BLOOMINGTON — United Way of South Central Indiana’s annual Fall Fund Drive is well underway, and thanks to the generosity of donors across the region, the campaign has already raised $250,000, reaching one-quarter of its fundraising goal. As the campaign continues through December 31st, 2026, United Way is calling on individuals, businesses, and community organizations throughout Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Monroe, Orange, and Owen counties to help build momentum and ensure critical services remain available for local families.
Connecting People to Possibility
“Every day, we meet hardworking people who are doing everything right. They are working, raising families, contributing to the community, and doing their best to get ahead,” said Randy Rogers, President and CEO of United Way of South Central Indiana. Yet, for many of them, one unexpected expense, a car repair, a medical bill, or a reduction in work hours can quickly become a crisis. That is where United Way comes in.”
These households are known as ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Nearly half of local households are either living in poverty or just one emergency away from financial hardship —including 24% of families with children and 43% of seniors. For many families, an unexpected expense such as a car repair, medical bill, or temporary loss of income can quickly become a crisis.
As the cost of everyday necessities continues to rise, more families are finding themselves stretched beyond their limits. United Way’s Fall Fund Drive helps ensure local programs have the resources needed to respond to immediate needs while creating pathways toward long-term stability and success.
United Way invests in programs that strengthen Youth Opportunity, Healthy Communities, and Financial Security. These investments help children succeed in school, connect families with essential resources, improve physical and mental health outcomes, and support economic mobility for individuals working toward a brighter future.
Contributions to the Fall Fund Drive help United Way and its grant partners deliver critical local programs, from healthy food access and youth mentoring to mental health services, financial coaching, tax assistance, and emergency support. Every donation helps turn possibility into reality as part of United Way’s broader strategy to advance stability and opportunity for ALICE families. We bring people and resources together to tackle our communities’ toughest challenges.
Impact by the Numbers
Thanks to the generosity of donors last year:
- 5,500 children and adults accessed physical or mental health services
- 5700 youth participated in mentoring and after-school programs
- 26,000 books were delivered to the mailboxes of 2,800 children-nurturing a love of reading and supporting early literacy
- 4.3 million meals and 1.4 million pounds of fresh produce fed people at risk of hunger
- 1,400 community members were provided legal advocacy to help them access housing, employment, food, and medical care
- 2,200 children and adults found safe emergency shelter or received supports to stay in their home
- More than 1,200 families had their taxes filed for free, bringing back over $1.3 million in refunds and credits
- 150 families were supported and stabilized in the aftermath of natural disasters
- 2,800 students received clothing, supplies, and care to support classroom success
Get Involved
While significant progress has been made, United Way needs the community’s help to close the gap and reach this year’s campaign goal.
There are many ways to get involved:
- Give: Online at unitedwaysci.org/give or by payroll deduction at participating workplaces
- Workplace Fund Drive: Engage your team in making a shared impact through payroll giving, special events, and team challenges
- Fundraise: Use United Way’s toolkit to host events or peer campaigns
- Volunteer: Help spread awareness or engage hands-on
Whether your gift is $5 or $5,000, it bridges the gap between crisis and possibility for our neighbors. Funds raised during this time touch the lives of one in three individuals in our region.
Give Today
Join us to connect people to possibility. No one can tackle these challenges alone—but united, we can make meaningful change. To learn more, visit unitedwaysci.org or contact randy@unitedwaysci.org.
About United Way of South Central Indiana
United Way of South Central Indiana is a nonprofit improving lives and futures in our community. We connect people to possibility—supporting youth opportunity, financial security, and healthy communities. By investing in local programs—from healthy food and mental health services to tax assistance and youth mentoring—we help families meet today’s needs and build stronger futures. Nearly half of local households are just one emergency away from poverty, and together, we tackle challenges no one can solve alone. Learn more at www.unitedwaysci.org.
