JUST, LOVE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

March 28, 2023

KINDNESS COSTS NOTHING BUT MEANS EVERYTHING

In March 2023, our CEO and I attended the United Way Great Rivers conference. This conference typically gathers varying-sized UWs from all over the Midwest. The conference location changes yearly, but ultimately must be able to hold a significant number of attendees, presenters, and vendors for the four-day conference. This year, Great Rivers was held in Rochester, MN. Rochester is known for many things, but its most significant notoriety comes from being the home to the Number 1 hospital in the USA, Mayo Clinic. I had never been to Minnesota before and knew nothing about Rochester. I’m from Wooster, Ohio. And although we knew some about the conference’s location, it was very different arriving at our hotel and seeing that our staff wasn’t just staying “near” the Mayo Clinic; we were staying AT the Mayo Clinic. 

 

To be honest, I felt a little nervous about the conference location. While the city was beautiful and the Skywalk was incredible, I just kept feeling a sense of guilt for being there and feeling this way. We met people from all over during our time at the Great Rivers conference, and it typically was either because they attended the UW conference or were there for services at Mayo Clinic. So many people we met were there specifically for medical needs. I felt guilty for being there for something “fun,” guilty when passing individuals in rollators as I hustled to my next conference session, and generally guilty anywhere outside of the typical conference space. I couldn’t stop thinking, “What if I am passing by someone who just heard the worst news of their life? I’m just walking by as if nothing happened.” Now, because I am from the Midwest, I am always smiling at whomever I pass, but it still doesn’t change the fact that I feel guilty.

 

As part of my week-long conference journey, I decided to make a fun social media video. A current social trend is taking a children’s toy on your trip and video documenting its journey. It's a fun way to see how creative we can get when documenting the trip, and honestly a great way to pass the time. Buttons, an adorably soft stress bear (see picture), went on our trip to Great Rivers with us. From the airport to the Mall of America®, to conference sessions and choir practice, we documented the teddy bear’s journey. I had so many video clips and pictures, and by Thursday afternoon had already started compiling a social video to share his journey. Friday morning would be the last day of the conference, so I wanted to get as much as I could done before the conference was complete. The cutest part about Buttons is that he has our campaign theme on his belly, “Just, Love”. We launched our local United Way campaign in 2022 to be a 3-year long theme. The “Just, Love campaign” was birthed in response to the societal need for pure, unconditional love. The comma is significant, as it represents a pause. A pause to stop to smell the roses, a pause to stop and love one another. So everywhere we took Buttons, we also had a reminder to “Just, Love”.

 

On Thursday afternoon, our CEO was in a session while I had some free time. I headed to our hotel room to freshen up before the start of the evening conference itinerary. As I walked down the hall to the elevator, there was a cute little family on the elevator: it appeared to look like a dad, mom, and daughter. I wasn’t sure if they were visiting or if there was a reason that brought them to Rochester. Still, considering they didn’t have conference name tags on, I could most likely assume the family was there visiting the Mayo Clinic.

 

I wanted so badly at that moment to create small talk with the family but did not know how to break the ice. I thought to myself, “What if they think I’m trying to pry? What if they just had a really awful day and didn’t want to talk to a perky stranger?” While all these thoughts went through my mind, my mouth began to speak, and before I knew it, I said, “Hey, do you like teddy bears?” and pulled out Buttons from my purse. The little girl lit up! She was so excited and even began showing me another “squishy” type toy she held in her precious hands. Then, I explained to the parents that I worked at United Way and wanted their daughter to have this bear. They thanked me, and by that time, I was walking off the elevator headed to my room, and that’s when I heard her mother say, “Awe, look, it says Just, Love.”

 

What just happened? I had just spent over an hour on my conference break drafting a “Buttons Takes Great Rivers” video montage, and then I gave away Buttons less than a half hour later. I couldn’t finish the video, which bummed me out. But then I immediately caught myself and thought, “you just made this little girl’s day. I don’t know for sure if she was visiting at Mayo Clinic, but what does it matter? It made her day by giving Buttons away to her! That was his purpose!” I can still hear her mother’s voice commenting on the campaign slogan. Just, Love. I think I may never forget that moment. I knew nothing about this family, but I knew in that moment, that THIS was Buttons’ purpose. THIS was his journey. THIS is what those of us in the nonprofit world coin “community impact.” It may not seem like much, but it starts small. Little gestures make incredible impacts in our world, and it begins by just loving people where they are. The unconditional love that so often is missing from our day-to-day. 

 

This moment made me think back to arriving on Monday for the conference. While I felt guilty in many ways for being there, I had a different perspective after that interaction. What if having me there was a breath of fresh air? What if seeing people bebop through the skywalk halls brought joy to someone’s face? What if meeting someone and having a conversation about my line of work and not conversation about medical diagnoses was just what the doctor ordered? They say energy transfers, and I know for a fact our conference goers have A LOT of energy, positive energy.

 

Throughout the conference, the buzzword “community impact” was constantly thrown around. I honestly had no idea what “community impact” meant when I was attending the various sessions. But through many of my interactions during and outside of this conference, I realized that my being there and staying at Mayo Clinic is what community impact is all about. It wasn’t just the little girl and her parents. It was the kind words and smiles made to the hard-working waitstaff and staff members of our hotel, the hour-long conversations and laughter had with Mayo Clinic patients while eating dinner, it was singing karaoke with 60+ United Way people at the tavern with locals telling our group this was “truly the best night of our lives.” It’s those interactions that made me realize that community impact simply means to Just, Love. Love people where they are. We never know the struggles someone is going through, and we don’t have to in order to show love and kindness. 

 

Kindness costs nothing but means everything. Just, Love.


One Flat Tire Away: The Reality For Working Families in Our Community

By Katie Koglman • May 5, 2026
One Flat Tire Away: The Reality for Working Families in Our Community By: Ashley Hershberger Around Holmes and Wayne Counties, people are doing what they’re supposed to do. They’re working. They’re showing up. They’re trying to get ahead. And still, far too many of our friends and neighbors are one flat tire, one home repair, or one unexpected bill away from falling behind . At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we hear this story all the time… from families, employers, school staff, churches, and local businesses. The problem isn’t effort. It’s that when something goes wrong, there’s just not much wiggle room. Who Is ALICE? You might hear our team talk about ALICE . It sounds like data, but it’s really the people we know: coworkers, parents from ball practice, folks sitting next to us at church and our own family members. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed . In plain terms: people who are working, but still can’t quite afford the basics. That includes things like housing, food, transportation, childcare, and healthcare. Here’s what that looks like in our community: Holmes County 31% of households are ALICE 9% live in poverty Wayne County 26% of households are ALICE 11% live in poverty That means 40% of households in Holmes County and 37% in Wayne County are living at or below the basic cost of living . These families aren’t avoiding work. Many are working full‑time, sometimes multiple jobs, and still making tough choices: Fix the car or pay the electric bill Buy groceries or fill a prescription Pay for childcare or turn down a better job That’s not bad decision‑making. That’s a math problem. What Household Survival Budgets Tell Us United Way uses Household Survival Budgets to understand what it actually costs to live. Not get ahead, not save… just cover the basics. When you add it all up (rent/mortgage, utilities, food, childcare, gas, healthcare, and taxes) a lot of working families simply don’t earn enough to keep up. Wages haven’t kept pace with real life costs, especially in areas like ours where getting to work often means getting in a car that you yourself are responsible for. That’s why so many hardworking people fall into the ALICE category, even while doing everything “right.” (See example budgets below)

The Day Off That Opened My Eyes

By Kayley Cox • April 6, 2026
The Day Off That Opened My Eyes I took the day off to chaperone my son’s Kindergarten field trip: fun, sweet, and honestly pretty exhausting. After dropping him back at school, I ran to the grocery store. At the checkout, the cashier asked how my day was going. I laughed and told her I was a little tired from keeping up with a group of five-year-olds all day at the field trip. She smiled and said she understood. She had recently retired from a local school district, and then she shared something that made me pause. Despite having worked all those years, she couldn’t afford to stay retired. She was still too young for Medicare, and health insurance premiums were simply unaffordable without additional income. Even with Social Security survivor benefits from her late husband, she was struggling to get by. So, she returned to the workforce. And she’s not alone. Far too many older adults are finding themselves in similar positions: forced back into work not because they want to, but because our systems leave them with no choice. Rising healthcare costs, gaps before Medicare eligibility, and limited fixed incomes mean many retirees simply cannot cover their basic needs. This wasn’t just a conversation in a grocery store checkout line. It was a reminder that the people who spent decades serving our communities, teaching, caregiving, supporting essential services, often face their own unseen challenges. We can do better. We have to do better. If this story resonates with you, here are a few meaningful ways you can help create change: 1. Support organizations helping older adults access healthcare and financial stability. United Way Wayne and Holmes partners with dozens of local nonprofits to support seniors who have nowhere else to turn. 2. Advocate for policies that protect affordable healthcare, strengthen Social Security, and support aging with dignity. Your voice truly matters. 3. Check in on retirees in your life. A simple “How are you really doing?” can make all the difference. 4. Get involved. Volunteer, donate, or share this message. Every action counts! Our older adults deserve more than scraping by. They deserve dignity, stability, and the ability to enjoy the retirement they worked for. Let’s work together to make that a reality.  For information about how to donate to help our Older Adults in Wayne and Holmes, go to uwwh.org, email us at info@uwwh.org or call (330) 264-5576.

You Don't Know, What You Don't Know

By Kayley Cox • March 5, 2026
You Don’t Know, What You Don’t Know At United Way, one of the most meaningful parts of my job is helping community members discover the resources that already exist to support them. Holmes and Wayne Counties are filled with compassionate organizations and services ready to help, but too often, people simply don’t know where to start. That’s where WHIRE/211 comes in. And although 211 has been in our community for over 60 years, many people still have no idea it exists. If you’ve never heard of 211, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most powerful tools we have, and yet, I constantly hear these same reactions when I mention it: “Wow, I had no idea.” “This was so informative.” “I wish I knew this sooner.” 📞 What Is 211? 211 is our local, 24/7 resource hotline. With just one call to 211 or the direct line (330) 263-6363, you’re connected to a live, compassionate operator who can guide you to essential services in our area. Whether you’re looking for: 🥫 Food assistance 🏠 Housing support 💼 Workforce development 🧠 Mental health services 🚗 Transportation help 👶 Childcare options …or any other community resource, 211 is your starting point. And the best part? It’s anonymous and available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 (or 366 if leap year) days a year. 💬 Why Awareness Matters I’ve spoken at schools, met with nonprofits, and presented to local businesses. And every time, I’m reminded of how powerful awareness can be. People are genuinely surprised to learn how much help is just one phone call away. So many resources that our own community members don’t know exist. That’s why spreading the word about 211 is so important. Whether you’re a community leader, a neighbor, or someone simply looking for help, knowing about 211 can make all the difference.  📣 Help Us Share the Message If you’ve used 211, tell someone about it. If you haven’t, save the number. And if you’re part of a group, organization, or business that serves our community, consider inviting United Way to share more about how 211 is a free resource right in our community. To schedule a brief presentation or meeting about WHIRE/211, contact me at kayley@uwwh.org Because you don’t know what you don’t know, but now that you do, share it. The more we know, the more we can help, and the stronger our community becomes.
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