United Way sponsors workshops to help organizations respond to domestic violence among employees May 30, June 27

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

Click on the image above from our 2012 campaign to learn more about the United Way network’s efforts to reduce domestic violence in the Mid-South (11″ x 17″ Adobe Acrobat PDF document will download upon clicking)

United Way of the Mid-South’s network of partners works to reduce domestic violence in our community in many ways, including the use of education and awareness efforts.

Domestic violence isn’t a “private matter” that stays in a person’s home when they go to work. In fact, it is possible for domestic violence to become workplace violence, and it also impacts an organization’s medical and mental health costs.

Later this month and again in June, United Way is sponsoring workshops to help organizations and human resources professionals properly recognize, respond and refer people who are experiencing domestic violence.

The Violence at Home, Victims at Work / Employers Confront Domestic Violence seminars will be held on Thursday, May 30 at The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis (1900 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN) from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and again on Thursday, June 27 at United Way of the Mid-South (6775 Lenox Center Court, Memphis, TN) from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. United Way will host breakfast at 8:00 a.m. during registration at each workshop. Click on the dates above in bold print to download an Adobe Acrobat PDF file with more details.

Seating is limited and early indications suggest spaces will fill quickly. Please reserve your seat today by contacting Janet Haas at janet.haas@uwmidsouth.org or call 901.433.4333.

Posted in Crime, Education, Events, Health, Improving health for adults & seniors, Information Resources, News, Strengthening families and neighborhoods

Text4Baby contest underway – help our Mid-South states win!

Posted on May 13, 2013 by

Text4Baby is a great text messaging system that provides helpful information to mothers and caregivers for FREE!

Yesterday, people across the nation celebrated the important role mothers play in our lives. Today, we’re asking you to celebrate motherhood by helping us promote the national Text4Baby contest.

Text4Baby provides FREE information text messages to mothers, mothers-to-be and caregivers of children everywhere. The contest aims to increase the number of people receiving quality pre-birth and infant care information.

Help our Mid-South states (AR, MS and TN) score big in the national Text4Baby enrollment contest, and help us spread the word! Connecting a mother to Text4Baby is an easy and FREE way to help her remember important information for raising a healthy baby.

To join the free Text4Baby service, simply text the word BABY to 511411. To learn more about the context, you can visit the Text4Baby webpage here.

More info about Text4Baby from our United Way News Center is available here.

Posted in Education, Health, Helping children and youth succeed, Information Resources, News, Technology | Tagged , , ,

Education: New website helps people get information on Shelby County Schools unified school district

Posted on May 9, 2013 by

SCSFactsFirstbanner2Later this summer (July 1 ) Shelby County Schools will become the largest school system in Tennessee when legacy Memphis City Schools and legacy Shelby County Schools merge to become the 14th largest district in America, serving nearly 140,000 students.

The unified district has launched a new website to help get information to teachers, parents and community members about the upcoming school year. The website is located here.

The site features answers to frequently asked questions on school programs and policies
as well as budget and operations. There are also sections for principals and teachers and other employees.

Your support of United Way helps improve local education for children across Shelby County in many ways and we are very proud of our partnerships with people and organizations working to make the unified district a success.

Posted in Education, Helping children and youth succeed, Information Resources, News | Tagged , , ,

Strategic Planning: United Way staff hears from Tunica County representatives during Community Conversations

Posted on May 3, 2013 by
Human health agency representatives in Tunica County met with United Way staff to discuss how the organization can helo them reach even more people who need help.

Health and human service nonprofit representatives in Tunica County met with United Way staff to discuss goals and aspirations for improving life in the county.

United Way of the Mid-South staff met with network partner agency representatives in Tunica County, MS recently for a Community Conversation, listening to feedback about thoughts and aspirations for improving life for people in Tunica.

As part of United Way’s strategic plan endeavor in 2013, staff and volunteers are meeting with representatives from various sectors for feedback on what matters most to people in the Mid-South. These feedback sessions are called Community Conversations, and help inform our strategies for improving United Way so it can best serve our region.

Representatives from the Tunica Chamber of Commerce, Tunica Literacy Council, Tunica County United Methodist Church, Sacred Heart Southern Missions, Sam’s Town Casino, Caesars Entertainment and Tunica Parks & Recreation discussed what type of community they want for their families and shared their goals for the future.

Participants expressed concerns about job decline, marketing of community assets, high pregnancy rates for teenagers, more alignment with proper education leading to jobs and student populations that often live below the poverty level.

The group expressed optimism for more training in technology. The group also expressed a desire for better healthcare, housing and strong strategies to help residents better understand local opportunities.

Posted in Education, Events, News, Partner Agencies, Personal Stories, Volunteers | Tagged , ,

Health: United Way blood drive on May 22nd for network partner American Red Cross

Posted on May 2, 2013 by

BloodDriveBannerAt United Way we’re always happy when volunteers roll up their sleeves and get involved. On Wednesday, May 22, volunteers will be rolling up sleeves to take save lives as part of our blood donation drive.

United Way of the Mid-South is hosting a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross on Wednesday, May 22nd from noon until 5:00 p.m. at our offices at 6775 Lenox Center Court in Memphis, TN.

To participate, you must register online. Click here and to sign up at the American Red Cross web page dedicated to the blood drive at United Way on May 22.

There is a serious need for additional donated blood in our community. Your donation can help save a life!

Did you know:

  • Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
  • More than 44,000 blood donations are needed every day.
  • The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.
  • The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
  • More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
  • A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

(These facts and additional information can be found on the American Red Cross website at http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-facts-and-statistics )

The American Red Cross is a part of the United Way network of care which impacts education, financial stability and health across the region.

To see a map to the United Way offices, click here.

Posted in Events, Health, News, Partner Agencies, Volunteers

Hunger: Operation Feed combats food insecurity in the Mid-South

Posted on May 2, 2013 by

2013FoodBankPosterDid you know every week over 21,000 people rely on food from the Mid-South Food Bank for their next meal, and that one third of this group are children?

Operation Feed is a special campaign that raises food and resources to combat hunger in our Mid-South area. The campaign started in 1991 thanks to a partnership between the Mid-South Food Bank and United Way of the Mid-South. Volunteers from businesses and other organizations collect food and money to help nonprofit programs and other groups providing meals to families and individuals who are living on the front lines of the battle against hunger and food insecurity. This year’s effort is scheduled for May 20th thru July 26th.MidSouthFoodBank1

If you or your organization are interested in conducting an Operation Feed campaign, please contact David Stephens at the Mid-South Food Bank at 901.272.3080 or dstephens@midsouthfoodbank.org

United Way is happy to provide information and promotional materials as Adobe Acrobat PDF documents for Operation Feed below. Click on a picture to download a booklet, flyer and/or poster about Operation Feed.

2013FoodBankPoster

Operation Feed Poster 11″ x 17″

Operation Feed flyer

Operation Feed flyer

Operation Feed booklet

Operation Feed booklet

Posted in Education, News, Volunteers | Tagged , , , , ,

Teenagers are encouraged to visit the Mid-South Teen Summer Volunteer Fair today

Posted on April 30, 2013 by

TeenVolunteerExpoTeenagers have greater amounts of free time during the summer and many are searching for opportunities to make a difference as a local volunteer.

This afternoon from 3:00 until 6:00 at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library (3030 Poplar Avenue in Memphis) the Mid-South Teen Summer Volunteer Fair will help local teens connect with volunteer opportunities in our community. The fair is presented by Volunteer Mid-South, United Way’s network partner promoting volunteerism in our community.

Teens from 13 to 17 years old will find volunteer opportunities during the summer and also some that can carry over into the school year. The fair helps teens learn more about community needs, build leadership skills, learn respect, and enhance social awareness all while serving our community.

Representatives from several agency programs will be present for discussion about the best way to spend summer making an impact by volunteering. There are many ways to help address important social issues such as hunger, animal issues, the arts, helping senior citizens and more.

Posted in Helping children and youth succeed, Uncategorized, Volunteers