Voucher Surprise

July 07, 2020

The last several months have been incredibly challenging for the majority of Americans and United Against Poverty has seen an uptick in the need for food assistance and low cost groceries across our community as the unemployment rate has skyrocketed. Dianne Andersen and her husband John, a former United Against Poverty board member, saw this need and immediately wanted to help ease that burden for struggling families. Dianne and John donated $25 grocery vouchers and surprised more than 100 member families. Thank you so much Dianne and John for your incredible generosity and big hearts!

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Thank You Bank of America!

July 07, 2020

United Against Poverty was pleasantly surprised to be named a 2019 Bank of America Neighborhood Builder winner and recipient of $200,000 in unrestricted funding. This generous award will help strengthen the UP Orlando programs. Our crisis stabilization, member share grocery, workforce development and education programs build a healthier, smarter and more stable community.

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Double Your Impact This Summer!

July 07, 2020

Last fall, friends of the mission Dr. & Mrs. Don and Cindy Diebel challenged donors to match their gift of $25,000 to UP Orlando. This year the Diebels do it again! The Diebels are matching gifts to United Against Poverty, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 this summer. If you make a donation by clicking the red Donate Now button at the top of the page between now and August 31st, your gift will have twice the impact on the lives of our neighbors in Central Florida. Please help us reach our goal of fulfilling this special matching gift opportunity...

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Mobile Markets: Lifting Livest throughout Florida

July 07, 2020

To meet the increased need for food in our community, due to job layoffs from COVID-19, we started providing UP Mobile Markets to get groceries to people who need it quickly and safely. We targeted communities identified as food deserts and partnered with government agencies and other nonprofits to staff the events. The first two events served 800 families by providing 10 tons of food that became available because of food service businesses closing or scaling back. We have also secured Farmers to Family food boxes from the USDA through the end of the year to keep this mobile program...

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Introducing Hand Up Heroes

July 07, 2020

It is no secret that COVID-19 is having a significant impact on all of us. In light of this pandemic, we have had to make several changes to our events. Our signature fundraising event of the year, Hand Up Luncheon, is going virtual! We are excited about the opportunity and invite you to join us by serving as a Hand Up Hero. Heroes are the people, the stories and the hearts behind our organization, stepping up on behalf of United Against Poverty and inspiring others to do the same. Jeff Chandler, a longtime supporter, volunteer and host of many tables...

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Highlighted Partner: Heart of Florida United Way VITA Program

July 07, 2020

For the fourth year, United Against Poverty partnered with Heart of Florida United Way and IRS to offer the community free tax filing services. Starting in November, a record 14 staff and volunteers became IRS-certified by passing four exams including advanced tax law. January 30 was opening day for the VITA tax site. The VITA site helped the community for 11 days until March 12 when the IRS and HFUW recommended that all VITA sites suspend operation due to COVID-19. In total, 170 tax returns were filed through United Against Poverty. Eighty-five percent of clients filing their taxes received a...

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STEP Success Story by Carla Cox, Program Director

July 07, 2020

Will is a spirited, smiling, happy person who strives to work hard and bring joy to others. We first met Will in the Success Training Employment Program as someone desperate to find an employer to take a chance on him. I can remember his excitement when I visited him for the first time at his job at Lucky’s Market where he showed off his name tag and the produce section where he worked. When Lucky’s announced closures, Will was devastated. It took several months of searching until he found his next job. Through it all, I was always impressed with...

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Thank you Trulieve

July 07, 2020

With community involvement as one of the company’s core values, Truelieve has worked throughout the state and other parts of the country to ensure that marginalized communities are receiving the hand up they need to reach economic self-sufficiency. The company’s drive to help others lead to a perfect partnership with our Orlando campus. During a recent visit the Trulieve team recognized that many of the machines in our computer lab were outdated, so they pulled together and donated thirty refurbished computers! These new PC’s are utilized many times throughout the day as individuals in our Life Enrichment Center log on...

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Volunteer Spotlight: CareerSource

July 07, 2020

The Volunteer Department would like to highlight our outstanding partnership with CareerSource Florida! Since the beginning of April, CareerSource has provided a total of 24 interns to receive on-the-job training across every department in our organization. Our Trade and Logistics Interns work alongside our Grocery staff, learning about distribution, merchandising, and warehouse management. Administrative Interns learn data-management, client intake procedures, and volunteer management by working at the Welcome Desk, Life Enrichment Center, and Volunteer Office. Altogether, our interns have received more than 6,000 hours of on-the-job training! We are honored to foster educational opportunities and real-world experiences for these interns....

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Former Orange County School Board Member Nancy Robbinson Named Executive Director of United Against Poverty Orlando

June 16, 2020

Nancy Robbinson has been named Executive Director of United Against Poverty Orlando, located at 150 W. Michigan Street. “I am pleased to announce Nancy Robbinson as the new Executive Director for our Orlando UP Center,” said Gwendolyn Butson, Chief Executive Officer of United Against Poverty. “Nancy’s experience and strong commitment to community building make her an asset and a well-qualified choice to lead our Orlando campus into the next chapter.” Following her ten-year service as an elected School Board Member, Robbinson joined the United Against Poverty Orlando team in 2019 as the Development Officer responsible for major gifts. She is...

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