United Way of Skagit County

Diaper Bank - United Way took on the diaper bank program on July 1st of 2021 because just as food banks are a dependable source of food, diaper banks supply a basic need for families in crisis. Diaper banks collect, store, and donate diapers to a network of partner agencies that distribute free diapers to families facing financial hardship. The mission of the diaper bank is to ensure that families living in poverty have an adequate supply of diapers for their infants and toddlers and to raise community awareness that "basic human needs" include diapers.The vision of the diaper bank is a two-generation approach that focuses on creating opportunities for meeting the needs of vulnerable children and their parents. Two-generation approaches draw from findings that the well-being of parents is crucial to their children's social-emotional, physical, and economic well-being. At the same time, a parent's ability to succeed in school and the workplace is substantially affected by how well their children are doing. Last year we distributed 4,133 wipes and 212,230 diapers!

Financial People Project - The Financial People Project offers classes to help people gain the skills they need for financial stability and lasting success. In 2023-2024, we updated and moved the program online to a platform called Canvas, making it easier for more people to access and interact with. The materials are available in English and Spanish, and participants can go through them whenever it works best for them. Using the FDIC Money Smart curriculum, the program covers important financial topics such as budgeting, paying down debt, using bank services and checking accounts, understanding credit, getting loans, and building savings.

Dolly Parton Imagination Library - The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book gifting program for preschool-age children, ages birth to five. To enroll in the program, the children must live in a community that sponsors the Imagination Library. The program replication strategy is simple; each month, an age-appropriate book is mailed directly to the enrolled child's home at no cost to the parent. The books are mailed directly to the child to create a sense of excitement and bond with the books and create an opportunity to read and connect with a caregiver. In 2023-2024, there were 1,967 children registered throughout Skagit County (not including La Conner, Anacortes and Fidalgo Island).

Health and Income Programs Expenses - United Way of Skagit County works with many community partners to provide support for health and financial security. We are on the advisory board of Population Health Trust. The Population Health Trust (PHT or Trust) is a board of community leaders with a shared commitment to improve the quality of life for everyone in Skagit County. Appointed by the Skagit County Board of Health to advise on issues that can improve the health and wellness of all. The Population Health Trust believes that by coordinating our efforts we can create opportunities that strengthen health. The Population Health Trust works to create healthier and more equitable communities by: 1) Encouraging health and wellness within the community, 2) Working together across sectors on projects designed to improve well-being, 3) Strengthening Integration of health services and other systems such as Public Health, education, and social service agencies. Youth United is a program supported and funded in part by United Way. It is a school-based extracurricular program that was developed as an alternative leadership opportunity to provide rewards and recognition to rural high school students who perform community service. Students volunteer at local organizations for hundreds of hours. Each student who accrues at least 100 volunteer hours earned a varsity letter at an award presentation in the spring. Students volunteer with sites including the library, secondhand stores, and other local organizations. In addition, United Way provides financial support to create and maintain a website disseminating Skagit County community indicators in coordination with Population Health Trust. This website provides critical information for nonprofit organizations, schools and public agencies while giving individuals easy to understand one-stop information about local trends and statistics.Varsity in Volunteerism - Youth United Varsity in Volunteerism (ViV) is a program of the United Way of Skagit County and United General District 304 in partnership with local school districts. ViV clubs are active in Anacortes, Burlington, Concrete, La Conner, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley High Schools. The program provides an extracurricular option for students who want to make a difference in their community and gain important skills for success. Like other school-based clubs and teams, ViV is led by a coach. At each school, the ViV coach works with students who learn topics such as communication and job skills, exploring school and career interests, and more. The coach helps students find volunteer opportunities and track their hours. Those who complete 100 hours of service receive a varsity letter in volunteerism from their high school during a spring ceremony. Varsity in Volunteerism (ViV) encourages and recognizes high school students to give back to their communities through service. Since ViV began in 2011, students have collectively provided over 50,000 hours of service!