When you give to United Way, know you’re making a difference. Last year alone, you and 30,000 other Dane County residents and businesses gave more than $18 million dollars to support local families. When you add up every penny raised with workplace pledges, corporate donations, penny drives, chili cook-offs and bake sales, it makes a real, tangible impact on our community.

Kaytie and her family are just one example. Kaytie received assistance from START, a United Way partner agency in Stoughton that provides education and income supports, as well as United Way’s 2-1-1 information and referral service. Hear directly from Kaytie by watching the video above.

“At one point in time, I had two small children and was living out of my vehicle. I was going back and forth to places as far as friends, family, job, school. And at nighttime, we had to sleep in our car,” Kaytie recalls.

Kaytie sought out START to get back on her feet and received housing assistance as well as financial support to obtain her GED. She also sought out assistance from United Way directly.

“I’ve actually called United Way [2-1-1] a couple times in my lifetime, and they’ve given me different [help] … as far as energy services, CAC, housing, utilities, phone, cable.

2-1-1 really helped me with food pantries…Food pantries [are] another thing that I think a lot of people don’t know about. There’s also a clothing closet that is offered by the CAC [Community Action Coalition, another United Way Partner Agency], where people can get clothing for free.”

Thanks to your help, Kaytie and her family overcame obstacles on a path toward prosperity.

“I think basically…from where I was 10 years ago where I was sleeping on a blow-up mattress, to having no furniture at all. Where, now, I have a couch in my living room. Each of my kids have a bed to sleep in. It’s just, I’ve come a long way from sleeping in a car eight years ago, to having a house full of everything I need.”

Kaytie’s story is just one example of how together, we are changing our community one family at a time.

Help more families like Kaytie’s

Join our #Champions4Change and make an even bigger impact at our upcoming Seasons of Caring: Community Kickoff on Tuesday, August 20. It will be an afternoon full of volunteering (just 350 slots remain!), fun, food and community. Sign up for a project here with your colleagues, friends or family, and we’ll see you there!