As an integral part of United Way of Lewis County, Women United is a vibrant group of women who bring passion, expertise and empowerment to improve the community we call home. We are bound together by the belief in each other, to United Way’s mission and to Lewis County.
As Women United, our mission is to positively impact the lives of women and children living in poverty in Lewis County by encouraging self-sufficiency and empowerment. Women United gathers local women who seek to understand the issues facing our community and then roll up their sleeves to help. We operate as an affinity group of United Way of Lewis County and as such, we work within its mission to lift 30% of Lewis County families out of poverty by 2030.
Women United affinity groups exist across the nation with over 75,000 women involved in their local communities serving as an extension of their United Way organizations. We are all committed to the success of our community, where we live, work and raise our families. From Youth United to Retire United and Women United, affinity groups gather passionate and dedicated volunteers who form strong professional networks, working in the community accomplishing goals to create positive change in targeted segments of the community.
Together, we leverage our time, talent and resources to build stronger families in Lewis County. United Way of Lewis County's WOMEN UNITED is committed to positively impacting the lives of women and children living in poverty in Lewis County by encouraging self-sufficiency and empowerment.
Diversity and Inclusion
Women United and United Way of Lewis County strive to be a model of equity, diversity and inclusion, with our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers reflecting the many faces, cultures and walks of life that make up the Lewis County community. We respect, value, and celebrate the unique attributes, characteristics and perspectives that make each person who they are. We also believe that bringing diverse individuals together allows us to collectively and more effectively address the issues that face our communities. It is our aim, therefore, that our partners, strategies, and investments reflect these core values.
Women United's Financial Mentorship Initiative
Women United is committed to positively impacting the lives of women and children by encouraging self-sufficiency and empowerment. Our new Financial Mentorship Initiative brings bankers with financial expertise, directly to the people who need it the most through nonprofit and community-based partnerships.
By pairing bankers with financial acumen with community members who desire financial guidance, the opportunity to share information about how to engage in the banking system safely and successfully is enhanced. This moves people away from alternative services that are often predatory, such as payday loans, rent-to-own agreements, refund anticipation loans, pawn shops and non-bank money order and check cashing.
The Financial Mentorship Initiative is a 4 week program designed to meet clients individually at the level of financial guidance needed. The goal is for individuals to successfully move through the program with strategies and tools necessary to attain financial freedom.
- To enroll in the Financial Mentorship Initiative, please CLICK HERE to download an application and return it to United Way of Lewis County.
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- CLICK HERE to fill out the application online.
Women United launched a new program, Supplies Period. Supplies Period is an effort to reduce the number of middle school girls who have to miss school due to period poverty. 20% of girls have to miss school due to their inability to obtain period supplies. United Way's Women United is helping middle schools in Lewis County provide period supplies for their students, helping to reduce the number of days girls have to miss school and miss out on education. For more information on Period Poverty visit, Home - Alliance for Period Supplies.
How can you help?
- Drop off period supply donations to United Way of Lewis County, 450 NW Pacific Ave., Chehalis, WA. 98532.
- Pads/Tampons
- New underwear
- New sweatpants/shorts
- Make a donation to United Way's Women United for Supplies Period - Donations will be used to purchase period supplies. Click here to donate, Donations | United Way of Lewis County (lewiscountyuw.com). Be sure to type "Supplies Period" in the Contribution Note box!
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Women United, in partnership with the Visiting Nurses Foundation, launched a new program recently - the Career Closet. The Career Closet allows participants to select up to five items of professional business attire, in preparation for a job interview or first few weeks of work.
How does the Career Closet work?
Women working to lift themselves out of poverty often struggle over a variety of hurdles. Even something as simple as a job interview can be difficult if one lacks the appropriate attire to make a positive first impression. The Career Closet eliminates this hurdle, empowering women to attain financial independence in a new career by providing work-appropriate attire and resources.
How do people get help through the program?
The Career Closet is here to help people land that new job. To receive a voucher to utilize the program, please visit one of our community partners. These organizations can provide tools and resources, as well as a required program referral.
- Cascade Community Healthcare
- Reliable Enterprises
- Express Employment
- Hope Alliance
- WorkSource Lewis County
- Housing Resource Center
- United Way of Lewis County
How can you help?
Please consider donating new or gently used business attire. Donations can be dropped off at any Visiting Nurses location during regular business hours. You can also help by spreading the word about this important program.
Business partners are also needed to display information about the Women United Career Closet and facilitate donations. For more information on becoming a business partner, please contact Annie Oien at Annie.Oien@lewiscountyuw.com
WHY ENGAGE WITH WOMEN UNITED?
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Be a part of a group of like-minded women who are passionate about positively impacting with lives of women and children living in poverty in Lewis County.
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Volunteer with United Way and other community programs that empower and support women and children.
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Learn more about critical issues impacting our community.
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Collaborate, connect, and gain support from other women leaders in Lewis County.
Sign up below to learn more about how you can get involved and give back to your community!
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