News
Tri-County United Way’s “Celebrate the 518” initiative kicked off this year with a focused and practical goal: address the basic but critical needs of students across Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties. Through support from Travelers, funding was secured to provide essential hygiene items to local youth.
From the outset, the effort was rooted in collaboration. Tri-County United Way Board Member Scott Brown, an employee from Travelers, and Director of Community Engagement and Communications, Laura Jensen, and Business Manager Peggy Hurlburt Tri- County United Way , worked together for the second consecutive year to help address the growing needs across the region. In partnership with school administrators and community organizations, Tri-County United Way identified specific gaps in access to hygiene products, including what students were missing at local schools, how frequently those needs arose, and where support could have the greatest impact.
The findings were consistent: lack of access to basic hygiene items continues to be a barrier for many students, affecting health, confidence, and the ability to fully participate in school.
Over several months, Tri County United Way and Travelers coordinated logistics and distribution planning. Each step was aligned with needs identified directly from local schools and community partners.
This planning culminated in the kickoff of TriiCounty United Way’s “Celebrate the 518” community initiatives on April 29. Volunteers from both organizations came together to assemble dozens of care packages, transforming planning into hands-on support through shared effort and time.
These kits will be distributed to 18 schools and community partners, reaching thousands of young people across a 2,000-square-mile region. The effect is immediate and practical. Providing access to basic hygiene items helps remove barriers that can affect attendance, well-being, and classroom focus.
At its core, this effort reflects how Tri County United Way operates: bringing partners together, listening to community needs and turning collaboration into measurable results. Through its continued work with Travelers, Tri County United Way is expanding its reach and reinforcing the impact of coordinated action at the local level.
Tri-County United Way extends sincere gratitude to the 16 volunteers from both Travelers and Tri County United Way who contributed their time and effort to this project. Together, we live united.
Blog written By Laura Jensen