by Zenia Frednt
Leadership Giving Director
Recently, United Way of Salt Lake joined with the city of Midvale to create our newest Promise Partnership. Promise partnerships are coordinated efforts between the nonprofit sector, businesses, government, and school districts. By working together, we have been able to create meaningful change at a community level. Here is one small example of how, together, we can improve lives and strengthen communities.
Recently, the Road Home opened a new family shelter in Midvale, which is primarily comprised of single mothers and children. Although the Road Home works to connect its inhabitants to employment, when people lack basic necessities, barriers exist which are difficult to overcome. Acknowledging this reality, Mayor Seghini of Midvale reached out to United Way of Salt Lake and asked if we would be able to gather some basic hygiene products so that the women staying there would have a better chance of success. The United Way of Salt Lake Women’s Leadership Council answered the call!
The Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) is a dynamic group of women who are working together to empower women and create change in our community. The goal was set of gathering 100 complete hygiene kits to deliver to the shelter in Midvale. Kits were comprised of full-sized shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, lotion, chapstick, and razors. In just a few short weeks, the WLC had far surpassed its goal of 100 kits—because of the generosity and willingness to set words to action that are the hallmarks of this remarkable group, the WLC was able to deliver 275 complete hygiene kits to women, children, and families in Midvale’s Road Home!!
Road Home Volunteer Coordinator, Adam Collier, had this to say:
Last year, The Road Home served 3,814 single men, 975 single women, and 681 families comprised of 2,395 individuals,1,348 of which were children. Tonight at the family shelter where your generous donation of hygiene kits was received and disseminated, served 300 individuals, of which 175 were children. Your donation of simple, everyday items many of us take for granted is helping to restore dignity and esteem to our guests experiencing homelessness in a way that is not simple and every day. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of those whom I serve thank you!
This is just one example of how everyday lives can improve when all of us work together. Promise Partnerships are changing the odds in a way that is being recognized on a national level. It is up to each of us to answer this call and become #SLChangemakers in our communities. We invite you to join us!
To find out more about Women’s Leadership Council, contact Zenia Frendt at Zenia@uw.org.
