What We Do
Build Strong, Healthy Communities
What We Do
Build Strong, Healthy Communities
Together, we can build a stronger, healthier Kennebec Valley by helping people access prevention and wellness services and engage in healthy behaviors.
What we're up against
By tracking these data points over a 10-year period and in collaboration with Impact2032, our goal is to reduce the years of potential life lost before age 75 by 5%.
Together, we can build a stronger, healthier Kennebec Valley by helping people access prevention and wellness services and engage in healthy behaviors.
What we're up against
By tracking these data points over a 10-year period and in collaboration with Impact2032, our goal is to reduce the years of potential life lost before age 75 by 5%.
How we make it better
Living a healthy life extends beyond yearly checkups. Longevity and happiness require a combination of strong mental health, ample nourishment, community connections, physical activity, healthy choices, and a sense of safety. By investing in health programs and services like meal delivery for homebound seniors, outreach initiatives for teens, access to fresh, healthy food for people of all ages, and behavioral support programs for at-risk individuals, we help our community members — children, adults, families, and neighbors — live longer, healthier, more fulfilled lives.
A combination of good health and a supportive community enhances learning opportunities, improves quality of life, and can be transformative for someone’s financial stability.
By investing in health programs in our community, we ensure all children and adults have the resources needed to achieve optimum health regardless of social and economic barriers.
8,600
domestic violence calls, digital dialogue and face to face contacts that Family Violence Project received in 2023.
Help us make Domestic Violence
UNIGNORABLE
Being trapped in an abusive relationship, particularly one involving verbal abuse, can significantly impact an individual’s mental health. Verbal abuse includes insults, belittling comments, and constant criticism, which erode self-esteem and lead to anxiety and depression. Chronic stress from verbal abuse can contribute to PTSD, hypervigilance, and cognitive issues like confusion and difficulty concentrating.
Physically, the stress can cause sleep disorders, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system. Socially, victims often experience isolation and difficulty forming trusting relationships. Over time, the emotional scars can lead to enduring mental health issues and even affect future generations if children witness the abuse.
Help us make Substance Use Disorder
UNIGNORABLE
Substance use disorder profoundly affects a person’s life, making them feel like they need pills to survive. This dependency can feel like floating in an endless void, where the only anchor is the substance they crave. Their thoughts are consumed by the need for the next dose, overshadowing everything else. Daily activities, relationships, and responsibilities become secondary to their search for relief. The sensation of floating creates a false sense of weightlessness, but it’s an illusion masking the underlying chaos and instability.
They feel isolated, as if they are drifting away from reality, disconnected from the world around them. This relentless cycle not only impacts their mental state but also takes a severe toll on their overall health, leading to physical deterioration and chronic illnesses. They are left feeling trapped, powerless, and desperately seeking a way to break free and regain control of their life.
Help us make Social Isolation
UNIGNORABLE
Social isolation can feel like there’s a brick wall separating you from everyone else. This invisible barrier prevents meaningful connections, leaving you feeling lonely and cut off from the world. In rural areas like Maine, social isolation can arise from various factors such as lack of reliable transportation, illness, depression, or financial struggles. Living paycheck to paycheck can force someone into isolation as they prioritize survival over social activities.
The lack of social interaction can be overwhelming, affecting your mental and emotional well-being. Simple interactions become daunting tasks, and the absence of support exacerbates feelings of helplessness and despair. This isolation doesn’t just affect your mind; it takes a toll on your overall health as well. Prolonged social isolation can lead to increased stress, weakened immune function, and a higher risk of chronic illnesses. Without the comfort and support of social connections, you may experience a decline in both physical and mental health, feeling increasingly trapped and desperate for companionship and understanding.
9.7%
The percentage of adults who experience current symptoms of depression in Kennebec County.
Help make Mental Health
UNIGNORABLE
Poor mental health can often feel like being trapped in a fish bowl. The clear glass lets you see the outside world, but an invisible barrier prevents you from reaching it. You can see others moving freely — happy — while you are stuck, surrounded by the glass that has shaped your reality. Inside the bowl, the water represents overwhelming thoughts and emotions, making it hard to breathe.
These feelings can become so intense it feels like you’re drowning, gasping for air as the water rises. Isolation is suffocating; you feel alone, even when surrounded by others, and cries for help are muffled and misunderstood. The weight of the water makes simple tasks insurmountable, and the fish bowl confines your space, leaving no room to escape your thoughts.
Your struggles are on display, yet no one truly understands, making you feel trapped, overwhelmed, and desperately seeking relief
Help us make Mental Health
UNIGNORABLE
Poor mental health can feel like there’s someone constantly whispering negative thoughts into your ear. To everyone else, you seem happy and joyful, but behind that smile, you are fighting a war against your own thoughts. These whispers undermine your self-esteem, fuel anxiety, and make daily tasks feel insurmountable. The constant mental battle leaves you feeling exhausted and isolated, even in a crowd.
Financial instability can exacerbate this struggle, adding another layer of stress and uncertainty. Worrying about making ends meet, paying bills, and providing for yourself or your family intensifies the negative whispers, making it even harder to maintain a facade of normalcy. This relentless internal conflict affects your overall well-being, making you feel trapped in a cycle of despair and helplessness. The impact of poor mental health, compounded by financial instability, can be overwhelming, leaving you desperate for relief and support.
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
Healthy Behavior Changes
Physical & Behavioral Health Access
Social & Economic Barrier Removal
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
Healthy Behavior Changes
Physical & Behavioral Health Access
Social & Economic Barrier Removal
Help us build strong, healthy communities!
Help us build strong, healthy communities!
HEALTH PARTNERS
United Way of Kennebec Valley partners with 22 agencies specifically to build strong, healthy communities in the Kennebec Valley. UWKV funds one or more programs through the following organizations that are specifically
advancing the health of all people in our community.
Alfond Youth & Community Center
Augusta Food Bank
Augusta Teen Center of the Boys & Girls Club
Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley
Bread of Life Ministries
Catholic Charities of Maine
Crisis & Counseling Centers
Faith Food Pantry
Family Violence Project
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
Kennebec Behavioral Health
Kennebec Valley YMCA
MaineGeneral Health
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services
Motivational Services Inc.
Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center
South Parish Congregational Church
Spectrum Generations
Spurwink Services
State YMCA of Maine
Waterville Community Dental Center
Winthrop Hot Meal Kitchen
HEALTH PARTNERS
United Way of Kennebec Valley partners with 22 agencies specifically to build strong, healthy communities in the Kennebec Valley. UWKV funds one or more programs through the following organizations that are specifically
advancing the health of all people in our community.
Alfond Youth & Community Center
Augusta Food Bank
Augusta Teen Center of the Boys & Girls Club
Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley
Bread of Life Ministries
Catholic Charities of Maine
Crisis & Counseling Centers
Faith Food Pantry
Family Violence Project
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
Kennebec Behavioral Health
Kennebec Valley YMCA
MaineGeneral Health
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services
Motivational Services Inc.
Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center
South Parish Congregational Church
Spectrum Generations
Spurwink Services
State YMCA of Maine
Waterville Community Dental Center
Winthrop Hot Meal Kitchen
