The United Way blog is the best way to stay up-to-date on everything happening at United Way of Berks County, including success stories and results from the Berks COVID-19 Response Fund grants.
Virtual Tutoring Helps Kids Become Better Readers
Becoming an Engaged Reader Carson’s excitement is unmistakable to his tutor, Chris Brennan, without even seeing his face. The second-grade student is reading a book aloud over Zoom, and a passage reminds him of his sister. He gives a quick aside; they share a laugh,...
Meeting the Challenges of COVID and Domestic Violence
The dilemma created by COVID-19 for women experiencing domestic violence is unimaginable: remain at home with an abuser and suffer harmful treatment or flee to a crowded shelter and risk exposure to the corona virus. This dangerous dilemma was confounded by the...
Top 100 Coordinator Meeting Recap
Posted by Shirley Chapin, United Way Staff The United Way of Berks County team was excited to see many familiar faces at our recent virtual Top 100 Coordinator meeting. Although this year’s meeting was virtual, we were grateful to have the opportunity to come...
United Way Announces New Grants and Strategies to Expand Community Support
United Way of Berks County volunteers and staff utilize their experience and partnerships to provide crucial resources to community nonprofits providing critical health and human services. United Way, through its donors’ commitment and generosity, is investing nearly...
Ready.Set.READ! Announces Summer Learning Grant Opportunities
Press Release March 8, 2021 - Ready.Set.READ! - - a community initiative focused on improving early grade reading proficiency and managed by United Way of Berks County -- has announced a grant opportunity available to Ready.Set.READ! (RSR) partner schools, Summer...
Literacy Doesn’t Have to Be By the Book
Reading opens up the world--and a world of opportunities for kidsHow? A quality education begins with reading. Education not only increases a child’s chance for success in work and life, it’s also been shown to be a core determinant of health and well-being. And an...
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Youth Mentors Find New Ways to Engage During COVID
Despite COVID, youth mentors have found new ways to connect to the children and youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berks County.If asked to list who served as role models when growing up, most of us would probably share answers that include parents, siblings...
5 Things to Know About 211
United Way of Berks County helps thousands of people each year through 211211 is Berks County’s lifeline for help. In a crisis, in a disaster, in a pandemic, 211 is here to help every person in our community connect to essential services. Here are five things to know...
How Does United Way Help ALICE Households in Berks?
ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed Throughout Berks County, thousands of people are employed but struggle to make ends meet. They earn more than the federal poverty level, but less than the basic cost of living, which creates significant hardships....