UWGT April Updates
April 19-25 is Volunteer Appreciation Week!
There is quite possibly no one more appreciative of our volunteer's efforts than our staff! There are only 14 of us, and there is absolutely no way we could accomplish the range of things we do without the dedicated efforts of our volunteers!
Whether you serve on our board, an impact council or one of our standing committees; or have served as a Campaign Ambassador or volunteered on Nancy Perry Day of Caring, or volunteered through one of our corporate volunteer opportunities, or any other opportunity, we cannot thank you enough for your time and effort!
Your commitment to our community is a true testament to what can be done when we #LiveUnited!
Warm Line Offers Connection and Volunteer Opportunity
The Topeka and Shawnee County community cares about you during these difficult times.
The Shawnee County Community Cares Line is designed to connect members of the community with trusted community volunteers during times of social distancing. The Shawnee County Community Cares Line is not a crisis line, but simply a line to create connections and conversations, and where you will find a listening ear to help you feel reconnected to your community. This line is staffed by community volunteers and was made possible through funding from the Topeka Community Foundation, and a partnership between the City of Topeka, Shawnee County Health Department, Valeo Behavioral Health, Family Service and Guidance Center, United Way of Greater Topeka and HealthSource.
Sign up as a Warm Line Volunteer on bit.ly/WarmLineSNCO
Community volunteers are needed to take calls from the Shawnee County Community Cares Line. Volunteers will simply serve as a listening ear and provide friendly conversation to callers. Volunteers will need to have access to a smartphone and be willing to download a free app that will forward calls right to the volunteers’ phone during the shift. There will be a brief recorded virtual training and an info packet sent out to volunteers prior to volunteering.
Shawnee County Community Cares Line Shifts
- Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
- Four, two- hour shifts per day: 9-11am, 11am-1pm, 1-3pm, 3-5pm
- Three volunteers can be logged in taking calls during each shift
You must be 21 or older, and you must have access to a smartphone. Prospective volunteers must register for a shift by going to topekavolunteers.org to sign up. If you do not have an existing TopekaVolunteers.org account, you will need to create one. The process is simple and secure. If you have questions, please email Jess Barraclough at jnb@unitedwaytopeka.org.
Struggling with Finances?
Our partners at Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc., have answers! Credit counseling in English and Spanish, resources for renters and homeowners, and even online tools for teaching financial literacy to kids and teens are all available. Check them out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HCCIKansas/, or visit their website at http://hcci-ks.org/
Need More Education Resources?
Follow the Shawnee County Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) Facebook page for daily ideas for students and resources for parents to supplement your home-school efforts. Our local CGLR, headed up by United Way, is an award-winning collaboration that supports early literacy across the community.
Stay Connected with Partner Meeting Updates and United Way Wednesday on Facebook
Every Tuesday afternoon during the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way of Greater Topeka convenes a one-hour video conference call to connect local nonprofit representatives. These calls allow all partners to share changes to and impacts on the services they provide to the community. In this extraordinary time of crisis, keeping the line of communication open is crucial to making sure that critical services continue to be available to those in need.
This weekly check in allows our local nonprofits to problem-solve together and to share available resources and volunteers where the need is greatest. Already the group was able to prevent a partner from having to shut down lunch distribution by linking food resources and volunteers to the agency in need. The group also maintains a shared document where they can update in real time any service or policy changes. That document is also being used by Kansas 211 to help get the most current information to their callers.
We will pass on any important information from the Tuesday partner call to you during our now-weekly United Way Wednesday live segment on Facebook. You can also watch the recordings of previous United Way Wednesday videos.
FamilyWize Offers Help Arranging Prescription Delivery
United Way supports FamilyWize and its free prescription savings card. During this pandemic, FamilyWize can help save money on essential medications for those who are uninsured or underinsured. FamilyWize is also offering help over the phone to arrange delivery of prescription medications from your local pharmacies. The FamilyWize card is free and requires no registration.
Here are 3 steps for how people can call to help coordinate at-home delivery of prescription medications:
- Call the FamilyWize toll free number at 800-222-2818
- A FamilyWize team member will help you get a card if you need one and will work with you and your local participating pharmacy to arrange and schedule delivery to your home
- Ask your pharmacist to apply your FamilyWize card number to receive a discount on your prescription
To learn more about the savings FamilyWize offers, please visit FamilyWize.org or simply download the free FamilyWize mobile app. For other types of help and additional resources, please call your local 211 or visit 211.org.
211 Provides Information and Help 24-7
If you have questions about COVID-19 or even general questions about what services are still available in your area, call 211 any time day or night. UWGT and local partners are working together to provide 211 with real-time updates on operating hours, locations and service changes. Please call them if you have concerns about things from childcare to mental health services to food pantries and rent assistance. Their trained resource specialists will help connect you to options near you.
UWGT Ofice Hours and Contact Information
Our office at 1527 Fairlawn Road is currently closed to the public. Minimal staff are working in the building, and the remainder are working remotely and available from 8 am to 5 pm by email. Phone messages can be left on the main office number, 785.273.4804. Monetary donations can be dropped off between 10 am and noon, but you must ring the doorbell as the front door is locked. If you are interested in volunteering either for essential work in the community or at-home projects, please visit TopekaVolunteers.org.
A list of staff emails is available at https://unitedwaytopeka.org/about/.