Community meeting gives voice to 13 nonprofits affected by United Way closing

A random group of community members came together in the fall to discuss how they could make an impact locally.

The group known as ELPIS wanted to do something directly to help the local community.

“We’re all interested in promoting civic engagement,” said Jennifer Kirkland of ELPIS. “It’s kind of a bipartisan thing.”

Someone at the meeting mentioned the recent closing of the United Way of Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro.

Kirkland said she knows Dan Layman, president/CEO of the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge and he provided ELPIS  a list of local charities with unfulfilled grants because United Way closed.

Then ELPIS members came up with the idea to introduce the 13 charities to the local community and ask for support.

“What we’re hoping, really the heart of the event — that we’ll attract enough of an audience,” Kirkland said.

On March 29 from 10 a.m. to noon in McCracken Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Staunton, representatives from all 13 affected charities will speak and have tables for community members to visit. ELPIS‘s hope is that the community can help the organizations recoup the more than $100,000 in unfulfilled grant funding.

“How can we help them move forward?” Kirkland said of the meeting’s purpose.

Not only did the 13 organizations, including the Waynesboro YMCA, New Directions, the ARROW Project, Blue Ridge CASA, On the Road Collaborative and Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS), lose funding for 2024, but they will not have funding for the coming years. Some of the organizations also need staffing and volunteer assistance.

“We’re hoping we can be a facilitator,” Kirkland said.

Many community members in Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro do not know that United Way closed in early November 2024.

“The reason we came together is we very much believe in community,” Kirkland said.

ELPIS is the Greek goddess of hope.

“Because we were very much focused on hope,” Kirkland said of forming the community group.

Refreshments will be available. Trinity Episcopal Church is at 214 W. Beverley Street, Staunton.

Anyone with questions or who cannot attend the meeting but would like to offer support may email [email protected].

Related stories:

United Way of Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta County shuts down

Local United Way closure ends free tax prep through Valley VITA

Investigation under way into former United Way CEO

Local nonprofits can learn from United Way, Habitat for Humanity