United Way of Greater New Bedford works to bring together individuals, businesses and organizations to address our community’s most urgent needs. We believe that to truly improve lives in our region, we must act collectively to impact the critical issues affecting our neighborhoods – building a better community for us all.
Through an annual campaign, we provide funding to more than 60 programs at local health and human service agencies serving residents of New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester and Wareham. In addition, we administer a number of programs to address specific needs in our community. Through the Hunger Commission of Southeastern Massachusetts we supply food to emergency soup kitchens and food pantries in Bristol County, while our Community Building Mini-Grants Program provides funding and skill-building opportunities to all-volunteer groups. In addition, our Volunteer Solutions database provides the only local online volunteer tool to match willing volunteers with nonprofits in need of support.
It takes our whole community working together to reach our goals. Whether it requires fundraising, planning, or just getting people to work together, that’s what we do.
We need your support! Visit www.unitedwayofgnb.org to learn more about the different ways that you can help.
Each year, area high school students take a day out of school to assist local agencies with a wide variety of tasks such as landscaping, stocking food pantries or spring cleaning. The initiative allows students to gain insight into the valuable role volunteerism plays in our community and to be an integral part in helping non-profits keep their costs low.
“For some of these students, it’s the first time they’ve ever been exposed to the idea of volunteerism,” said Michelle N. Hantman, United Way President. “We hope that this will be the start of a life-long commitment to volunteerism, and that they realize everyone has something they can give,” she said.
Area high schools that participated were: Bishop Stang High School, Fairhaven High School, GNB Regional Vocational Technical High School, Global Learning Charter Public School, New Bedford High School, Old Rochester Regional High School and Westside High School.
“Peace Works! would not be able to provide positive opportunities and resources to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Bedford if not for programs such as this,” said Colleen Millet, Project Assistant.
“Having the opportunity to work side by side with the volunteers helps to identify and develop emerging and existing leadership which strengthens the community as a whole.”
Other agencies that took part in the Youth Day of Caring were: American Red Cross, Buttonwood Park Zoological Society, Community Nurse & Hospice Care, Gifts To Give, Harbour House Family Shelter, Market Ministries, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction (PAACA), The Salvation Army, Sharing the Harvest Community Farm (at the Dartmouth YMCA) and the YWCA of Southeastern MA.
The Youth Day of Caring was made possible due to the generous support of title sponsors BankFive and Oceans Alive Scallops, as well as other event sponsors, including: FUN107, Dunkin’ Donuts and Poland Spring.
To learn more about the many volunteer opportunities available in the Greater New Bedford Area, visit www.unitedwayofgnb.org or call United Way at 508-994-9625.