United Way invests in programs that promote financial stability and independence through financial literacy.
Financial Education Partnership of Washington County (FEPWC) is a United Way of Washington County, MD Collaboration. Working with the Maryland CASH Campaign, the FEPWC offers free financial education classes to a broad spectrum of Washington County residents, including low-moderate income households, the unemployed and homeless, as well as those who are employed but facing financial difficulty. Each class is fun, interactive and full of information for anyone interested in learning how to plan, set financial goals, save more and spend less.
One program participant reported that prior to taking financial education classes she did not have any knowledge about credit, debt, money management or even the importance of having a bank account. These classes taught her the importance of making well informed financial decisions and gave her information about earning, spending and saving money in the real world. Today, she has a budget and is able to stick to it by recognizing a need from a want. She stresses that she has a better understanding of her financial responsibilities and is working on repairing her credit report. She said the most important thing she learned was the need to prepare for the future.
United Way invests in programs that provide access to basic needs.
Food insecurity is a daily occurrence for countless numbers of our community’s youth. Many students know with certainty they will have a meal at breakfast and lunch every day they attend school. But the weekend looms long for these kids and their families. Going without food each weekend leaves them at a disadvantage when they return to school each Monday. Even after the school breakfast, they may still be hungry from lack of proper nutrition over the weekend making them more likely to fall behind in class. One UWWC funded program, Micah’s Backpack provides food in a backpack directly to the children who have been identified by their families, teachers, counselors and others as children who very possibly will not get a decent meal when not attending school on weekends.
Elementary children receiving the backpacks are grateful and they recognize the benefits of the program for themselves and their parents:
“It saves mom some money when she goes to the grocery store so she doesn’t have to buy as much.”“It’s pretty awesome how they actually give you food, because at my house you don’t get good kind of stuff.”“I like that it helps me get healthy.”“I am so grateful for the food it has gotten us through our very hard times.”