United Way of Knox County donates to local Kindergarten Jumpstart programs
These programs over the summer will use the funds to prepare children who need additional support to begin elementary school. United Way provides funding like this for teachers, pre- and post-program screening, and awards participants with a Bedtime in Box to assist kids and families prepare for the best outcome.
Three of the schools that received funds were South Knox Elementary School, North Knox Elementary School, and Vincennes Riley Elementary. South Knox and North Knox both received over $2,000 and Vincennes Riley Elementary received $4,481.37.
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Boston Globe
24-07-2025
- Boston Globe
‘A family, dysfunctional, but a family.' Fall River fire survivors process the tragedy, as their next steps remain uncertain.
Sitting on a motorized scooter a block away from the living facility where he's currently residing, the double amputee's bright blue eyes shone as he recalled fond memories of the lives lost. Advertisement 'It was a family, dysfunctional, but a family,' Pimentel said. Survivors who made it out of the assisted living facility the night of July 13 are now scattered across the Fall River area and eastern Massachusetts, living in at least 10 living facilities identified so far by the Globe. Most are in and around Fall River, though one resident is staying at a living facility around 60 miles away in South Yarmouth. They are waiting to learn when they will get to retrieve their belongings — and where they will live next. As of this week, all of the displaced residents had been contacted and are in a case management system, Kimberly Smith, the executive director of United Way of Greater Fall River, said before a press conference Tuesday. Advertisement More than 75 percent of Gabriel House residents are enrolled in Medicaid, and chose Gabriel House because it charged less than a typical facility for private-paying patients. However, residents and family members have long complained about living conditions at the House, citing broken elevators, mice, and a lack of fire evacuation plans. The night of the fire, Pimentel said that he didn't see any emergency lights go off. He said there was 'too much smoke in the hallway' for him to leave his room. Quickly, he ripped his second-floor bedroom window 'off the hinges.' A fireman helped carry Pimentel down a ladder. Pimentel remembers watching his prosthetic leg fall off halfway down. Pimentel said he will be at Fall River HealthCare, another assisted living facility, for at least 30 days, but after that, his living accommodations are uncertain. He wants to stay in Fall River because he knows the neighborhood like the back of his hand. When he lived at Gabriel House, he went to the nearby convenience store, and he could visit his wife and his father's graves at the cemeteries. This late in life, he isn't prepared to start over. Officials said when his stay at Fall River HealthCare runs out, one of his options is to transfer to a facility in New Bedford. But he has never lived in New Bedford and doesn't know anyone there, he said. 'I don't know anything about New Bedford,' he said. 'I don't know where the DMV is. I don't know where the bus station is.' He wants to go to the River Falls Senior Living, an assisted living facility that is a fifteen-minute walk from Gabriel House, because of its proximity to his closest friend, Russell Silvia, and all places Pimentel is familiar with. Advertisement He knows Landmark at Fall River is 'expensive' but 'doesn't care,' saying he'd figure out how to make ends meet. 'It's close to everything I need,' he said. Pimentel said he has been leaning on his friend, Silvia, for help. Silvia helped organize the retrieval of his motorized scooter from Gabriel House last week. 'If it wasn't for me putting these sneakers on his feet, he'd still have the ones from the fire on,' Silvia said. In the fire's aftermath, residents are missing items, ranging from sentimental knick-knacks to daily necessities like hearing aids. There has been no official date or time set for residents to pick up their belongings, according to Ann O'Neil-Souza, chief of staff for Mayor Paul Coogan. If people need certain belongings, they should reach out to the mayor's office, she said. Donna Murphy, a former resident of Gabriel House who spent a rare evening away from the facility the night of the fire, has been staying with different family members as her family weighs more permanent options, according to her sister Nancy Jones. Jones said Murphy's granddaughter took a leave from work to care for Murphy, who has dementia and can't be left alone. 'My niece may have to make a decision to either take care of her grandmother, or we're going to have to put her somewhere,' Jones said. The family was never happy with Gabriel House, but it was the only option they could afford. Advertisement Murphy also had to be hospitalized after a panic attack caused by intense survivor's guilt while processing the incident, which injured and killed several of her friends. 'When she finally sat and thought about everything, it just all caught up,' Jones said. 'She was getting herself all worked up, talking about and losing her friends.' Like Murphy, many survivors have been mourning the deaths of the 10 residents, whom they called their friends and loved ones. Since the fire, there have been at least two funerals for the victims. Margaret Duddy, 69, was remembered on Tuesday, and Rui Albernaz, 64, was laid to rest Wednesday. Pimentel's friend Silvia made sure to borrow a van from a friend and drive residents to Albernaz's funeral. That morning, a hushed silence filled the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption ,as the Albernaz family watched Albernaz's casket get blessed. One of the four pallbearers looked up to the ceiling to avoid tears spilling down his face, and Albernaz's sister sobbed silently over the casket. The large Portuguese family, with many of Albernaz's siblings, cousins, and nieces and nephews, sat in the first two rows of the church. About 75 community members sat behind them listening as the priest described Albernaz as a 'man full of joy,' who loved to dance and play scratch tickets and who went by 'Rui, Roy, or Buddy.' At the funeral was Debbie Bigelow, 68, who dated Albernaz for six years. The two met at Gabriel House, and Bigelow 'had my eye on him for a while' before he 'finally came my way.' They'd planned to get married. Time would fly when the two talked, she said. Advertisement 'From the first time I saw him, he was so joyful,' she said. 'He didn't get into fights with other guys.' They played 'action games' together at the facility, like bean bag toss, to improve their mobility, and did arts and crafts. Bigelow said she is doing OK after the fire. Like Pimentel, she is staying at Fall River HealthCare for at least another week, and then, she doesn't know where she will be placed. Bigelow has family members who have been supporting her through the transition. 'I don't know,' Bigelow said about where she is going next. 'I don't know.' Ava Berger can be reached at
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
