Learn About the Difference Made as Part of Giving Tuesday
Every year on Giving Tuesday, people everywhere come together and give back to those less fortunate. All over the world, people spread the word about the value of service, of giving, of the acts of kindness that can make all the difference for those struggling through the holidays. Ultimately, Giving Tuesday creates a different kind of energy than the days that precede it, but it’s an energy that does so much for the communities it touches.
This year, United Way joined forces with Eversource Energy to help restock the pantries of people in need. With their generous support and that of our donors, we’ll be able to provide vital heating assistance so families won’t be facing frigid temperatures in their own homes. Their support will also help put food on the table and provide families with shelter so they won’t face the holidays under a cold, gray sky.
Every Donation: Matched
Eversource Energy signed on to match every dollar raised on Giving Tuesday as part of their Power Challenge Match. That means every $100 gift automatically became $200. And this year, we blew past our initial goal of $15,000, finishing the day at at more than $30,000. Including matched funds, that’s $60,000 worth of support for families in need this winter.
In 2017, funds made an impact immediately, providing food for the hungry and ensuring homeless teens stayed warm. All support will be going to work just as fast this year. All donations go directly toward supporting United Way’s Family Fund, which provides emergency assistance and basic needs — heat, shelter, and food — to struggling families in our community. In 2018, money from the Fund served requests from more than 1,800 families and helped keep their heads above water:
Of those who received support last year, approximately:
- 450 families received heating and utility assistance
- 360 families obtained assistance with their housing, either with their rent, mortgage, or other needs
- 900 families were able to keep themselves fed
- 90 families were able to meet other essential needs like transportation, job interview clothes, etc.
The People Who Need It Most
Gifts to the Family Fund this season make their way to people in Greater Boston and beyond who face a tough season without them. People like Nancy, who shares her home with her daughter and grandchildren. Their house is old and drafty and uses oil for heat. Nancy works with what she has to keep the house warm, making use of SSDI payments for her disability and her daughter’s income, but still visits Lynn Economic Opportunity Inc. (LEO) for help.
When Nancy ran out of oil to face this year’s winter, she wanted to make sure everyone else was warm. When the staff at LEO told her they could help pay for her oil supply, she merely said, “Don’t worry, give it to somebody who needs it!” Even so, Nancy would have a warm home to come back to every day because the support LEO received from the Family Fund allowed them to provide people like Nancy with the resources they need to stay on their feet.
You Can Still Make a Difference
Giving Tuesday happened on November 27, 2018, and we were amazed by the support we received. While the day has passed, you can still make real impact by giving to United Way. Just click below.
DONATEDon’t forget to follow us on social media to learn about what you can do today, tomorrow, and every day to provide much-needed support to families and individuals in need.
Twitter: @unitedwaymabay
Facebook: UnitedWayMassBay
LinkedIn: United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
Instagram: @unitedwaymabay
Thank you for your support!
