United Way of Kitsap County is working hard every day to effect positive change by raising awareness through it’s annual fundraising campaign and through its efforts year around. At United Way, we understand that communities are the backbone of America. Neighborhoods, churches, and friends allow us to join together to collectively make a difference. Our efforts are aimed at building and strengthening our communities by supporting agencies and organizations that understand that results are important and that results are what really matters if lives are going to change.

Hunger and Homelessness: It’s not just shelters and soup kitchens, although they need your help, too. Supporting agencies like Kitsap Community Resources, Housing Resource Board, Bremerton Foodline, and South Kitsap Helpline you find opportunities to support shelters, feed school children, or address the root causes of hunger.

Children: Nothing lights up a room like a child’s smile and nothing makes them smile more than when they are self-confident and strong. Supporting the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Kitsap Daycare Association, Kitsap Family YMCA, or Boys & Girls Clubs helps give our children the assurance and skills they need to succeed.

Seniors: Our nation’s elderly are a precious resource. We need to honor them; to cherish them; to thank them. Support for Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, or Lutheran Community Services Retired Senior Volunteers Program (RSVP) helps give back to the elderly by giving to programs that keep them independent and involved.

Without these programs families would not be able to feed their children, or keep them safe from the cold winter weather. Children would not have fun, educational and safe activities to keep them from getting into trouble. Many seniors would be lonely and in despair. Because you care and because you Give through United Way, we have these and many more programs here in Kitsap County.

Your giving does more than just support 32 health and human service agencies. United Way is working hard to leverage your gifts to bring programs like Kids & Cops to every law enforcement agency in Kitsap County; arming officers with $25 vouchers to help kids in need get basic items like shoes, coats and school supplies.

Receiving donations from Office Depot, the Disney Store, Proctor & Gamble, Gillette and many more corporations, we have been able to stretch over the past 24 months $10,000 into over $310,000 worth or products that have benefited non-profits agencies and their clients.

With our ability to bring people and agencies together, we have formed a collaborative partnership with the Kitsap County Health District, Harrison Medical Center, Kitsap Community Resources and OESD’s Head Start/ECEAP, Peninsula Community Health Services, the Kitsap County Dental Society, University of Washington, and Washington Dental Service Foundation to bring the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) Program to Kitsap County helping every family ensure that their children have a dental home by age 5 years.

We are able to do these things because of the generosity of Kitsap County residents who give generously by Lending a Hand Close to Home. Because the success of the United Way campaign is so important, I feel the necessity to repeat that by reaching our goal of two million dollars we will be able to provide every partner agency with the funds they need to ensure the greatest results for the most people in need right here in our community. Success through your generosity and our ability to leverage your gifts will help children and youth succeed, improve access to health care, promote self-sufficiency, and strengthen families. It takes the whole community working together to reach their goals.

United Way of Kitsap County is at the Heart of the Community, our partner agencies are at the Heart of the Family and your gifts keep those hearts beating strong.

Please Lend a Hand Close to Home. Give Generously.