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.

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.

RWJBarnabas Health, the state’s largest integrated health care delivery system, has brought an ALICE-centered focus to how they nurture the health and financial well-being of their employees, patients, and communities. RWJBarnabas Health received the 2021 ALICE Impact Award for lending its influential voice and support to the movement and as a change agent within the health care industry.

From a construction worker to restaurant worker to office worker, hear how donors to the ALICE Recovery Fund helped make a difference in the lives of some of the 700 families who received assistance in northern New Jersey.

Alpha Demmellash of Rising Tide Capital describes the child care crisis in America and how United In Care’s unique model will help fight this crisis by increasing access to quality, affordable, and flexible child care for working families.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker knows the impact of good data and how it can spur positive change. "Love in action," is what he calls our work to bring equity for ALICE. Join this #ActForALICE movement and tag us @UnitedWayNNJ to share how you are taking action to improve life for ALICE in our communities.

United Way of Northern New Jersey works to remove the barriers that keep ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and those in poverty from achieving financial stability. In New Jersey, 1.2 million households were already living paycheck to paycheck before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With so many families facing an uncertain future, the stakes couldn’t be higher -- for everyone. As we rebuild our economy, United Way believes that securing racial and economic equity for ALICE will improve life for all.