The United Way of East Tennessee Highlands, in conjunction with other regional United Ways, hosted the annual Week of Caring from June 15th to June 19th. Each year, United Way hosts the Week of Caring, a dedicated time when community members come together to make an impact through volunteerism. This special week focuses on projects that support local non-profits and community initiatives.
Across our communities, a total of 11 projects were completed with 80 volunteer slots filled. With the average project taking over 4.5 hours, our community benefited from over 344 total volunteer hours! This amount of work directly benefits our local non-profits and community initiatives in meaningful ways, with the economic impact equaling $12,432.
This year, projects were completed at Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County, The Salvation Army of Johnson City, Isaiah 1:17 House – Carter County, Change Is Possible Family Violence Shelter, Project Access, Coalition for Kids, and Loaves & Fishes Outreach Ministry. Volunteers from the following businesses and organizations contributed their time: BrightRidge, Blackburn, Childers & Steagall, PLC, Citi, Publix, Northeast Community Credit Union, Young Professionals of Johnson City, Tyler Scott Agency- Shelter Insurance, Abundant Christian Living Community, Widener Insurance, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., International Storytelling Center, and Bank of Tennessee.
United Way of East Tennessee Highlands serves Carter, Johnson, and Washington counties in Northeast Tennessee, with a strong focus on supporting ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households. These are individuals and families who are working, often in essential roles, yet still struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, childcare, food, and transportation. While earning above the federal poverty line, ALICE households are often one unexpected expense away from financial crisis and typically do not qualify for most government assistance programs. Addressing the needs of ALICE is central to United Way’s mission of building long-term financial stability and strengthening the overall resilience of the community they serve.