United Way of Bartow County

06/19/2026

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas finally learned they were free more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. On June 19th, Union troops arrived and issued General Order No. 3, enforcing freedom for over 250,000 people who had been unjustly kept in bo***ge.

Recognizing Juneteenth means acknowledging the full story of our nation, the pain, the perseverance, and the progress. It means honoring the generations who fought for freedom and continuing the work they began.

Today, we celebrate. We reflect. And we recommit to building a future where freedom is real, shared, and protected for all.

06/18/2026

📊 The State of ALICE in Bartow County

Did you know that 40% of Bartow County households live below the ALICE Threshold, meaning they are either in poverty or working hard but still unable to afford the basic cost of living?

ALICE impacts some age groups even more:
• 60% of households led by someone under age 25 are below the ALICE Threshold.
• 57% of households led by someone age 65 and older are below the ALICE Threshold.

The challenge also varies across communities and neighborhoods throughout Bartow County.

While Bartow County's ALICE rate is lower than the Georgia average, the numbers remain significant. Based on the most recent Census data, 45,388 Bartow County residents were living below the ALICE Threshold in 2024.

Since that data was collected, inflation and the rising cost of essentials like housing, groceries, childcare, transportation, and healthcare have continued to put pressure on household budgets.

💭 What do you think? Has the rising cost of living increased the number of ALICE households in Bartow County? Share your thoughts in the comments.

At United Way of Bartow County, we use ALICE data to better understand community needs, invest in local nonprofit programs, and work alongside partners to create solutions that help families build financial stability.

06/18/2026

✏️ Our United Way Write Start Pencil Drive is off to a great start, but we still need your help!

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we've collected 960 pencils toward our goal of 2,500 pencils for Bartow County students attending the Hands for Bartow Kids Back to School Bash on July 11.

That means we still have a way to go before we reach our goal!

We've made donating easy. Simply scan the QR code or visit the link in the comments to order pencils. Your donation will be shipped directly to United Way of Bartow County and distributed to local students at the Back to School Bash.

Every pencil makes a difference and helps ensure students start the school year ready to learn.

Thank you for helping us equip Bartow County students for success! 🍎📚✏️

06/17/2026

Nearly half of Georgia households are struggling to make ends meet.

According to ALICE data, 44% of Georgia households live below the ALICE Threshold, meaning they do not earn enough to cover the basic cost of living in their communities. This includes households living in poverty as well as ALICE families who are working but still struggling to afford essentials like housing, food, transportation, child care, and health care.

Georgia's rate of financial hardship is higher than the national average, ranking 43rd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with 1st representing the lowest rate of hardship.

These numbers remind us that financial hardship is often hidden in plain sight. Many ALICE households are our coworkers, friends, neighbors, and family members.

Learn more about ALICE and explore the data at United for ALICE.

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

📣 Nonprofit partners — don’t miss this opportunity!

The deadline to apply for 2027 United Way Community Impact Grants and Mini-Grants is July 31st. Funding opportunities are available for eligible organizations serving Bartow County residents and making a measurable impact in our community.

For more information about eligibility, funding opportunities and how to apply, visit our website today.

06/16/2026

Did you know the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) doesn't tell the whole story of financial hardship?

The ALICE Household Survival Budget provides a more realistic look at what it actually costs to live in a community. Unlike the FPL, it takes local expenses and household size into account to calculate the minimum income needed to afford basic necessities like housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, and technology.

That's why United Way of Bartow County uses ALICE data to better understand the challenges facing local families and to help guide community investments and conversations.

Want to learn more? Explore the ALICE Household Survival Budget and other valuable data tools at the United for ALICE website: https://www.unitedforalice.org

06/16/2026

💙 T-Shirt Tuesday 💙

This week's T-Shirt Tuesday spotlight features Brad Gilmore, Director of College and Community Engagement at Georgia Highlands and a dedicated United Way of Bartow County Board Member!

We are proud to support the Georgia Highlands College Charger Food Pantry, which provides an important resource for students, ensuring they have food to fuel both their brains and bodies as they work toward earning their degrees.

Thank you, Brad, for your leadership, your service to United Way, and your commitment to connecting education and community to help students succeed.

🎉 Want to win a United Way T-shirt? Simply like this post, comment below, and share it with your friends. We'll randomly select one winner and announce them later this week!

Together, we are creating opportunities for a brighter future.

06/15/2026

✏Help us fill backpacks with pencils! 📝📝

United Way of Bartow County is assisting our partners at Helping Hands for Bartow Kids by collecting 2,500 Ticonderoga pencils so every child at the Back to School Bash receives at least two new pencils for the new school year.

We've made helping out easy!

Shop our Amazon Pencil Drive Wishlist and have your purchase shipped directly to United Way. Every pencil makes a difference!

Link to purchase below in comments. ⤵

06/15/2026

We’ve shared stories of ALICE households in our community, but what does “ALICE” actually mean?

ALICE® stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—hardworking individuals and families who earn above the poverty level but still struggle to afford basic needs like housing, food, childcare, transportation, and healthcare.

The ALICE movement began as a research study in New Jersey to better understand why so many working families were struggling despite being employed. That study has grown into a nationwide initiative across more than two-thirds of U.S. states, including Georgia.

Today, United For ALICE provides data and research that helps communities understand the true cost of living and take action to support financial stability for working families.

When 41% of U.S. households can’t consistently make ends meet, this work matters.