Blog
Free Tax Preparation Available for Local Low-Income Households
January 27, 2021
NEWS RELEASE Free Tax Preparation Available for Local Low-Income Households ST. LOUIS (January 26, 2021) — United Way 2-1-1 is partnering with local tax coalitions to provide free tax preparation services to St. Louis-area families with a household income of $57,000 or less in 2020. Local residents can dial 2-1-1 or visit 211helps.org […]
Paving the path to stability – together
January 19, 2021
Paving the path to stability – together For young adults, a career in a high-demand industry can pave the road to financial stability. But those facing barriers such as poverty, instability at home or lack of access to critical resources experience additional challenges in a new job. United Way safety net […]
Helping build bright futures
July 24, 2020
Helping build bright futures Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, communities across the country have experienced widespread job loss, with the unemployment rates in Missouri and Illinois jumping to 10.1% and 15.2%, respectively. For families who were already struggling to meet their basic needs, a sudden loss of income can add to their challenges. […]
6 Ways to Use Your Economic Impact Payment
June 5, 2020
Economic Impact Payments are being sent to millions of Americans to help during this economic and health crisis. Over 2 million people in Missouri and 4.8 million in Illinois will receive an Economic Impact Payment. But you may be wondering: what should you do when you get your payment? The answer will be […]
A note to you
March 27, 2020
A note to you A note to you from Michelle D. Tucker, our president and CEO Dear Greater St. Louis region, When 2020 began, I, like many of you, was full of hope and excitement for the future of our region. While I continue to be full of hope and optimism, […]
How United Way is breaking the cycle of poverty through tax refunds
March 6, 2020
How United Way is breaking the cycle of poverty through tax refunds For many people, filing income taxes can feel like an intimidating task. But low-income families and individuals face unique risks during tax time. Many low- and middle-income working families qualify for tax credits, which can off-set taxes and […]
7 Best Moments from 2019
December 5, 2019
7 Best Moments from 2019 It’s been another incredible year helping our community through United Way! With 2019 coming to a close, we rounded up some of our favorite memories and biggest impacts. 171,155 United Way 2-1-1 calls Answered Our 2-1-1 call specialists answered 171,155 calls for a total of […]
Immigrant business owners find success in St. Louis
November 19, 2019
Our region’s thriving small business scene is one of the things that makes our community great. But what you may not realize is it’s even more diverse than you think. According to the St. Louis Mosaic Project, immigrants in our region are 60% more likely to start new businesses than native-born Americans, with a […]
A Reason to Fight: Maya’s Story
July 10, 2019
A Reason to Fight Four-year-old Mila wants to be a doctor when she grows up, so it’s no surprise that’s her favorite thing to play with her mom, Maya. “Mommy, let me take your temperature,” Mila says as she pulls out her toy thermometer and puts it in her mom’s mouth. […]
Achieving their Financial Goals – and Beyond
April 12, 2019
There were some months when Maria and Daryl barely had enough to pay the rent on the quadruplex where they lived with their three children. Both worked hard to provide for their family yet never seemed to be able to make ends meet. Living paycheck to paycheck with no savings to fall back on, […]
No goal is out of reach
December 17, 2018
This summer was no vacation for Brandon. In fact, it was a whirlwind. In just ten weeks, the Missouri State University junior had the opportunity to shadow physical, occupational, respiratory and speech therapists, physician assistants, a radiologist, a cardiologist and a few surgeons at SSM Health De Paul Hospital. He’s learned to apply ice […]
A week in St. Clair County, Illinois, on a $17,400 salary
December 6, 2018
In the St. Louis metropolitan area, 489,817 households struggle to have adequate income to meet basic living expenses like housing, food, transportation, health care, child care, taxes and miscellaneous expenses. This number includes Jerri*, a single mom with two kids in St. Clair County, Illinois, who works full time but still does not make […]
The tools to succeed
November 6, 2018
Deric Mills, 52, had the drive to build his dream career in construction — he just needed the right tools. He’d lived out of state for several years, and when he moved back to St. Louis, he couldn’t afford a car to get to training and work sites. Deric’s situation is not uncommon, especially for […]