United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is set to address one of the most alarming trends in our community. Low income seniors are the fastest growing population who are at-risk of homelessness due to economic insecurity.

The average senior in Oregon living on fixed income receives $1,450 per month.  HUD defines cost-burdened as those who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing. Current statistics show a number of economic factors have combined over the last several decades to decrease the economic security of many of today's seniors and near seniors, positioning them just one misfortune away from homelessness.

The Salem City Council voted Monday evening to sell surplus property at 4396, 4408, 4432, 4446, and 4480 Market Street NE to the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley. Working with innovative design and production, our goal is to create intentional micro-communities of rental cottages at a price point that is less than $450 per month.

"Right now there are senior citizens in our community who are in desperate need of help. They are people who worked hard all their lives but without a retirement or pension and are now living on limited income. Our goal is to provide a safe and affordable place to call home for as long as they can live independently” said Rhonda Wolf, CEO.

The sale of the property is a significant milestone in this project. As the best architectural solutions are explored, United Way will continue to work with the city of Salem on zoning and other requirements. Residents will be selected by working with area service partners to identify the highest need individuals who would benefit from this initiative.
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Last night, United Way Affordable Housing Committee Chair, Brent Neilsen commented “There are many people we must thank, City Staff, Neighbors, and so many business partners who have stepped up to help us get to this point.  This is a complex project, but the number of people who have come to the table with assistance is inspiring.  Every single one of us is confronted by the problem of homelessness every day, the solution we are working on is just a small part.”

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is thrilled to announce the workplace campaign results from Capitol Auto Group Employees of $300,000. Capitol Auto Group hosts an annual fundraising campaign through workplace payroll deductions and has consistently reached new heights year after year. In fact, over the last 5 years, Capitol Auto Group Employees have given over 1,000,000 to United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley in support our community.

"We are humbled beyond belief. Every February, we love to walk across the street to our neighbors at Capitol and participate in their Month of Love." said Rhonda Wolf, CEO. “A stronger, more resilient community starts with us. Partners like Capitol Auto Group employees have consistently stepped up to support our work. Words cannot describe how critical their investments are and much we value their partnership.”

Every year, hundreds of employees across the Mid-Valley get involved in workplace giving campaigns to support local United Way Community Impact Projects or the charity of their choice. The United Way workplace campaign unites employees in all offices or branches of a company, and gives them an opportunity to donate, volunteer and advocate for causes that matter to them. Donations can be undesignated or donors can choose to support a 501C3 of their choosing through payroll deduction. United Way processes designated donations without any service charges – 100% of every designated donation goes directly to that charity. Undesignated funds are used to support community impact projects or capacity grants for area nonprofit service providers.

In the last two years, United Way has facilitated the purchase of Taylor’s House, an emergency home for youth needing temporary shelter, a shower trailer and opened SafeSleep United, a low-barrier women’s shelter.  In 2020 alone, United Way invested over $3,122,000 supporting our vulnerable friends and neighbors through COVID with food box support and responding to the September Santiam Canyon Wildfires. For over 80 years, United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley has been working to meet the needs of vulnerable families in our region. No matter the crisis, we have always remained steadfast in our commitment to take care of our community.
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“We are so proud of the efforts of our employees and the philanthropic vision they have embraced.  For the last 94 years a major tenet of Capitol Auto Group has been that we will give back to the community that has given so much to us.  Never has the need been greater in our community and never has the efforts of our employees been more awe-inspiring.” Stated Carrie Casebeer, Capitol Auto Group.

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley has been working to meet the needs of vulnerable families in our region. No matter the crisis, we have always remained steadfast in our commitment to take care of our community.

To view the 2020 Annual Report online, click here. To download the report, use the link below.

We have some exciting news to share with you today! FamilyWize, which has been helping United Way communities save on their prescription medications since 2008, is officially combining our brand with SingleCare, a national leader in prescription savings cards. FamilyWize will soon be known as SingleCare!

As SingleCare, we look forward to continuing to partner with over 800 local United Ways, United Way Worldwide, American Heart Association, Mental Health America, and many other organizations that work to help our communities. We could not do what we do without your support. THANK YOU!

The transition will be official on April 1st. 

Live United!

Vickie Nisbet & Vilmarie Gilliam

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is proud to announce the award of $250,000 grant to the Detroit Lake Foundation providing them with a significant portion of the funding needed to construct a Community Center to replace the City Hall that was lost due to the devastating Beachie Creek and Lionshead Wildfires.
"Our commitment to being a strong community partner in the effort to restore the vitality of the Canyon communities, remains to be one of our top priorities. We are proud to give this support to the Detroit community, in the largest single grant award we’ve ever done." said Rhonda Wolf, CEO.
For over 80 years, United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley has been working to meet the needs of vulnerable families in our region. No matter the crisis, we have always remained steadfast in our commitment to take care of our community. When the wildfires wreaked havoc across our region, forcing thousands of people to evacuate and seek shelter, we immediately jumped into action with a Resource Hub to meet their most pressing needs.
In 2020, United Way has invested over $3.1 million dollars back into our region through our Community Benefit allocation. This award brings our total cash investment in the Santiam Wildfire Recovery effort to just over $530 thousand dollars, which includes $150 thousand to Santiam Canyon Watershed Council, $25 thousand to the Santiam School district and over $100 thousand to support basic needs for wildfire survivors. Additional supports, such as items from our Gifts In Kind Program as a Good360 Regional Distribution Partner, total over $2.2 million dollars.
To date, United Way has raised almost a million dollars to support long term recovery efforts in the Canyon and is facilitating the Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) – an organized effort of over 110 community partners, volunteers, social service providers, county, city and federal teams to help our friends rebuild and thrive. This effort will continue for the next four to six years.
"We are extremely grateful for the investment in our community from the United Way and the donors who contributed to their Wildfire Relief and Recovery fund." said Chris Tardiff, president of the Detroit Lake Foundation. “This gift is part of a transformational effort to rebuild our beloved city that will be loved by generations to come.”
A check presentation event will be held at the former site of Cedars Restaurant, 200 Detroit Ave, Detroit, OR 97342, on Friday, March 12, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on United Way’s Facebook page

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is proud to announce the award of $150,000 grant to the North Santiam Watershed Council providing them with the additional capacity to assist landowners and the community with the devastating impacts of the Beachie Creek and Lionshead Wildfires.
"It is vital that we all work together to support the recovery and revitalization of the Santiam Canyon and its communities. These funds will not only help to begin that effort, but ultimately create lasting impact for our entire region." said Rhonda Wolf, CEO.
The North Santiam River flows through the watershed east-west for approximately 100 miles, draining an area approximately 766 square miles (almost 500,000 acres). Its headwaters are located in the central Oregon Cascades, much of which was damaged in the September wildfire.
The North Santiam Watershed Council, is local nonprofit with the mission of “Providing opportunities for stakeholders in cooperating to promoting and sustaining the health of the watershed and its communities.” In order to carry out their mission the Council works with interested, volunteer landowners in priority areas by assisting them with addressing their natural resource issues through information gathering, project development, grant writing, project implementation and post project monitoring/ 
For over 80 years, United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley has been working to meet the needs of vulnerable families in our region. No matter the crisis, we have always remained steadfast in our commitment to take care of our community. When the wildfires wreaked havoc across our region, forcing thousands of people to evacuate and seek shelter, we immediately jumped into action with a Resource Hub to meet their most pressing needs.
To date, United Way has raised almost a million dollars to support long term recovery efforts in the Canyon and is facilitating the Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) – an organized effort of over 110 community partners, volunteers, social service providers, county, city and federal teams to help our friends rebuild and thrive. This effort will continue for the next four to six years.
"The immediate and continued support from our community for wildfire relief was incredibly inspiring. I am so proud that the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is in a position to provide lasting support to the North Santiam Watershed Council as well as the Canyon communities.” Matthew Casebeer, Capitol Auto Group and United Way board member, said in the announcement.
Event details:

• February 11, 2021
• Check presentation will be held at the City Hall in Mill City, 444 S 1st Ave, Mill City, OR 97360
• Event begins at 3:30 pm. In person attendance is by invitation only due to COVID restrictions. This event will be broadcast live via United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley’s Facebook page.