United Way Lakes and Prairie

09/02/2026

The past week has been a wonderful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together to care for one another.
From helping distribute food to local households to packing weekend meals for students, we saw volunteers and community partners show up in meaningful ways.💙

We are grateful for everyone who donated their time, energy, and resources to make these efforts possible. When our community sees a need, we raise our hands, and united together, we are making a difference!

08/31/2026

It's almost time to take your best shot for a great cause!
Join us for our Annual United Way Lakes and Prairie Trap Tournament on September 15, 2026, at Alexandria Shooting Park.

We are looking for TEAMS from across our counties to sign up and a few more VOLUNTEERS to help with scores.
Sign your team up here👉 https://www.uwlp.org/news-events/trap-shooting-tournament.html

Come have some fun, enjoy some friendly competition, and support our local communities!
Let's make this year's tournament a great one!

08/31/2026

✏️Back to school is here! 🍎
This week, many kids in our region are heading back to school with fresh supplies, new backpacks, and a little extra confidence for the year ahead.
But behind every backpack is a village.
From the generous businesses who opened their doors and hosted bus boxes, to community members who gave generously, to volunteers who sorted, packed, loaded, and organized countless supplies, helped distribute them to families, and came afterward to help clean up. There are so many people who raised their hand to give their time, talents, resources, and hearts to make this possible. We would like to THANK YOU!!!
Here's to a wonderful school year to everyone across our Lakes and Prairie!📚🎒🖍️

08/31/2026

Join us in Long Prairie on September 17!

COMING SOON! Help volunteer with United Way & LPGE Elementary school!

08/25/2026

Remembering Dolly Parton today and the incredible impact of her love for children, books, and her Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
Dolly once said, "The seeds of dreams are often found in books, and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world."🌱📚
Those words beautifully reflect why we do what we do at United Way Lakes and Prairie.♥️
Every backpack, every book, every meal, every resource, and every helping hand is a seed. United together, we are planting seeds. United together, we are growing dreams.
Thank you, Dolly, for always reminding us that when we invest in our children, the impact can reach far beyond what we see today.📚💛

08/24/2026

🎒Missed your backpack distribution?🎒
We are offering bonus distribution opportunities for Stuff the Bus families who were unable to attend their original distribution.
Registrants- please check your email for more information.
You may also find the updated schedule here:👇
https://www.uwlp.org/what-we-do/united-way-programs/stuff-the-bus-registration.html

If you missed your original location, please make every effort to attend the nearest bonus distribution location. Contact our office if you are adding a designated person to pick up on your behalf.
We know schedules are busy, and we're committed to making sure students have the supplies they need for the school year. We appreciate your understanding that we may not be able to accommodate every missed distribution.

Thank you to our amazing volunteers, donors, and community partners who make it possible for us to provide school supplies to local students!
When our community 🙋‍♂️raises its hands🙋‍♀️, students get the support they need to start the school year ready to learn! ✏️🍎

Let's help our area students start the year STRONG! United Way's Stuff the Bus Program is a community wide collection of new backpacks and school supplies to support local students.

08/20/2026

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

United Way Lakes & Prairie has been nominated as a Top 5 finalist in the 2026 Best of the Best Contest by the Echo Press! 🏆

We are honored to be recognized in two categories: ⭐ Best Charity Event
⭐ Best Non-Profit Organization

This is a people's choice contest, and we would be grateful for your support. Voting begins September 11 at echopress.com.

Every vote helps shine a spotlight on the important work being done throughout our communities and the incredible impact we can make together.

Thank you for being part of our mission and for supporting United Way Lakes & Prairie! ❤️

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

🎒❤️ Stuff the Bus Distribution Reminder ❤️🎒

We know schedules can be busy, and we want to make sure families who registered for backpacks have every opportunity to pick them up!

If you have not yet picked up your registered supplies, you are welcome to visit one of our other remaining distribution locations during our scheduled distribution times.
If you are registered and are not able to pick up, you may call our office to designate an alternate pick-up person.
See our website for full distribution details: https://www.uwlp.org/what-we-do/united-way-programs/stuff-the-bus-registration.html

As a reminder, backpacks are available only through the end of our scheduled distributions. Once all distribution locations have finished, we will no longer have backpacks available for pickup.

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we work to get backpacks into the hands of as many students in our region as possible. We appreciate our communities and are so grateful to everyone who helped make this program possible! 🎒📚❤️

Let's help our area students start the year STRONG! United Way's Stuff the Bus Program is a community wide collection of new backpacks and school supplies to support local students.