Our Impact
Local Needs. Local Solutions. Lasting Change.
Impact is more than dollars raised. It's about what happens when a community comes together.
At United Way of the Mohawk Valley, we listen to our community, use local data to understand changing needs, connect people to essential resources, invest in community partners, and develop solutions to challenges affecting Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
Our work happens at multiple levels. We provide and coordinate direct services that help people today, while also bringing organizations, resources, and community voices together to address larger barriers and create long-term change.
From connecting people to help through 2-1-1 Mid-York, removing transportation barriers through Ride United, supporting housing and homelessness systems, addressing food insecurity, providing navigation and support through 1115 Waiver services, investing in local organizations, and convening our community to identify gaps and build solutions—our work evolves with the needs of the people we serve.
Some needs require immediate help. Others require long-term solutions.
We work on both.
UNITED IS THE WAY.
Our Impact at a Glance
Real People. Real Needs. Real Impact.
Every number represents a connection made, a barrier removed, a resource delivered, or an investment in our community.
☎️ 5,000+
2-1-1 Calls
Connecting residents with information and referrals to essential services and community resources.
🚗 2,000+
Ride United Rides
Removing transportation barriers and helping residents access food, employment, healthcare, and other essential needs.
🎒 2,000
Boxes of Food Distributed
Helping students and families access food during school breaks through our Backpack Program.
🤝 8
Funded Community Partners
Investing in local organizations addressing critical needs across Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
💙 8
Mini-Grant Recipients
Providing additional community investments to local organizations responding to needs and creating meaningful impact.
Behind Every Number Is a Neighbor.
These numbers tell part of our story. The greater impact is found in the people connected to help, families supported, barriers removed, and organizations strengthened throughout our community.
Together, we're building a stronger Mohawk Valley.
UNITED IS THE WAY.
☎️ 2-1-1 Mid-York
Help Starts Here.
When you don't know where to turn, start with 2-1-1.
2-1-1 Mid-York connects individuals and families across Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison Counties with information and referrals to essential health and human services.
Whether you're looking for help with housing, food, utilities, transportation, mental health services, disaster assistance, legal resources, or other essential needs, 2-1-1 can help connect you with resources in your community.
Get Connected to 2-1-1
📞 CALL
Dial 2-1-1
📱 TEXT
Text your ZIP Code to 898-211
💻 SEARCH ONLINE
Visit 211midyork.org to search for local resources.
Free. Confidential. Available 24/7.
Need More Personalized Help?
2-1-1 Navigation
Sometimes finding a resource is only the first step.
Our 2-1-1 Navigation services provide additional support to help individuals navigate available resources, understand their options, and connect with services that may meet their needs.
Are You a Community Organization?
We also provide 2-1-1 outreach materials and information to help organizations, businesses, schools, and community partners spread awareness about 2-1-1.
For more information about 2-1-1 Navigation or 2-1-1 outreach materials, contact:
Hallie Edic
📧 halliee@unitedwaymv.org
One Connection Can Change Everything.
START WITH 2-1-1. Learn more
🚗 Ride United
Removing Transportation Barriers. Connecting People to Opportunity.
Transportation shouldn't stand between someone and the resources they need.
Ride United helps residents access transportation for essential needs, including employment, healthcare, food access, and other critical services.
Through Ride United, United Way of the Mohawk Valley works to remove transportation barriers and help individuals get where they need to go.
More Than 2,000 Rides Provided
Every ride is more than transportation. It can mean getting to work, making an important medical appointment, accessing food, or reaching an essential service.
Need a Ride or Want to Learn More?
For Ride United transportation assistance, eligibility information, or program questions, contact:
Carlos Rios
📧 carlosr@unitedwaymv.org
📞 680-243-7865
Removing Barriers. Creating Connections. Moving Our Community Forward. Learn more.
🏠 Housing & Homelessness Services
Connecting People, Services, and Systems.
Addressing homelessness takes more than one program or organization. It requires a coordinated community response.
United Way of the Mohawk Valley plays an important role in supporting our region's housing and homelessness response system, helping organizations work together, improve coordination, and connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness with available resources.
Our Housing & Homelessness Work Includes:
Coordinated Entry
Helping create a coordinated process for assessing the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and connecting them with appropriate housing resources and services.
For more information please contact Lydianne Rivera Lydianner@unitedwaymv.org or 315-922-2014.
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Supporting the community-wide data system used by participating organizations to better understand homelessness, coordinate services, measure outcomes, and identify changing needs.
For more information please contact Katrina Webb Katrinaw@unitedwaymv.org or 680-323-1142.
Collaborative Applicant
Serving in a leadership and coordination role for federal Continuum of Care funding, helping bring community partners together around planning, funding, and strategies to address homelessness.
Building a More Connected Response
By strengthening communication, coordination, data, and partnerships across the housing system, we can better understand where gaps exist and work together toward solutions.
Housing instability is a community challenge. Addressing it takes a community response.
🤝 1115 Waiver Services
Connecting People to Services That Support Health and Stability.
United Way of the Mohawk Valley is now accepting referrals for services available through New York State's Medicaid 1115 Waiver.
Our team works with eligible individuals to identify needs, navigate available services, and connect them with supports that can help address barriers affecting their health and well-being.
Services Include:
✓ Screening & Eligibility
Helping individuals determine eligibility for available 1115 Waiver services.
✓ Navigation
Helping individuals understand available resources and navigate connections to services and supports.
✓ Case Management
Providing individualized support to help people address needs, overcome barriers, and coordinate services.
✓ Transportation Services
Helping eligible individuals address transportation barriers and access approved services and resources.
Referrals Are Now Being Accepted
Individuals, healthcare providers, community organizations, and other partners can contact our team to make a referral, ask about eligibility, or learn more about available 1115 Waiver services.
Hallie Edic
📞 680-323-1145
📧 halliee@unitedwaymv.org
Sarah Macri
📞 680-323-1141
📧 sarahm@unitedwaymv.org
Helping People Navigate the Path From Need to Support.
🎒 Backpack Program
Helping Fill the Gap When School Is Out.
For many families, school breaks can mean losing access to meals their children depend on during the school week.
United Way of the Mohawk Valley's Backpack Program helps address that gap by providing boxes of food to students and families during extended school breaks.
2,000 Food Boxes Distributed
During our first year, we distributed 2,000 boxes of food to families in the Utica City School District during Thanksgiving, winter, February, and April breaks.
And we're growing.
For the 2026–2027 school year, the program is expanding to reach students and families in both the Utica City School District and Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District.
More Than Food
The Backpack Program is about helping families navigate one less worry during school breaks while strengthening connections between schools, families, United Way, and community resources.
Want to Help Fill a Box?
Businesses, organizations, donors, and volunteers can help us continue growing the Backpack Program through sponsorships, donations, partnerships, and volunteer support.
For more information about supporting the Backpack Program, contact:
Sarah Macri
📞 680-323-1141
📧 sarahm@unitedwaymv.org
When Our Community Comes Together, We Can Help Make Sure No Family Faces the Gap Alone.
🍎 Emergency Food & Shelter Program
Supporting Local Emergency Food and Shelter Needs.
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) provides federal funding to local organizations helping individuals and families experiencing hunger, homelessness, and other emergency needs.
United Way of the Mohawk Valley supports the administration of EFSP funding in Oneida and Herkimer Counties, working alongside local boards and community partners to help direct available resources where they are needed most.
Supporting Essential Community Services
EFSP funding may support eligible services such as emergency food, shelter, rent and mortgage assistance, utility assistance, and other qualifying emergency needs, based on federal program guidelines and available funding.
Funding Updates
We are currently awaiting additional program guidance and funding updates regarding upcoming EFSP phases.
Information about future funding opportunities, application periods, and eligibility requirements will be shared as it becomes available.
Questions About EFSP?
Organizations interested in learning more about EFSP or future funding opportunities can contact:
Hallie Edic
📞 680-323-1145
📧 halliee@unitedwaymv.org
Helping Local Resources Reach Local Needs.
🤝 Investing in Our Community
Supporting Local Organizations. Strengthening Local Impact.
United Way of the Mohawk Valley invests directly in local organizations working every day to meet critical needs and strengthen our communities.
Through our Funded Partner Program, we currently support 8 community organizations providing programs and services across Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
$100,000+ Invested in Local Community Partners
Our investments support programs and services centered around three key impact areas:
❤️ Health & Wellness
Supporting programs that help people live healthier lives and access the resources they need to thrive.
💼 Economic Stability
Supporting opportunities that help individuals and families overcome barriers and build greater stability.
🤝 Community Responsiveness
Supporting organizations and solutions that respond to emerging needs and strengthen our community's ability to work together.
8 Funded Partners. $100,000+ Invested. One Stronger Community. Learn more.
When our community partners are stronger, our entire community is stronger.
💙 Community Mini-Grants
Investing Directly in Services That Meet Community Needs.
Through our Community Mini-Grant Series, United Way of the Mohawk Valley provides targeted funding to local organizations delivering direct services to individuals and families across Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
These grants allow us to expand our community investment beyond our traditional funded partner network and put additional resources directly into programs responding to immediate and emerging community needs.
8 Local Mini-Grant Recipients
From addressing basic needs to helping individuals and families overcome barriers, our mini-grant recipients are providing hands-on services that make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Local Funding. Direct Services. Community Impact.
Because investing in those closest to the need helps strengthen our entire community.
🗺️ Building Community Solutions
Listening First. Working Together. Creating Change.
Some community challenges can't be solved by one program, one organization, or one investment.
Through our Mohawk Valley Gap Map Series, United Way of the Mohawk Valley brings community members, nonprofits, businesses, schools, government, healthcare, and other partners together to better understand the needs of Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
We're working together to identify available resources, gaps in services, duplication, barriers to access, and opportunities for greater collaboration.
What makes this work different is that we're combining community voice, organizational knowledge, and local data to better understand not only what challenges exist—but what we can do about them.
From Identifying Gaps to Building Solutions
The goal is to turn what we learn into action by strengthening connections between organizations, identifying shared priorities, developing community-driven solutions, and continuing collaboration beyond the workshops.
Listen. Connect. Collaborate. Act.
Because some of our community's biggest challenges require all of us at the table.
Impact Is Something We Create Together
Every call answered. Every ride provided. Every box of food distributed. Every organization supported. Every person connected to a resource. Every community voice brought to the table.
It all adds up to a stronger Mohawk Valley.
Our work will continue to evolve as our community's needs evolve—but our commitment remains the same: listen to our community, connect people and resources, invest where it matters, and bring people together to create change.
Be Part of the Impact.
Give. Volunteer. Advocate.
UNITED IS THE WAY.
Annual Updates
2021-2022 Annual Update | 2020-2021 Annual Update | 2019-2020 Annual Update | 2018-2019 Annual Update | 2016-2017 Annual Update | 2015-2016 Annual Update