United Way of Otter Tail County

# 1 Focus Area – United Way of Otter Tail & Wadena Counties (UWOTW) provides funding to local programs which improve lives.

Priority is given to programs which impact the education, financial stability, “basic needs” and health of our residents.

UWOTW currently funds 32 programs serving residents of Otter Tail & Wadena Counties. Measurements of program outcomes are provided through annual reports submitted by program directors and coordinators. In turn, these results are reported to our donors and public through our annual report, social media outlets and newsletters.

# 2 Focus Area — UWOTW will provide literacy resources to children birth to eight and their parents/caregivers. UWOTW will also encourage parents/caregivers to read to their children. The desired outcome is an increase in the child’s vocabulary and reading ability and ultimately to improve reading scores of the child in the 3rd grade.

The United Way Women’s Leadership Council currently provides Prescription for Reading, Imagination Library and Buddy Book Bins programs.

#3 Focus Area - Increasing nutritional food availability to low income families in Otter Tail & Wadena Counties. UWOTW provides financial resources to organizations which serve nutritional food to families and individuals in need. UWOTW is the fiscal host for the Friends of Friends Fighting Hunger fundraiser, the Children’s Feeding Back Pack program for New York Mills, Henning and Fergus Falls and the location for Feeding Back Pack program in Fergus Falls. UWOTW also funds the North Country Food Bank delivery program, Meals by Wheels in Fergus Falls, Meals on Wheels in Pelican Rapids, and the Salvation Army Feeding program.

North Country Food Bank provides reports annually indicating the pounds of food distributed to agencies serving persons in need.

#4 Focus Area — Increasing volunteer connections between non-profits & Volunteers in Otter Tail & Wadena Counties. The UWOTW Board of Directors unanimously voted to invest in a volunteer resource program in 2013. This program, called, “Get Connected,” is coordinated by Alison Francis in our Perham office. Its goal is to match non-profits in Otter Tail & Wadena Counties with persons interested in volunteering.

Success is measured by tracking volunteer hours and matches on Get Connected.