Special initiatives that strengthen the community
United Way of Southeastern Idaho helps to strengthen the community in a number of ways, including investing your dollars in local special initiatives that affect positive change in the seven southeastern-most counties of Idaho (Bannock, Bear Lake, Binghan, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida, Power) and the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Special initiatives allow your dollars to work on challenges in the community that a single agency cannot address alone. These efforts are a part of the greater Return On your Investment you get by donating to United Way.
Free prescription discount cards
One of the easiest ways to help families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet is by providing them with United Way of Southeastern Idaho's free prescription discount cards. In the seven-county Southeastern Idaho area last year, people experienced an out-of-pocket savings of more than $85,000. Discounts vary by prescription--in our region they average between 30% to 46% off the price of the prescription without the card. Anyone can use the cards anywhere in the nation at participating pharmacies. With the exception of a couple of locally owned pharmacies, all of the area pharmacies participate in the program. Please call if a pharmacy tells you they don't take the card. In nearly every case, your card will be accepted.
The cards work for prescriptions that are not covered by insurance, including when you are still meeting your deductible, if a specific medicine is not covered by your insurance or if you do not have insurance. You can print copies from our website and learn more about the program by clicking here.
Early Childhood Initiative
Investing money in early childhood programs is one of the smartest moves that a community can make. For every $1 invested in work with children aged 0-6 there is a $21 return in fewer tax dollars needed for remedial school programs, involvement in the criminal justice system, failure to graduate from high school, a lifetime of lower wages and the list goes on.
We believe that children should have the opportunity to succeed in life. That is why we focus on those important early years when children's brains are developing the neural pathways they will depend upon the rest of their lives.
A shocking 25% of youth in this country fail to graduate from high school--one of every four young people. We think Southeastern Idaho can do better than that. In the coming months we will share the work United Way and partners have done to change that statistic.
A recent example of creating early childhood learning opportunities
On Thursday, September 16, twenty Home Depot associates led by Leif Thompson and Jessica Brewer put in a good day's labor at the Sacajawea Park section of the Portfneuf Greenway, building the area's first Born Learning Trail. The hard work of Home Depot volunteers and a Home Depot grant provide a new public asset to be enjoyed by the hundreds of daily Greenway users. Simple, low cost projects that benefit the whole community--that's just smart. Click HERE to see photos of the build and the Greater Pocatello Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting.
United Way Youth Health & Wellness
Studies show the obesity rate among children has nearly doubled in the last 10 years. Obesity can cause health problems in kids today and also leads to problems, such as diabetes and heart disease, as they grow to adulthood.
Together, we can reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity.
United Way's Kids Get Fit promotes youth health and wellness through fun, effective and practical ideas for groups of all ages, interests and abilities. Take a look at some of the simple ideas to get kids in your house/neighborhood/school up and at 'em!
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