United Way Of Central Jersey Inc

Financial SecurityUWCJ assists financially fragile households in multiple capacities, including our year-round IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, administration oversight of FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter funding in Middlesex County NJ, supporting the NJ211 information and referral service, UWCJ's Family Financial Opportunity Center (FFOC), and the Middlesex County Alliance for Child and Family Success program.(Additional Information provided on Schedule O)UWCJ has a multi-level focus to provide much-needed financial security for community residents. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)Individuals and families making $75,000 or less per year can have their federal and state income tax returns prepared and filed for free by IRS-certified volunteers in UWCJ's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance ('VITA') Program. The volunteer-driven program supports over 2,500 individuals in Middlesex County and returns an average of $2.5 million dollars in refunds, including Earned Income Tax Credits ('EITC'), and Child Care credits for taxpayers. Unlike other VITA programs, United Way of Central Jersey provides VITA services year-round to assist late filers, delinquent filers, filers responding to IRS and State tax notices, and preparation of ITIN applications and renewals. Low-income VITA tax clients also received FEMA-funded grocery gift cards. THE 2024 NUMBERS:145 volunteers 4,478 tax returns filed$2.5 million refunds & creditsFamily Financial Opportunity Center (FFOC)Our FFOC opened in May 2024 and provides the tools for our priority population of unemployed and underemployed parents of young children to thrive financially. Financial, employment and income support coaches provide resources and support to enable clients and their families to improve their financial well-being. During its initial 6- months of operation, the FFOC engaged 70 clients who were primarily female and Hispanic with monthly incomes under $2,000.FEMA Emergency Food & ShelterUWCJ provides administrative support for Middlesex County's Local FEMA Board, responsible for recommending Awards to local organizations providing emergency shelter; rent, mortgage and utility assistance and emergency food, diapers and infant formula. The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board informed New Jersey Local Boards of their Phase 42 Allocations in December 2023. Middlesex County's Award totaled $385,562. However, no further information has been received by the Local Board regarding next steps for the Phase 42 process.RIDE UNITEDLaunched in July, our Ride United Transportation Access initiative provided no-cost rides for individuals and families participating in our direct-service programs. Lyft transportation is available to our clients for the following purposes: health appointments, employment interviews, access to food and food-related benefits, education, legal issues, housing and economic stability needs.NJ211UWCJ supports United Ways of New Jersey's NJ 211 helpline, available 24/7/365 in multiple languages. During 2024, NJ 211 received 34,249 calls from Middlesex County residents and 12,167 web searches. Top live assistance needs were, in priority order: utilities assistance, at risk of homelessness and homeless housing programs, housing expense assistance, benefits screening and general information. Top web searches, in priority order were: housing expense assistance, residential housing options, utility assistance, emergency shelter and emergency food.Middlesex County Alliance for Child and Family SuccessThe Alliance is a community resource that residents can call for assistance with housing, childcare, benefits, immigration and other issues. In 2024, the Alliance handled 1,080 calls, including 138 callers with 183 young children. Alliance clients typically are women who have annual incomes below $29,000, about two-thirds of whom are Hispanic. Most clients were having trouble finding adequate housing and food. Jamesburg Healthy Food ProgramUWCJ operates a food pantry for families of students at JFK Elementary School, hosted at the Jamesburg Elks Lodge No. 2180. The pantry, which opened in September 2024, operates twice a month, and has provided over 80 households with over 200 children with culturally appropriate and nutritious food. The pantry is staffed by UWCJ and community volunteers. It obtains food from the Replenish Food Bank and is supported by a grant from the Middlesex County Board of Commissioners.SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)During the year 2024, UWCJ entered into a contract (effective January 2025) with the State Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development, to serve as SNAP Navigators - informing Middlesex and Somerset County residents about food benefits assistance and helping them enroll in the program. ImmigrationIn 2024, UWCJ continued its longstanding commitment to the network of community-based organizations providing direct service and opportunities to our community's new arrivals. UWCJ continued our support of D.I.R.E., an invaluable initiative of the Reformed Church of Highland Park. The Deportation and Immigration Response Equipo helpline and support services continued its expansion with regional service locations to facilitate access to immigrant families facing the challenges of assimilation into life in the United States: food and financial insecurity, housing, language as well as detention, deportation and other immigration related issues. The D.I.R.E. helpline is available 24/7/365; During 2024, the helpline received 580 calls.

Youth OpoortunityFocusing on academic and life success for Middlesex County Children ages 0-5, our primary initiatives are 1) a Placed-based Initiative at JFK Elementary School in Jamesburg NJ, 2) Summer STREAM Stars summer and school-year program at JFK, and 3) Abriendo Puertas parent-training. (Additional Information provided on Schedule O)UWCJ's three focused 'Early Education Youth Opportunity' initiatives are:Place-based Initiative at JFK Elementary School in Jamesburg NJUnited Way of Central Jersey leads John F. Kennedy Elementary School's Early Childhood Council's long-term strategy to address the early education and development needs of preschool students and their families. Our Family Advocate stationed at JFK has an active caseload of over 60 families with a wide range of education, child development, health, immigration, nutrition, and financial hurdles. The Family Advocate also facilitated parent workshops, ESL classes, and community events. UWCJ also supported an in-school food pantry and a holiday food distribution. Jamesburg JFK School families also received FEMA-funded grocery gift cards. Summer STREAM Stars at JFK ElementaryUWCJ received Community Project funding for a summer STREAM program for preschool and kindergarten students at JFK identified by their teachers in need of additional support to increase academic success. Students attended a half-day program of instruction in science, math, technology, engineering and the arts and reading.Students were eligible to take part in a summer afterschool program, and their parents participated in UWCJ-facilitated workshops. The learning continued at home with toolkits and home libraries that were shared with parents. The program continued into the school year with STREAM modules incorporated into an enhanced science curriculum. In 2024, 90 preschool and kindergarten students took part in the summer program. All participants received school-ready backpacks and take-home libraries.Abriendo Puertas/Opening DoorsAbriendo Puertas (Opening Doors) is a 10-session, evidence-based series, for Latino parents with children ages 0-5 that prepares parents to be effective advocates for their child when engaging with the educational, medical and social service systems. One workshop series was held in June with 8 graduates.

UWCJ is committed to ensuring that families with children ages 0-5 living within our community receive resources and support enabling all to thrive: financially, educationally, and in good health; which impacts the life trajectory of the children. We offer programs and services supplementing our 13 core programs as follows: Back-to-School Supplies - In 2024, UWCJ provided 420 backpacks filled with grade-targeted school supplies to Middlesex County schools that requested supplies for students living in income-challenged households. Supplies were donated by generous area corporations and businesses and stuffed by UWCJ and corporate volunteers. Gifts of the Season - This program provides end of the year holiday gifts to families participating in UWCJ direct services as well as clients enrolled with our non-profit community partners' programs. Gifts are purchased by 23 of our generous corporate partners as well as members of the general public based upon the wish list of the children, provided by their parents. In 2024, this program provided gifts to 608 children. UWCJ Women United A volunteer-driven organization, UWCJ Women United, hosted their annual nonpartisan 'Legislative Breakfast' in 2024, at which local and state government officials presented information to 100+ participants from local community nonprofit agencies. Facilities and Other Services to local Non-profit Organizations In addition to offering free meeting space to local community-partner nonprofit organizations, UWCJ continues to provide technical assistance and other in-kind services to local nonprofit organizations.