Latest news with #UnitedWay
CBS News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Turlock homeless shelter at risk of closing to stay open through summer
After months of political back-and-forth, Turlock's emergency homeless shelter for men said it's staying open thanks to a wave of community donations. The We Care shelter had requested a $10,000 grant through the city's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. But earlier this week, the Turlock City Council voted to remove the shelter from the list of approved nonprofits, citing uncertainty about its long-term status. "We keep getting emails saying they're closing," said Mayor Amy Bublak during Tuesday's meeting. "I don't really want to extend money toward something when we have no absolute." The vote follows an earlier council decision in April to withhold a symbolic $1 and a letter of support, both needed to unlock nearly $270,000 in state funding for the shelter. That move drew sharp criticism from Gov. Gavin Newsom and sparked statewide attention. But despite the latest denial, We Care Director Sandy Singh said the shelter isn't going anywhere. "Our community has really stepped up for us," Singh said. "We've received support from United Way, Stanislaus Community Foundation, and Kaiser and we're expecting more." Singh said the donations currently total about $90,000, enough to fund operations for the next three months. The shelter typically shuts down for two weeks each July for cleaning and maintenance, but plans to reopen before the end of the month. As for the $10,000 federal grant, Singh said they're still hopeful, but not relying on it. The Turlock City Council will revisit the remaining CDBG funds during its next meeting on June 24.
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘A rewarding experience': Volunteers take part in annual Day of Caring
Volunteers took part in the United Way Elgin Middlesex's 24th annual Day of Caring on June 19, 2025. (Lauren Stallone/CTV News London) Hundreds of volunteers from local businesses joined together for the 24th annual 'Day of Caring' event taking place across London, Elgin County, and Middlesex County. The event, hosted by United Way Elgin Middlesex, aims at providing volunteers deeper insight into important work being done in the community. 'It's an opportunity for workplaces and corporations to come together and go out to united way funded partners and roll up their sleeves and do a little bit of hard work,' said Kelly Ziegner, president and CEO of United Way Elgin Middlesex. Volunteers were sent out to 23 different agencies and participated in activities such as 'garden cleanup' and 'hosting community barbeques.' Organizers said participating in the day is a 'great opportunity' for volunteers to gain a deeper insight into the work being done by United Way's Funded Programs. 'It's great for our workplaces and corporations that are involved because their employees get to work together on something a little different than their desk jobs,' said Ziegner. Jordan Moat with Libro Credit Union, one of the organizations that sponsored and participated in the event, said he enjoys 'sharing such a rewarding experience' with his staff. 'It's a feel-good moment, right?' said Moat. 'They enjoy rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty and feel connected to the community.' One of the projects included in the day was 'Type Diabeat-it' a non-profit organization focused on ensuring Canadians with diabetes have access to quality produce and increase their consumption of vegetables. 'This is Harvest Haven, this is one of our many projects,' said Gonzalo Gomez-Daza, operations manager for Type Diabeat-it. 'It's a one-and-a-half-acre lot, here we grow food that goes back to the community for free.' The non-profit said they were thankful to have so many volunteers come out and show their support. 'Being able to bring all these volunteers here means that lots of work, probably about a couple months worth of work will be done in about a day,' said Gomez-Daza
CTV News
18 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Ottawa man honoured for volunteer work with LGBTQ2S+ refugees
Ottawa Watch Yves Brunet has been volunteering with the Capital Rainbow Refuge for more than 10 years. This week, he was surprised with a United Way Community Builder Award.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Connecticut braces for heat wave: Here's how to stay safe
Connecticut is preparing for a heat wave starting June 22. According to a community announcement, Gov. Ned Lamont has activated the state's Extreme Hot Weather Protocol. This protocol will be in effect from noon on June 22 through at least 8 p.m. on June 25. This marks the first time this year that the protocol has been activated. The weather forecast predicts temperatures will exceed 90 degrees, with a heat index ranging from 100 to 105 degrees. The protocol aims to protect vulnerable populations during these extreme conditions. State agencies, municipalities, and partners will coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 to provide information on cooling centers available statewide. These centers will offer relief for those in need. Individuals can find their nearest cooling center by calling 2-1-1 or visiting where a list will be published online. The protocol includes several actions to ensure effective communication and assistance. The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection's Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will utilize its WebEOC communications network. This internet-based system allows local, regional, and state emergency management officials to share real-time information about various situations. More: Norwich weather is about to change: Where there could be a heat wave Municipalities and partners will submit information about cooling center openings into the WebEOC, creating a real-time database of available locations. United Way 2-1-1 will act as a clearinghouse to help residents locate these centers. Regional coordinators will monitor WebEOC to respond to requests from municipalities for state assistance. Energy utility companies will provide regular updates on the impact of the weather on their services throughout the protocol's duration. Certain groups are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. Infants and young children are particularly sensitive to high temperatures and depend on caregivers to provide adequate hydration and a safe environment. Older adults, especially those 65 and older, may struggle to manage heat stress and often do not sense temperature changes effectively. Individuals who are overweight may retain more body heat, increasing their risk of heat sickness. Those who overexert themselves during work or exercise may become dehydrated and more susceptible to heat-related issues. People with existing health conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, or those taking specific medications, may also be affected by extreme heat. To stay safe during periods of extreme heat, residents are advised to keep their body temperature cool. Staying in air-conditioned buildings is recommended. If outdoor activity is necessary, it should be limited to the morning and evening hours. Resting in shady areas can help the body cool down. Finding an air-conditioned location is crucial. Residents are encouraged to call 2-1-1 for a list of cooling centers. Relying solely on fans is not advisable. Avoiding direct sunlight and wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing can also help. Taking cool showers or baths is recommended, as is checking on at-risk individuals several times a day. Pets should have access to water and shade if they cannot be brought indoors. Leaving pets in parked vehicles is dangerous, as temperatures can rise to life-threatening levels quickly. Staying hydrated is essential during extreme heat. It is advised to drink more water than usual and not wait until feeling thirsty to hydrate. Drinking two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outdoors is recommended. Residents should also avoid alcohol and sugary drinks. Reminding others to stay hydrated is important for community safety during this heat wave. This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Connecticut activates heat emergency plan — here's what to expect
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
For some Californians, high transportation costs put owning a car out of reach
Los Angeles — Getting to work is work for Franchescoli Andrade, who rides his bike, hops on a train and then takes a bus every day. His 20-mile journey from South Los Angeles to the San Fernando Valley takes about 90 minutes each way. "Half an hour just to get to downtown, to get to the train station, then another half-an-hour just to get from the train station to get here, and then the bus will take me straight to my job," Andrade told CBS News. "I would do this journey every day just to get my family through." His journey was easier when he had a car. But following a crash, fixing it just cost too much for Andrade, who is the sole provider for his family. "It's almost like a struggle, every paycheck," Andrade said. To cut down on daycare costs, his wife stays at home with their young son. "It's heart wrenching, you know," Andrade said. "Because it makes me feel like I'm not enough, you know, as a human. Like, I'm not really doing much." Andrade's family's struggles mirror that of millions in California. According to a study released earlier this year from the nonprofit United Way, 35% of California households — or about 3.8 million households — do not make enough to afford basic costs of living, such as rent, groceries and gas. United Way CEO Pete Manzo says the study is just a snapshot of a national problem. "It's a crisis we've been living with," Manzo told CBS News. "It's like we're running a high fever. We have too many households where people are working hard and they can't earn a decent standard of living." One of the biggest challenges is access to transportation. AAA says the cost of owning a new car — including monthly payments, insurance, maintenance and fuel — runs more than $12,000 per year for the average American household. "You're basically saying to a family, it's going to be a $1,000 a month or more to get to and from work, to get to and from school," Manzo said. "It's not cheap." The costs may not be as high in some other states as in California. But nationwide, taking into account inflation, the financial burden of transportation is steadily rising, along with housing and childcare, United Way analysis has found. Manzo says that advising families in California to move somewhere more affordable isn't necessarily a practical solution. "For one family, that might be a decent idea," Manzo said. "But it's pretty disruptive to just pick up and leave all your other family relationships and all your community ties to move somewhere to make it them all to move somewhere cheaper just doesn't make sense." For now, Andrade is saving up to afford a car for his family. "They tell me, you know, don't give up, you got this." Teen questioned after family's quadruple murder Iranians evacuate capital Tehran, some say the regime is frightened Parents, brother of slain Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman speak about her death
