In Merced County, a family of four needs an average of $75,000 annually to meet living expenses, yet the average household income is only $56,000. To address this disparity, United Way of Merced County is dedicated to enhancing program accessibility and information for residents, focusing on health, financial stability, and digital equity. Our strategy includes leveraging our 211 and CalAIM services to strengthen the community infrastructure, providing essential administrative and financial support to local nonprofits to maximize their impact, and fostering collaborations with stakeholders across the county. By working together, we aim to create an environment where every Merced County resident has the opportunity to thrive. Your support is crucial in turning this vision into reality.

Investing in Merced County

Traditionally, we've been known for distributing donor funds to various nonprofits. However, over the past year, our team at United Way of Merced County has expanded our role to become an active partner and collaborator, not only channeling funds to organizations doing amazing work in the county but also creating and implementing programs that directly benefit the residents of the Central Valley. This shift allows us to more effectively address specific community needs, enhancing our impact and reach through targeted initiatives and services. When you donate to United Way, you play an active part in supporting the people in our community who need it most:

  • To fund artists to create projects in Merced, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties with the Heartland Creative Corps. These projects too the form of live theater, murals, books of poetry and even feature films and directly funded artists to work for an entire year.

  • In $600 gift cards distributed to farm and food workers throughout Merced County. This project in partnership with United Ways of California and USDA.

  • Distributed to communities across the Central Valley as a fiscal sponsor to groups, agencies and government bodies. These funds provided disaster relief support, emergency support and fiscal stability to the people who needed it most.

  • In tax refunds through our free tax program VITA, where volunteers worked with the families of our county.

  • To partner agencies across Merced County to support their projects and missions through Heartland Creative Corp, Emergency Food and Shelter Funding or our Community Investment Grants.

  • To flood survivors and organizations dealing with responding to the flood. These came in the form of food and supplies, mold abatement equipment and material costs to repair homes

  • Hours of face-to-face interpretation in the hospitals and doctor’s offices throughout Merced County, creating an environment where the most vunerable could be hard and could understand their health care professionals.

  • Increase in our 211 call volume

  • Our average speed of answer from one of our 211 call center specialists.

  • Community Organizations supported