News & Stories

Gabriel and Cherry are young, hardworking parents with two little boys, Julian and Mateo. When the pandemic hit, Gabriel, a wedding photographer, saw his business and income dry up. Cherry works in the insurance industry, handling claims. As an ALICE family, they couldn't survive on Cherry's salary alone. So, in order for Gabriel to go to work, and Cherry to continue working, the couple needed access to affordable, quality child care. They made too much money to qualify for government assistance, yet couldn't afford the high cost of child care. Luckily, Cherry and Gabriel are located in Warren County, where our United Way is operating United In Care, a pilot program with the goal of increasing access to quality, affordable and flexible child care. Part of the grant-funded program includes financial assistance for ALICE families. Gabriel and Cherry applied, and were approved for much-needed tuition assistance, which has allowed them to continue working while Julian and Mateo are being taken care of by Alicia, one of our United In Care providers. In this video, Cherry and Gabriel discuss how the United In Care program has made a difference in their lives. Thank you to Paul Sanderson, Our Town Films for capturing and editing this story.

Dawn is a working mother who does an important job in our community. She works to connect individuals with disabilities and their unpaid family caregivers with critical government supports. She helps individuals remain in their home and local community with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Dawn deeply understands the value of this work as a caregiver to her 15-year-old son Erik, who has Down syndrome. Until recently, Dawn considered her family middle class. They didn’t live extravagantly, but they could go on vacation and enjoy taking Erik to Broadway. But after a divorce, Dawn became ALICE. She found herself unable to afford classes for Erik, and an unexpected $1,500 car repair bill meant relying on her local food pantry for groceries. Dawn was referred to our United Way as she was searching for home technology that could help her remain in the workforce and keep Erik safe and promote his independence. In this video, Dawn shares how United Way’s assistive technology program made all the difference for her and Erik. Thank you to Paul Sanderson, Our Town Films for capturing and editing this story.

For ALICE families living paycheck to paycheck and households in poverty, the holiday season puts even more stress on already stretched budgets. With the community’s help, United Way Gifts of the Season distributes more than 6,000 holiday gifts annually to children, teens, senior citizens, and adults with disabilities experiencing financial hardship across northern New Jersey. Join with the thousands of individuals, groups, and companies who bring holiday cheer to those struggling to afford the basics. United, we can make a difference for families like Kim and Dominick, featured in this video, who otherwise might not receive a gift this holiday season. Visit uwnnj.org/gifts to get involved. Special thanks to Our Town Films (ourtownfilms.com) for video production.

High school students in the United Way Varsity Letter program can volunteer in a number of ways throughout their community to earn varsity letters. From food pantries to preparing taxes for low-income filers, to helping with back-to-school and holiday donation drives, the possibilities are endless. This video highlights students from two Varsity Letter partner schools, Livingston High School and Millburn High School, at a volunteer day held at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. For schools interested in participating in the Varsity Letter program, visit https://www.unitedwaynnj.org/varsity-letter Thank you to Pete Ficuciello at Edgewood Photo for video production. www.edgewoodphoto.com

The Industrial nominees for the 2022 United Way Legacy Event Impact Award are: Bob’s Discount Furniture, 150 Old New Brunswick Road, Piscataway, NJ Bridge Point 78, 1000-7000 Rand Boulevard, Phillipsburg, NJ Phillipsburg Logistics Center at 78, 39 Stryker Road, Lopatcong Township, NJ Thank you to Pete Ficuciello at Edgewood Photo for video editing services. www.edgewoodphoto.com To learn more about the United Way of Northern New Jersey Legacy Event, visit https://www.unitedwaynnj.org/commercial-real-estate-network

The Commercial project nominees for the 2022 United Way Legacy Event Impact Award are: CSG Law, 105 Eisenhower Parkway, Roseland, NJ Edge Works at SciTech Scity, 115 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ PIM Brands, Inc. Global Headquarters, 225 Brae Boulevard, Park Ridge, NJ Valley Bank Headquarters, 52-74 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ Thank you to Pete Ficuciello at Edgewood Photo for video editing services. www.edgewoodphoto.com To learn more about the United Way of Northern New Jersey Legacy Event, visit https://www.unitedwaynnj.org/commercial-real-estate-network

Learn how 2022 Legacy Event Gold Sponsors JLL and Turner Construction Company are making a difference in our communities, and with United Way of Northern New Jersey. Video credit: Paul Sanderson, Our Town Films

During the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way of Northern New Jersey Women United volunteers continued to give, advocate, and volunteer to support ALICE families in northern New Jersey. They held virtual fundraisers, ran food drives, and donated holiday gifts to bolster families facing the outsized hardship of this economic and health crisis.

Three individuals who were helped throughout the COVID-19 pandemic through the efforts of United Way of Northern New Jersey and its donors share messages of thanks. Hear from a construction worker who benefitted from emergency financial assistance when he became unemployed during the pandemic, a single mother who received free tax preparation services, and a wife and mother who received free technology that made it possible for her to continue to work and be a caregiver to family members living with disabilities.