Tri-County United Way Celebrates the Success of ‘United In Purpose’ & ‘Kids With Packs’: Youth Based Initiatives Supporting Local Schools and Families

Tri-County United Way’s inaugural United In Purpose initiative was a tremendous success for local students and families. This year, the organization introduced their new ‘United In Purpose’ efforts by distributing care packages to school leaders across 13 local schools. These thoughtfully assembled packages included toiletries, hygiene products, and food items to meet the immediate needs of both students and school staff.

Building on the success of the ‘Kids With Packs’ event, which provides hundreds of backpacks and school supplies to students, ‘United In Purpose’ specifically supports schools serving ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) populations. This low-income hardworking population often struggles with purchasing basic necessities despite being employed in essential roles.

In preparation for the Kids With Packs and United In Purpose initiatives, Laura Jensen, Director of Community Engagement, collaborated closely with school officials from Warren, Northern Saratoga, and Washington counties to identify and address the top needs of students and schools. As a result, hundreds of brand-new backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, glue, crayons, folders, rulers, pencil boxes, headphones, and more were distributed. Additionally, through United In Purpose, schools received new clothing items, hygiene products, and food items to further support their students and staff.

This year, Laura Jensen, Director of Community Engagement, recruited a team of 50 volunteers from various businesses and organizations supporting both initiatives. These volunteers dedicated their time to packing school supplies purchased by Tri-County United Way, making a significant impact on students and families.

Tri-County United Way expresses its deep gratitude to its generous partners, including the Lions Club of Glens Falls, Checon LLC, Nemer Ford, the Charles R. Wood Foundation, Target, The Post Star, and The Hyde Collection. Their monetary and in-kind contributions were crucial to the success of these programs. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our dedicated volunteers and donors. Your continued support is essential for advancing youth programs and assisting working-class families in our community. Each donation and volunteer hour has made a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.