United Way empowers people to become financially independent so that our entire community can thrive. Those living in financially unstable homes frequently struggle when it comes to other foundational basic needs. Without a stable income, people can find themselves falling behind rather than moving forward. 

17%

of Mower County's children live in poverty.

14.6%

of Mower County households are not making enough for basic needs expenditures.

SOURCE

Through funded partners, United Way of Mower County has achieved measurable success by putting individuals and families on the road to financial stability. 

Examples of Impact in 2024...

300+

individuals face fewer barriers on their path to financial stability

160+

children received financial assistance to attend preschool

success stories.

Workforce Development, Inc. - ​Community and Supported Employment

Ariet was born in Ethiopia. She moved to the United States in 2002. Ariet lived in Kansas before moving to Minnesota in 2009. She started working at Cedar Valley Services on 6/19/2012 due to her mental health challenges and the support needed to maintain successful employment. English is also her second language which can be challenging when looking for employment. For many years, Ariet worked in the MAP area, center-based work, performing piece rated work 3 days a week.​

In 2020, Ariet agreed to try working at POST cereal, in Northfield, on the community and supported employment worksite as a substitute. In 2024, she began working full-time at POST cereal as her job and earning minimum wage. She organizes cereal into various packages and stacks them on a pallet. This job is integrated with other POST cereal employees. With her now earning a minimum wage, she was able to move to her own apartment with minimal supports instead of living in a residential setting that supplied 24/7 support.

Besides being able to financially support her living situation, she has been able to build her own self-confidence. Ariet has learned to schedule her own transportation when needed to work. She once struggled with her attendance when working center-based. Since starting full-time at POST and working soley in community and supported employment, she has had excellent work attendance. Ariet has become a very dependable worker and has learned to be dependable with the help and support from CVS.

​When she is asked about her job, she comments that she really likes her job and it shows with her dependability. It is important to Ariet that she earns a competitive wage so she can continue to live on her own and purchase her own personal need items. Ariet also is able to access support when she struggles with her health issues. Ariet hopes to continue to learn, gain more work skills, and become more proficient with the English language so eventually she can obtain a competitive job one day in the community.​

Wee Learning Center

On Nov 9th, 2024 a dad and a girl entered our facility asking for help in all forms. They spoke with the church and myself the director for any service we have they can benefit from. I immediately had them fill out our child care form as he was in need of child care that was located closely to his apartment. The dad gained full custody of the daughter after a very traumatic experience from involving the mother.

The father currently has no car so he uses his feet for transportation and his last job fired him to the many sicks days he needed for his child. We ended up taking them into our care on Nov 17th, and from there I was informed to a bigger picture of a lot of things going on with this family. First they needed the assistance for child care, as that time I had 3 weeks worth of funding left for the year. So, I utilized that funding but also learning that they have no food, don't have the proper stuff for hygiene where they can't wash clothes, etc I knew this picture was bigger. I helped dad fill out another application and got them further funding help to where she can remain in our care permanently.

Wee Learning has also helped them with food and diapers for the child as well as we got them set up in the correct hands so they can continue to have the right service they need. She currently was behind developmentally, so we got a referral with the school district started. I currently am also helping them get set up in the hands for therapy for the both of them. I share this because I am sure so many families are hurting and need help. This family truly has come into our center and benefited from the start of the assistance to see what more we could offer and help knowing I only had limited amount of funds left. We try day in and day out to make sure this family has all they need to survive and help this child grow.

Read More