At United Way Services of Geauga County, the 2024 Day of Action addressed one of the biggest needs of its community members: food insecurity. Volunteers assembled and distributed 200 meal kits to community members.
According to data from United Way 211, requests for assistance with Food Stamps/SNAP benefits have increased 63% and requests related to food pantries have increased 40% in the past two years. Overall, all requests related to food have increased by 27%.
Those numbers helped guide UWGC Director of Community Engagement Karen Perko, staff members Mark Dorony, Yvonne Pecka, and Shannon Cullinane, and 30 volunteers on June 21 for their annual Day of Action. Working out of West Geauga Middle School, the group assembled and distributed 200 meal kits to community members who may be experiencing food insecurity. Each meal kit included the ingredients and a recipe card to make chicken kabobs with quinoa and brown rice to feed a family of four.
Meeting community needs through volunteerism
“We know one of the biggest needs in the county is food and we wanted to do something to help our neighbors with a healthy and creative meal,” said Perko.“ The goal is always to serve the needs of our community and make a difference where we can. We are blessed to have a strong volunteer support system that helps us accomplish that.
“This is a way to plug people in who want to help, and it has been a collaborative effort. It speaks well on how the people who live in Geauga County want to help, make a difference, and be impactful with their volunteer efforts.”
The annual Day of Action is part of a broader ongoing campaign to help the community through Geauga Unites, which celebrates the people in Geauga County and provides opportunities to make a tangible difference in the county. Bringing together staff, volunteers, and sponsors also highlights what it means to be a united community, according to Melissa Maki, Chair of the Advisory Board for United Way Services of Geauga County.
“Geauga Unites and the word ‘unites’ is perfect for United Way, as we are uniting people in the community, providing services, and giving them something they may not be able to receive otherwise,” Maki said while volunteering at the event. “The collaboration between the staff, the volunteers, and our neighbors receiving the meals is what makes Geauga County proud and what makes Geauga Unites such a great program to be a part of.”
While Day of Action was a success, the needs within the county go beyond just providing meal kits on one day. According to the latest ALICE report, 22% of all households in Geauga County are part of the ALICE population, and almost 40% of households with residents ages 65 and older fall within the ALICE population. (ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county.)
That is why the community must continue to support United Way Services of Geauga County in its work to meet the needs of residents, according to Perko.
“Geauga County has needs, as there are individuals and families who live paycheck to paycheck, which is one of those hidden troubles. We know from our United Way 211 data and the senior population we work with that the top issue is housing insecurity. People need help with their rent or mortgage payments. There is also still a need for utility assistance, so our goal is to ensure that individuals are connected to the proper resources.
“The needs of our neighbors do not go away after today, and every gift we receive in Geauga County remains in Geauga, supporting programs and services focused on the top three needs of housing, utilities, and food. We are fortunate to have strategic partnerships with organizations as committed as we are to keeping this momentum going.”
Thank you to the Day of Action sponsors
- FirstEnergy Foundation
- Great Lakes Cheese
- Thistle House Senior Living
- FirstLight Home Care
- Maverick Environmental Equipment
- Ten10
- Heidi Company Photography
- Sirna’s Farm & Market
- Mimi magazine
