They're here! Our new Community Resource Navigators have joined the chat and are getting ready to serve Lawrence, rural Douglas County and Topeka/Shawnee County.

Keep reading to meet our new team!

The tradition of neighbors helping neighbors for the holidays continued in 2025. You helped more than a thousand families and individuals find a reason to celebrate.

Keep reading for this year's statistics, media and podcast coverage, and photos!

We were grateful to help extreme cold weather warming centers connect with critical volunteers in both Shawnee and Douglas counties during the most recent winter storm. 

Keep reading to find out how we leverage our volunteer management resources to ease the load on warming center staff while they care for our unsheltered neighbors.

Board Leadership (9 hours) - Cost: $75 
Wednesday, February 18 and 25, 2026 
8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
Washburn University (in the Memorial Union) 

Registration is now open!

Keep reading for more details and a registration link.

Learning to build a healthy community is a key component of our Aleshire Venture Grant partnership with Washburn University. For 16 years, the Aleshire Venture Grant has been offered through the Washburn University's LE300: Leadership Skills Development course in partnership with the United Way and Washburn University Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement.

This year's leadership students presented their funding recommendations at our December board meeting.

Keep reading to meet this year's students and see which partners received grants.

United Way of Kaw Valley's Shawnee County Volunteer Expo returns April 16 to connect you to local nonprofits that need your time and talent! We'll be filling Fairlawn Plaza with opportunities to make a difference.

Keep reading for additional details.

Don't let your income tax return stress you out! You may qualify for free tax preparation help from MyFreeTaxes.com or the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Keep reading to find out if you qualify and how to access these money-saving services supported
by United Way.

It's time for our spring blood donation drive in Topeka. The Red Cross will be here
from 9 am to 3 pm on Monday, April 13.

Keep reading to find the appointment link and see what incentive is available for donating
with us.

Wondering if you should be getting a tax receipt for your United Way donation for 2025?
It depends on where and how you gave, and how much you gave.

Keep reading for a full explanation and information on how to contact us if you think you are missing a needed receipt!