Agency site visits are a hallmark of United Ways across the country. They are an opportunity for interested community volunteers to deepen their understanding of United Way’s work and impact throughout the community. Site visits also make it possible for volunteers and UWFK board members evaluate the work of prospective partner agencies, seeing first-hand the work they do.
This year, UWFK’s site visits started on Tuesday, April 5th. A team of community members and staff, led by board member Rebecca Horan, visited potential partner agency programs throughout Key West. They learned about how dollars granted through from United Way enabled children at one afterschool center to re-create fossil beds with clay at their summer program, excavating “dinosaur” fossil sites from the safety of the club’s play space. Later in the day, the team learned about United Way’s impact at another afterschool program, where United Way funding helped create a safe place for kids to go after school and enabled that agency’s staff to provide access to music education for children who otherwise might not be able to afford after school instruction or care of any kind.
On Wednesday, April 6th, UWFK treasurer Denise Pruess led another team of volunteers and staff on visits to five more potential partner agencies in Key West. At a local child development center, the group saw how United Way dollars have funded a “backpack” food program, providing weekend meals for over 70 hungry preschoolers and their elementary school-aged siblings each week. Finally, at a local food pantry the team was overwhelmed by the number of families in need throughout the Keys who had access to food last year because of United Way funding.
On Thursday, board chair Maria Jones led a final team through the Upper Keys and Marathon to visit seven different programs at various nonprofit agencies. At a shelter for children, the team learned that in the United States seven children die every day from abuse or neglect. United Way dollars help ensure the safety and well-being of young people who may otherwise be forced to remain in life-threatening situations. That afternoon in Marathon, the team saw how generations of children flock to the local afterschool center, which provides a safe place for children to study and play for no cost to families.
Overall, community volunteers were overwhelmed by the scope of the work done by these amazing agencies. Because of them, infants and young children have access to lifesaving nutritional supplements. Parents can work, knowing their children have somewhere safe to go during the day, after school, and throughout the summer. Families who can’t afford the cost of groceries can provide home-cooked meals for their children. Survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault have a secure, supportive place to call “home” while starting their lives over.
UWFK would like to extend our sincerest thanks to each agency that applied for funding, as well as to the many community volunteers who gave so much of their time and energy to help understand the work of our potential nonprofit partners. Thank you for helping us in our mission to become the leader in community caring!
by Chelsea Wait
