United Way of the Bay Area Blog
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Fresh vegetables. Canned goods. Spices. Ingredients for a Thanksgiving table and some of the items San Francisco Food Bank volunteers sorted during United Way’s Week of Caring. Perhaps one of the most popular ways to volunteer in our community is to work at a soup kitchen or food bank. There’s something so rewarding about the [...]
It’s been lights out for millions on the East Coast because of Hurricane Sandy and the more recent nor’easter. Water damage. Trees snarled in power lines. And exploded transformers. That’s been the aftermath of the super storm, and local electrical companies are still scrambling to restore power. Enter United Way partner PG&E. 150 PG&E hard [...]
As a kid, there was no greater feeling than to hear the school bell ring for recess. At the moment the bell sounded, my classmates and I sprinted out the door and to the blacktop. There I had many unforgettable moments – like catching a game-tying touchdown during our school’s Annual Super Bowl over lunchtime. [...]
Last week, United Way gathered 120 poverty-fighting professionals from more than 70 organizations for the second annual SparkPoint Retreat. Participants – all of whom work at SparkPoint Centers in the SF Bay Area – came together to celebrate their hard work and success. Through interactive workshops, participants shared challenges, best practices and goals for the coming year. [...]
If you have been looking for a job for a while, there’s a good chance you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious, and stressed out. Here are some tips to revitalize your job search from SparkPoint coach Sylvia Gregory: Do something every day to advance your search. Getting a job can be a full-time job. Keep your [...]
Our friends at Giftly.com have identified this week as “Week of Thanks.” Every day of this week, 50% of all Giftlies profits will be donated to a featured nonprofit. Today, United Way’s MAKE IT BE is the featured nonprofit, so we’ll get some money for every Giftly purchased. What is a Giftly? A Giftly is a [...]
During this time of increasingly scarce resources, helping people achieve financial stability requires unique partnerships and focus. In establishing SparkPoint East Contra Costa, twelve county agencies and local nonprofits have banded together, offering a full range of financial services, all under one roof. Creating SparkPoint is a real opportunity to work together more effectively to [...]
If you’ve been to Oakland lately, you may have seen advertisements on bus and BART about Bank on Oakland. These are part of our new marketing campaign, which warns against payday lenders and check cashing stores, while promoting safe banking practices. The ad campaign began this June and will continue through September. Bank on Oakland [...]
United Way gathered today with community leaders to celebrate a $1 million contribution from Chevron, which supports the grand opening of SparkPoint West Contra Costa in the city of Richmond. Created by United Way, SparkPoint Centers are one-stop, financial-education centers that offer access to a full range of services that can help families and individuals [...]
Last week, Target team members across the Bay Area happily volunteered their time to make certain that those who need the comfort of a meal receive it. Target delivered a powerful punch in the fight against hunger, as 290 Target employees packaged, prepared and served food at Bay Area food banks and soup kitchens. Their [...]
