Stories - Community Impact

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Carolyn King has 19 screws in her knee and ankle as a result of a car accident. Her husband, Lorenza, has battled lymphoma and her son has special needs. But if you ask Carolyn, she will tell you that she is blessed.

The King family of Shirley, NY, were experiencing difficult times and were faced with the possibility of…

house

After nearly nine years U.S. veteran John W. of Mastic Beach is finally home. It wasn't until this year that he was able to move into his newly built home in after it suffered irreparable damage due to Superstorm Sandy. United Way of Long Island reached out to help John by providing him a mobile trailer to live in to give him a place to call home while he waited for his permanent house to be completed.  Welcome Home John!

John writes:…

Denise

Project Warmth Recipient

Denise is a strong-willed, full-time working mom of three children... all live at home and all depend on her, which presents its own challenges. But six years ago tragedy struck when Denise’s house was significantly damaged in a fire, which left her and her family in a dire situation. She is still struggling to rebuild her life after this tragedy. More recently, she is caring for her ill mother. 

Given the…

Meshessna

Project Warmth

Meshessna of Freeport is a single mother of two daughters, doing the best she can to retain a sense of normalcy after her divorce two years ago. “I want my kids to be able to stay in their same school, still be close to their friends, live as close to the same life they were living before the divorce,” she explained.

But maintaining this life proved difficult, as now she was managing her household with only a…

Regina is a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor who has lost two husbands and two sons. Her third son Arnold, a grown man with several minor disabilities, lives with her and they take care of each other.  

Regina and Arnold frequently attend holiday celebrations and movie nights at the Barry and Florence Friedberg Jewish Community Center. The Services to Adults and Senior Adults program, supported by United Way’s Long…

Michael was diagnosed to be on the Autism Spectrum as a young child. At an early age, Michael was enrolled by his family into Developmental Disabilities Institute’s Starting Early Program, an initiative supported by United Way’s Long Island Impact Fund.

Upon completion of the program, he successfully graduated into the mainstream educational program of his local school district. As a high school senior, Michael competed…

Meet Mary - a 9 year old girl with a bubbly personality and a participant in Choice for All’s Student Success Center, a program supported by United Way of Long Island. Mary’s mother was referred to the program by a community member that had a child in the program with similar academic concerns. Mary’s mom is a single mother of two with Mary being the youngest. She expressed concerns about Mary’s struggle with reading comprehension…

When a person is faced with challenges, it is often easier to collapse under the pressure than to rise above them. For Kelly of Huntington Station, despite the tragedies she’s faced, she knew she had to stay strong for the most important people in her life – her four children.

In 2012, Kelly was on a charter bus traveling upstate when the driver fell asleep at the wheel and crashed the bus. Following the…

Everyone Rides NICE will be available beginning April 28, 2021.

United Way of Long Island and Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE bus) partnered to provide low- and moderate-income Nassau County families and individuals with emergency transportation assistance for bus fares.

Michelle reached out to United Way of Long Island's Family Prosperity Center through a partner agency for assistance with financial responsibility. Her living situation was changing, and she was unsure about how to find new housing. After meeting with a financial counselor, Michelle was able to write down a monthly budget and break down her income vs. expenses. Her current rent was covered by the partner agency; however she would only be…