UWKV is proud to announce the commencement of its 24th Annual Day of Caring, set to begin on April 19. This year, a record-breaking lineup of 25 schools and youth programs across Kennebec Valley have committed to participating in this vital community event. UWKV’s Day of Caring unites student volunteers with local sites in need of assistance, showcasing the power of community and the spirit of volunteering.

Participating schools and organizations for the 2024 spring calendar include:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley (April 19)
• Messalonskee High School (April 26)
• Cony High School (May 1)
• Maranacook Community Middle School, Maranacook Community High School (May 3)
• Cony Middle School (May 8)
• Maine Arts Academy (May 10)
• Erskine Academy (May 16)
• Winthrop Middle School, Winthrop High School (May 17)
• Marcia Buker Elementary School, Richmond Middle School, Richmond High School (May 19)
• Lincoln Elementary School, Augusta (May 20)
• Gardiner Area High School (May 23)
• Hussey Elementary School, Augusta (May 24)
• Farrington Elementary School, Augusta (May 29)
• Whitefield Elementary School (May 31)

To see a full list of participating schools and organizations, which includes fall dates, visit United Way's website.

From 2022 to 2024, the Day of Caring program has witnessed a 47.1% increase in school participation and a 62.3% increase in student/faculty engagement. In 2024, more than 8,500 students and faculty are slated to participate. These figures underscore the growing commitment of the Kennebec Valley community to come together for the common good.

UWKV has appointed TJ and Kerry Smart, a Waterville couple, as campaign co-chairs for the 2024 fundraising season beginning in September. TJ Smart serves as the chief operating officer at Milestone Funeral Partners, and Kerry Smart is the program coordinator for the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College. As campaign chairs, their responsibilities include the expansion and strengthening of community partnerships across the county starting this spring.

Having been part of the Kennebec Valley community for nearly two decades, the Smarts bring a wealth of experience and dedication to their roles.

“Our commitment to this community has been a significant part of our lives, especially through TJ’s work,” Kerry said.

“We were initially approached to chair the campaign for the Waterville-based United Way of Mid-Maine (UWMM) over a decade ago,” said TJ, referencing a time prior to UWMM’s closure and UWKV’s expansion to serve all of Kennebec County in 2021. “Our friend said, ‘If you can, you should,’ and that has stuck with us and was one of the many reasons we agreed to return to United Way to lead UWKV’s campaign this year.”

This year, the focus of the campaign is on Kennebec County’s ALICE population — those who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed but still struggle to meet the basic cost of living despite earning above the Federal Poverty Level. In Kennebec Valley, 42% of households are below the ALICE Threshold.

“Addressing the needs of the ALICE population is critical for our campaign. It’s about highlighting the real challenges faced by these individuals and mobilizing community resources so they will not be ignored,” said Kerry.

United Way’s annual fundraising efforts engage over 130 local businesses, representing more than 4,000 donors. Last year, these efforts raised over $1.9 million, supporting 58 nonprofit and school-based programs throughout Kennebec County. With the backing of the Campaign Champions, a network of local business and community leaders, the Smarts aim to expand the donor base to address the growing community needs.

UWKV's 54th Annual Golf Scramble, presented by Charlie's Family of Dealerships, is on July 29 at the Augusta Country Club — register your foursome today! Join us for our shotgun start at 10 am, with lunch on the turn and a banquet to celebrate our winners.

All proceeds support United Way's Community Care Fund, which will help 58 nonprofit and school-based programs across Kennebec County in 2025. Last year, this event sold out, and UWKV netted more than $21,000 at this event.

For more information, or to become a sponsor, visit our website. If you would like to register a team, email a completed registration form to mtibbetts@uwkv.org by July 8.

This event is presented by Charlie's Family of Dealerships. UWKV also thanks Banquet Sponsors NRF Distributors and Performance Foodservice - NorthCenter. J.S. McCarthy Packaging + Print and Milestone Funeral Partners are the event's lunch sponsors, Cross Insurance is sponsoring the Air Cannon and the Putting Contest is sponsored by Core-Mark. Several other sponsorships remain available — claim yours now!

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In a bid to foster stronger connections between home and school, Libby-Tozier School, a prekindergarten and kindergarten school in Regional School Unit #4 (RSU #4), hosted an exciting literacy event aimed at enhancing oral language skills in young learners. The event was set up to empower parents with the knowledge and tools they needed to support their children’s development, all while enjoying a delightful pizza dinner.

The “Parent Curriculum on Oral Language Skills” is a pioneering initiative that acknowledges the pivotal role parents play in their child’s education. Led by our literacy coach, Rebecca Dalessandro, the event promised to equip parents with practical strategies for nurturing oral language skills at home. These skills are crucial for early literacy and academic success, making this event a significant opportunity for parents to get involved in their child’s learning journey.

“We believe that learning should extend beyond the classroom, and parents are essential partners in this process,” said Kathy Martin, assistant superintendent of RSU #4. “By providing parents with the tools and knowledge to support oral language development, we are helping our students build a strong foundation for future success.”

The following is a success story from Motivational Services' Living in Community (LINC) program, a partner program of United Way. Your donations support this program and many others across the county.

Sandra, a woman in her early 50s, was newly released from Maine State Prison and living at a local shelter. She recalls feeling lost, lonely, and scared. She was sober for the first time in over 30 years, with no sense of self, in unfamiliar surroundings, and was referred to LINC by her co-occurring drug court case-manager.

During the first couple weeks of visiting LINC, she was very anxious, constantly seeking reassurance, following staff around, requesting support to do everyday tasks — like making phone calls, or even making a snack. She slowly gained a comfortable routine and then the pandemic hit, again, and Motivational Services had to make the difficult decision to close. Sandra was at her breaking point. She attributes what happened next to a relationship with a LINC peer recovery coach.

They began meeting via Zoom twice a week. She attended a few LINC online groups as well. Sandra started to gain momentum and strength. She found a church and learned how to use the Kennebec Explorer to get around with guidance of LINC peer support.