Enjoy the summer and be safe!

From Familywize

With many thanks...

By Eloisa Herrero

Last Friday, during the United Way Day of Action about one hundred volunteers joined forces hoping to change somebody's  life for the better. Our volunteers worked very hard on a very humid Texas day. They delivered fans, did yard work, built an outdoor classroom, painted a fence and a playroom, did some home repairs, collected items, etc.

  

During the day, we heard stories about how much people appreciated the volunteers' hard work. One volunteer even said that for the first time she "experienced" United Way".

Today, at the GLUW office, we received a thank you note from one of the households where some home repairs were done. We would like to share this wonderful thank you note.

The impact of the day goes so much farther than simply mowing a yard or repairing a home. We join this homeowner and the hundreds of other lives touched in thanking the volunteers and local organizations who made such a huge difference in our community. 

That is what it means to LIVE UNITED.

Let’s Hear it for Team Spirit!

By Beckie Moore

Have you noticed that we spend an inordinate amount of time brainstorming about team building activities that could be implemented in order to generate unity within our organization and/or business and yet we fail to put the plans in motion?

Thanks to Barry Hamblett and his amazing company family at Bates Container, I was privileged to witness team building at its best! A generous dose of team spirit was alive and well throughout the day! All of this excitement took place at a company picnic. No fancy dinner or extravagantly appointed venue…simply people enjoying spending time with each other! 

At their invitation, I joined their picnic and had a blast shaking hands, playing games and “dressing” people in United Way gear. Thank you, Bates Container, for sharing your team spirit with me. After all, isn't that what it’s all about? Keep sharing your TEAM SPIRIT as you LIVE UNITED in our community! It is contagious!

Taxes 101 for students who take summer jobs.

 From IRS.gov

Many students take a job in the summer after school lets out. If it’s your first job it gives you a chance to learn about the working world. That includes taxes we pay to support the place where we live, our state and our nation. Here are eight things that students who take a summer job should know about taxes:

1.     Don’t be surprised when your employer withholds taxes from your paychecks. That’s how you pay your taxes when you’re an employee. If you’re self-employed, you may have to pay estimated taxes directly to the IRS on certain dates during the year. This is how our pay-as-you-go tax system works.

2.     As a new employee, you’ll need to fill out a Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Your employer will use it to figure how much federal income tax to withhold from your pay. The IRS Withholding Calculator tool on IRS.gov can help you fill out the form.

3.     Keep in mind that all tip income is taxable. If you get tips, you must keep a daily log so you can report them. You MUST report $20 or more in cash tips in any one month to your employer. And you must report all of your yearly tips on your tax return.

4.     Money you earn doing work for others is taxable. Some work you do may count as self-employment. This can include jobs like baby-sitting and lawn mowing. Keep good records of expenses related to your work. You may be able to deduct (subtract) those costs from your income on your tax return. A deduction may help lower your taxes.

5.     If you’re in ROTC, your active duty pay, such as pay you get for summer camp, is taxable. A subsistence allowance you get while in advanced training isn't taxable.

6.     You may not earn enough from your summer job to owe income tax. But your employer usually must withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes from your pay. If you’re self-employed, you may have to pay them yourself. They count toward your coverage under the Social Security system.

7.     If you’re a newspaper carrier or distributor, special rules apply. If you meet certain conditions, you’re considered self-employed. If you don’t meet those conditions and are under age 18, you are usually exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes.

8.     You may not earn enough money from your summer job to be required to file a tax return. Even if that’s true, you may still want to file. For example, if your employer withheld income tax from your pay, you’ll have to file a return to get your taxes refunded. You can prepare and e-file your tax return for free using      myfreetaxes.com or let our VITA volunteers help you!

 For more information call 903-236-9211.

My Internship Experience with GLUW

By Ryan Jacobs

         

My internship with Greater Longview United Way has been a life-changing and humbling experience. This internship has shown me the different sides of people I had the chance to work with, and how to handle the stress that comes along with different types of situations. The internship also taught me patience and how to cope with everyday situations in the workplace. The experience I received from this internship is incredible. I have worked on many projects that I never had the opportunity to work on. In my internship, I have gained so much experience from the projects I have worked on and from all the people that I was able to interact with.

Although this internship can have the tendency to get stressful at times, the staff at United Way is so helpful and willing to lend a hand. They are always willing to give up a few minutes of their busy schedule to help out with a little project, and they are not afraid to go the extra mile to get a project done. The workers at Longview United Way have a true heart for serving the community.

 Longview United Way is a non-profit organization aimed to help the community of Longview and surrounding areas of Gregg County. The people who work at United Way have a heart for the community and are willing to go beyond expectations to help out a people they have never met before. They care about other people’s future and where the people will go in life. The workers at United Way are not afraid to dig down deep and find resources to help the people who cannot help themselves.

This internship has been a great experience for me and I would recommend the internship to anyone who would like to gain experience with all sorts of projects. The staff is kind and considerate and creates an encouraging atmosphere to anyone who walks in the door.  

2013 GLUW Volunteer of the Year

By Eloisa Herrero

Don Knoop, a retired professor from LeTourneau University, has volunteered for the Home Repairs initiative for the last 4 years.  He was one of the first volunteers and has always been a true champion of the project.

Don Knoop plays a very important role in the success of GLUW Home repairs initiative by providing initial on-site assessment of the homes, calculating the estimate cost of the repairs, coordinating volunteers for some of the projects, securing materials and serving on the repair teams.  His endless talents and commitment have helped to improve the lives of more than 50 families in Longview.

Don Knoop not only volunteers for Greater Longview United Way, but also for many other organizations in Longview. Therefore, he is a perfect example of what LIVE UNITED means!

Greater Longview United Way Recognition Volunteer

Susan McWhorter

Susan McWhorter has served as a volunteer tax preparer for the Greater Longview United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) for the past five years. As an accountant, her expertise has been invaluable to the program.

For the past two years, Susan has served as one of three site coordinators and is the only volunteer site coordinator for the VITA program. This position requires more training and commitment than any other VITA volunteer position.

Susan is passionate about helping people and VITA clients appreciate her patience and vast knowledge. She makes everyone feel welcome with her ready smile.

In addition to her dedication to the VITA program, Susan has been a volunteer for many other organizations over the past 30 years; including: American Heart Association, Camp Fire (now SeeSaw Children’s Place), Leadership Longview, Junior League and Junior Achievement.

Susan gives of her time and talents unselfishly to the United Way and her community.

My United Way Experience

By: Jason Montgomery

It has now been two weeks since I have started working as the Marketing Intern at Greater Longview United Way and already I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work here. I have been able to dive right in to projects such as radio and television advertising as well as plenty of hours in the community filing free income tax returns. It has been an incredible experience already and I cannot wait to see all that is in store for me in the weeks to come.

My first three days on the job not only solidified my doubts that everything you learn in college will be used at some point in your career, but it also had me hitting the books for the first time for work rather than school. You see, part of the job description was becoming VITA certified (Volunteer Income Tax Assistant). This means that my accounting professor Mrs. Bellamy gets the final laugh because I guess I did become an accountant instead of a marketer first after all. Within those first three days I passed the IRS certified Ethics and Basic Exams, which would allows me to volunteer at the VITA site that weekend.

The VITA program is an incredible program and since it is so amazing I am going to pitch it right now just because of the profound impact it has on the community of Longview. People young and old come out and take certification tests in order to be able to volunteer their free time to fill out the community’s income tax returns for free. It is an incredible service that helps the community to grow by increasing the amount of money that families can save. I cannot begin to tell you how great it feels to know that you are saving these people money and that they will now be able to use it to get themselves necessities for everyday life. It only took me four hours to realize the need for me to become intermediate certified so that I can help out even more.
The next week was right in line with what I have been learning for the past year, marketing and advertising to a specific target audience. I have done a plethora of projects in school and some extracurricular marketing, but this was the first time it was real life marketing and advertising to a different target market other than one that I currently fit into. Now it was time for me to use all that I have learned and apply it accordingly. So far it has been a blast to be creating public service announcements for VITA to be aired on the radio, coordinating television commercials with local news companies, and creating thank you advertisements to the people that donate their time for the community. It is one thing to come up with an idea and a completely different thing to get out there and make it come to life.

Everything that I have done over the past two weeks has further backed my decision to seek a career path in marketing and keeps me excited and anxious to see all the possibilities that I have to make a difference in the community.

Be a VITA Volunteer!

2012 is here….and the tax season is around the corner. But some working families in our communities don’t think about tax returns; they are focused on getting the next meal on the table and paying this month’s rent. Wouldn't it be great to help some of these families receive the tax benefits they are due? Unfortunately, many low income families who qualify let federal funds go unclaimed not knowing about the programs, not knowing how to apply, or because they are overwhelmed by the tax preparation process.

You don’t have to be a tax expert to help. Greater Longview United Way offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, a successful, proven strategy that mobilizes and trains volunteers to provide free tax service to working individuals and their families. VITA assists taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet by saving them the cost of tax preparation and helping them claim all tax credits for which they are eligible.

In 2011, GLUW VITA volunteers helped return a total of $506,573 to its clients, in tax refunds and in refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child & Dependent Care Tax Credits. Each VITA client saved on tax preparation fees plus fees associated with refund anticipation loans.Behind every return there is a story. Volunteers hear these stories and experience first-hand how they are making a difference every time they volunteer. Greeters, screeners, tax preparers and quality review volunteers appreciate how their specific role contributes to these families’ financial stability. All volunteers receive free training.VITA is central to increasing the number of families who are financially stable and can have a ripple effect into the U.S. economy, as families that receive these funds typically spend them on the necessities of life.

United Way aims to cut by half the number of low-income families who are financially unstable by 2018. Can you think of a better way to spend the tax season this year? Contact us at 903-758-0191 to become a VITA volunteer!

Thanks to our Longview Mayor Jay Dean and all the people involved for LIVING UNITED!

By Eloisa Herrero

Early this week we received a call in our office informing us that Mayor Jay Dean would implement a program to help - mainly elderly and disabled people - beat the 100-degree weather. Great news for people in need of an air conditioning window unit!

It really caught my attention that several different sectors of the community such as government officials, nonprofit agencies, private companies and Longview residents were mobilized to make this program possible. That is a lot of people LIVING UNITED in Longview!

Mr. Dean mentioned in a news conference that the program was not going to solve the problem completely but it would help about 250 families. I think helping one family to deal with this heat is great, helping 250 families is awesome! Helping one family at the time is all it takes to advance the common good.

If we can beat the heat in Longview, we can beat anything if we LIVE UNITED!

2011 Special Volunteer Recognition

Amy Taylor is Senior Manager – Human Resources for Neiman Marcus. Amy has been a United Way volunteer for more than 10 years. She began volunteering in the Industrial, Communications and Utilities division of the United Way campaign. She has led that division for the past two years and served as a co-chair prior to that. In addition, Amy has served as Secretary of the Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee; and as a member of the Communications Committee, the Leadership Development Committee and a Community Solutions team. Amy is active on the Board of Directors of Longview Child Development Center, LeTourneau Presidential Advisory Committee and the Longview 2020 Board, in addition to her service to GLUW. Amy is a multi-talented and energetic leader for United Way. She has been a tremendous asset to the organization by helping raise funds, assisting in the distribution of funds and ensuring the future of the Greater Longview United Way through her tireless efforts.

What are our Loyal Contributors Saying?

By Eloisa Herrero

Through the years Greater Longview United Way has raised millions of dollars to change lives in our community. This could not have been possible without the help of our Loyal Contributors. Our Loyal Contributors are a very special group of people who have supported United Way for 10 years or more. Some of them have supported us for more than 25 years!

I would like to share the thoughts of our Loyal Contributors about their supporting United Way through all these years:

We believe in supporting & giving back to Longview. Through giving we receive many blessings. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our city`s non profits. They address so many needs in our community!

United Way is the best way to share locally with several groups at the same time.

I continue giving each year because I believe in the services it`s agencies provide. I am proud to be a part of that team.

We support United Way because lives are changed when hands and hearts are extended into our community.

We give each year to the United Way because it helps us give back to the community that has given so much to us. It`s a very convenient way to support our community and to help very worthwhile community projects.

I became a UW donor when volunteering for organizations that benefited from UW and saw the need for such help.

My husband and I gave through our employer for years. Continued giving even after retirement and his death 10 years ago. I still continue to give. It is a wonderful means of helping so many people.

Supporting community services is how a community grows stronger. As we provide services, individuals become self-sufficient and then can give back themselves to help another group of people. I love how efficiently United Way is run.

I have always contributed each payroll check because I truly believe in helping others in our community thru the many organizations that United Way supports.

Building homes

By DeWayne Mahurin

I had always wanted to help build a habitat house, but because of my frequent and sometimes unexpected travel, I never was able to commit in advance to being on a crew. However, my wife informed me that the Greater Longview United Way Habitat House Blitz was to take place on January 22, and I was available that day. It was 21 degrees when I left my cozy home, but I would much prefer to work outdoors in that type weather than 100 degree weather. When I arrived, there was a nice roaring fire and bundled up volunteers were everywhere.

I was pleasantly surprised at how organized and easy to understand the layout was concerning the framing of the house. Volunteers caught on quickly and the framing went very fast. Whenever you had a question, an experienced “foreman” was available to keep the construction moving smoothly. The feeling of helping someone, while learning about home construction proved to be very satisfying. I look forward to volunteering on another Habitat House. The low stress of, just show up and work, was very attractive to me. Getting to see the fruits of your labor develop into a structure is cool. If you are looking for a volunteer project I highly recommend Habitat. There is something to do regardless of skill level.

GLUW is getting ready for the tax season.

By Eloisa Herrero

As you all probably know the tax season begins in February, however, our VITA program begins a little earlier.

The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income people who need some help to prepare their own tax returns. Certified VITA volunteers receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in our community.

This program would not be possible without the hard work of many volunteers. Recruiting volunteers is the reason the tax season begins early for us. VITA Volunteers perform different tasks such as preparing federal income tax returns, assisting clients with intake questions or interpreting. Becoming a VITA volunteer is easy and rewarding.

If you would like to become a VITA volunteer, give us a call at 903-236-9211. We would love to share with you the wonderful experience of being a VITA volunteer!!

Carol Sammons shared some comments about her experience as a VITA volunteer last year:

“Working as a volunteer for the 2009 VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program, was truly an inspiration for me. This program helps individuals take advantage of the tax credits they are eligible for through out the year. This is Free tax preparation for all who qualifies, yes! This is a totally Free service. Being able to help others during this time of the year was rewarding for me and beneficial for others who are in need of this help. Seeing so many people with appreciation in their hearts was worth it all. This program is just one of many programs sponsored by the GLUW in an effort to reach out and help others in their times of need.”

Why do I volunteer?

By LaDelle Kay

Why do I volunteer? I ask myself that question occasionally and always come back to the same answer: it is my duty to give back in whatever way I can.

I have been blessed with wonderful mentors in my life. Lessons in giving and volunteering began with a mother who, though possessing little materially, gave what she had to those in our community and to my large family. She taught us that we all have something to give and to give graciously and with generosity. That pattern continued during grade school and high school years and into adulthood as teachers, church leaders, business leaders and community individuals modeled the art of volunteering. It is said that education is the key, and I learned extensively from those caring individuals.

Many opportunities for volunteerism are available that utilize your talents. We all have a chance to make positive lasting changes in lives in our community. I encourage you to get involved in your community, because organizations are waiting with open arms to embrace you as a volunteer.

Woodrow Wilson described volunteerism beautifully:

"We are not merely here to make a living…we are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. We are here to enrich the world, and we impoverish ourselves if we forget the errand."

GIVE. VOLUNTEER. ADVOCATE

How to support youth health and wellness

By Eloisa Herrero

Last week, together with our Annual Campaign Kick off, we kicked off our Back to Football Friday Campaign. We encouraged fans of all ages to show their NFL team pride and sign up for a chance to win a trip to the Super Bowl.

I would really like to emphasize that the main objective of this campaign is NOT to sit in front of the television the rest of the year watching every single football game possible. The main objective is “to raise awareness about the issue of childhood obesity and creating new opportunities for young people to lead healthier lifestyles.”

The question is how do we “tackle” the child obesity rate which has nearly doubled in the last ten years?

Here are some examples of how you can encourage children (and adults too!) to be more active and healthier:

• Start a walking or running club in your neighborhood
• Organize a mini flag football league in your community
• Provide free dancing lessons….girls love dancing!
• Advocate for healthier meal options at school
• Organize a weekly family trip to the farmer’s market in your area and get tons of fruits and veggies!
• Help a neighbor with their yard work - mowing or raking are great exercise!
• Make sodas a weekend-only-beverage
• All the family helps mom to do the housework!
• Organize an Egg Rolling Championship (involves propelling a hard-boiled egg with a long-handled spoon about 20 feet or more!)
• Bike rides with family and friends
• Declare a no screen week- no television, computer, video game or cell-phone

The list can be endless, just remember to have a lot of fun while you and the people around you get healthier!

Kickoff's Eve

By Eloisa Herrero

Have you ever wondered what happens on the eve of the GLUW Campaign Kickoff?? Let me show you how the GLUW staff and representatives of partner agencies get busy the day before the event.

Setting up the stage

Setting up the tables

Taking care of the office while everybody is gone!

Tonight, all the GLUW staff will be praying for an inspiring kickoff and for a successful 2010 campaign!

INFOline of Gregg County 9th Anniversary

By LaDelle Kay
INFOline Program Manager

As I wrote last week, I love festivals and celebrations! This week we’re celebrating the 9th anniversary of GLUW’s INFOline of Gregg County. It seems like yesterday that we began and yet so much longer. So many things have happened as we grew from the birthing process to where we are today with calls totaling 39,500 plus!

INFOline began as a dream over 10 years ago when several people in the community sensed the need of a community free, confidential information and referral system. Their vision was to bridge the gap between people needing resources or information and the health and human service organizations with resources to meet the need. As they researched ways to make this dream become a reality, one of the members became aware of a grant through the state for this type of service to benefit especially low income residents. INFOline of Gregg County was implemented with a $100,000 which covered most of the first 2 years. Greater Longview United Way provides the major funding for the program. INFOline publishes a Resource Directory with detailed listings of 161 organizations and 523 programs. In addition, the Directory is online on our website.

As I think back over the many calls during these 9 years, I think of the faces behind those calls and celebrate when we know that we have been able to get people in touch with the resources they need. It also saddens me when I have to tell the caller that we’re unable to help because the resources have been exhausted due to the rapidly increasing needs. When we’re unable to give them exactly what they are seeking, many times we are able to press further in the conversation and find other ways to help them. An example is if rental assistance is not available, we ask if they have utility bills and maybe they can use an agency to get that paid and use that money toward rent. We encourage them to take advantage of free courses in money management offered by some agencies.

I am so privileged to have had the opportunity to implement this program as program manager and see it grow from it’s inception to a well-recognized, reliable community service. Sometimes we get a blessing from helping others, but we are especially blessed to live in a community where people work together to improve the quality of life.

Cultural Diversity

By Ladelle Kay, INFOline Program Manager

I love festivals and celebrations! All my senses are heightened. I love the sounds of different languages, the smell of sometimes unfamiliar foods, the sights of costumes and dress from different races and cultures, the taste of delicious foods, and the touch of beads and artistic items produced by somewhere else in the world.

In the early 1990’s I lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was a fantastic adventure each year in late summer or early fall as millions of people lined the banks of the Charles River between the cities. People learned to communicate and enjoy the diversity as we shared experiences of our culture. Education is the key to understanding and there were so many opportunities to learn how to live together in harmony even though we had many differences. We celebrated the unity in diversity.
In late September, we have this same opportunity in Longview, Texas as our annual Multicultural Festival arrives. The Multicultural Festival is a family-friendly event designed to encourage the community to become more conscious of ethnic cultures, recognize that we have more in common than differences, and unite against racism. Event activities include cultural entertainment, vendors, food and music. Admission is free.

During the event on September 25, 2010 the Longview Exhibit Building will be transformed into one of the biggest stages in our region, drawing performers and visitors from across the country. The festival remains squarely a “grassroots” event, driven by the enthusiastic support it receives from the Longview Race Relations Committee. Many people from across the area are involved in its preparation: individuals, groups, the city staff and volunteers.

Multicultural Festival

When: Saturday, September 28, 2010
Where: Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Dr., Longview, Texas.
Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

COME CELEBRATE OUR UNITY IN DIVERSITY AT THE MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL!

It is stuffing time!!

By Eloisa Herrero

It is stuffing time at the Greater Longview United Way. Stuffing time?? You might be wondering. It is not even close to Thanksgiving!

GLUW likes to do its stuffing early, but we do not stuff turkeys…at least not yet!

Our stuffing begins early July when we stuff packets for our pacesetter companies. It is like an early going back to school for us when we start stuffing packets with new brochures, pledge forms, posters, videos, etc. All these packets are distributed during the Pacesetters luncheon hoping our pacesetter companies will lead the way to a successful campaign.

August stuffing begins with invitations to companies to be our event sponsors. The event sponsors help defray the cost of campaign activities so more funds can benefit those in need.

Stuffing continues in August, this time envelopes are stuffed with invitations and tickets for our campaign kickoff.

Before our kickoff in September, all the stuffed packets for the rest of the companies need to be ready for our volunteers to pick up and deliver. Here is when all the fun and hard work begins for our great volunteers.

From September to November hundreds of letters are stuffed and sent. We ask our donors to LIVE UNITED and help us with their generous donations to improve the quality of life in our community.

November comes and after stuffing all those letters, we are ready to stuff the turkey!

After the New Year, we are ready to do the last stuffing of our campaign. This stuffing is very special for us because it gives us the opportunity to say THANK YOU to all the people who contributed to our campaign.

All the GLUW staff is ready and looking forward to the 2010 Campaign!