‘Harvest of Hope’ United Way, Farmers Weekly Review, Teaming Up to Serve Neighbors in Need

By Nick Reiher | fwrnews.com

From buying a locally raised cow that will help feed dozens in a food desert, to providing counseling and emergency help for the homeless, United Way continues to support the more than 200,000 Will County residents who struggle each year to afford basic human needs.

United Way was present at the kickoff for Elevate Hope’s Diaper Depot program and continues to donate 10,000 diapers a month, allowing the group to give away 25 diapers a month for each child in a family. (Photo courtesy of Elevate Hope)

This necessary support comes at a price, however, one that has grown tremendously even since last year, as other grant programs have ended.

That’s where all of us come in.

We at Farmers Weekly Review are honored United Way of Will County reached out to partner on a fall fundraising program we are calling “Harvest of Hope.”

For the next month or so, you will see the graphic below as reminder of the need, and our humble request for any size donation to help the cause.

In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, programs facilitated or supported by United Way of Will County reached 157,927 people who are friends, families and neighbors right here in Will County. And the need was even greater this year.

“Harvest of Hope donations help United Way of Will County support 70 essential programs across 43 local nonprofits and sustain key initiatives like the 211 Helpline, connecting neighbors in need to community resources,” said Ken Guldenbecker, Development Director for United Way of Will County.

“Our community programs address many needs and span a wide range of services including youth summer and afterschool programs, housing and homeless shelters, food pantries, medical care to include physical, mental, and substance use disorder, advocacy for youth in the judicial system, life enriching programs for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, mentorship and case management to help people find the path to a healthy and financially secure life, disaster relief such as major fires or flooding, safety initiatives, and more.”

“We thank the Farmers Weekly Review and donors of the Harvest of Hope drive. This campaign is a cultivation of compassion and helps realize services and relief to our neighbors across Will County.”

Let’s look at a few of the programs you can help United Way and Farmers Weekly support:

Trinity Services is well-known for its longtime community support services, and United Way has helped foster two programs especially, said Bonnie Hassan, Trinity’s Director of Outpatient Services.

One is support for people who suddenly find themselves homeless, she said, or who have been for a while.

United Way funds help those people with necessities, such as new clothes or work boots if someone should be getting a new job, items that other grants wouldn’t pay for.

“These people have a much more narrow margin when sudden expenses come up,” Hassan said. “They may have achieved some stability, but this could overshadow that.”

She added that homeless assistance usually is a “one and done” offering, where Trinity’s Counseling Center – the other Trinity program helped by United Way – can be longer term, depending on the need.

“Their grant allows us to offer services on a sliding-scale basis,” Hassan said, adding more and more people are losing access to their insurance.

“Obviously, if they have insurance, we use that first. And we also help them get on Medicaid. We don’t turn anyone away. We help them find the services they need.”

She said homelessness referrals come through the Will County Continuum of Care, another agency supported by United Way, as well as through other Trinity programs.

United Way grants, Hassan added, “help bridge the gaps” in necessary services.

Read the full article at fwrnews.com