource fair on July 26. 'It helps supplement the work we do to ensure students have the supplies they need to start the school year ready to succeed,' Plascencia said in an email. 'We're grateful for United Way and the generosity of its partners. Efforts like this truly make a difference in our schools and community.' Joining the school districts as recipients of the backpacks are a number of community organizations that are regular partners of United Way. Selvik said they include the Lake County Health Department, HACES, the Lake County Housing Authority and the Family First Center of Lake County.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Grants from United Way bring summer camps and housing aid to region
The United Way of North Central Massachusetts has awarded nearly $700,000 in grants to 38 community-based agencies, according to a community announcement. The grants were distributed through two targeted programs to address critical regional needs and expand access to after-school and out-of-school time opportunities for children and youth across North Central Massachusetts. For the 2025–2026 funding cycle, the Community Impact Fund awarded $550,000 to 27 nonprofit organizations, supporting 45 programs in key focus areas including early education and care, youth development, basic needs, and housing and homelessness. These areas reflect some of the most pressing challenges facing families in the region. Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts Inc. was among the grant recipients. 'Through the Critical Home Repair program, Habitat NCM helps residents stay safely in their existing affordable homes, and the United Way grant will allow us to expand the program to help more local seniors and families,' said Carolyn Read, executive director. 'The United Way mobilizes the caring power of our community, and our partnership will bring that care to more of our neighbors in need.' In addition, UWNCM awarded $131,271 to 11 local agencies through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education After School and Out-of-School Time Program. The funding comes from a DESE grant awarded to a regional collaborative of United Ways serving Central, North Central, and South-Central Massachusetts. The initiative supports and enhances after-school and summer programs, ensuring that children and youth have access to safe, enriching environments. This round of DESE funding will support a wide range of summer programming, offering young people opportunities to attend camp, visit museums and take part in educational field trips. To date, UWNCM has distributed almost $2 million in DESE grant funds to local nonprofit organizations, public school systems and municipalities. The Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts received a DESE grant to support their summer camp programs. 'We are grateful to the United Way of North Central Massachusetts for their support of our Community-Based Programs,' said CEO Theresa Lynn. 'This funding allows us to bring the Girl Scout experience to girls who might not otherwise have access. From exploring creativity and wellbeing through Joy in Art & Nature, to building confidence in STEAM and social media literacy, and promoting wellness through Your Best You, these programs empower girls. We're thrilled to launch these opportunities this summer, thanks to the United Way of North Central Massachusetts.' Judy Tomlinson, UWNCM director of community impact, emphasized the importance of these investments. 'Funding local nonprofit organizations is an investment in our communities. These organizations are often on the front lines, addressing urgent needs and creating lasting impact where it matters most. Supporting them means empowering local solutions and strengthening the social fabric around us.' The United Way of North Central Massachusetts serves the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Pepperell, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon. This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Gardner News: United Way funds 38 agencies to support kids, housing and more