The quality of any community is often measured by the commitment citizens in that community make to support their youth. According to updated census data, one out of five children and adolescents in Fort Dodge live in poverty-stricken homes and are coping with the social ills of poverty. Too many lack the basic living needs to help them grow and develop in a healthy way. In total, two-thirds of our kids are in families that struggle to pay their basic living bills for rent or mortgage, food, clothing, insurance, transportation, child care and health care.

Here are 10 ways that United Way of Greater Fort Dodge is working to help our kids.

1. Many children are homeless and sleep in a different place every night. United Way provides emergency shelter for homeless families with children and we help families secure affordable housing so children have a stable environment.

2. Many children sleep on the floor because they do not have a bed. United Way’s Bridging the Gap program provides beds for kids that have no bed and are sleeping on floors, on chairs or couches. Over the past 14 years, United Way has provided over 1,400 beds for children in need so they can get a good night’s sleep.

3. Many children are food insecure. In Fort Dodge, one out of every six children are food insecure – meaning there are times when they are hungry and have little to no access to food. United Way provides support for our local food pantries, and we prove food vouchers to families in crisis and need food immediately.

4. Many children struggle with depression and anxiety. 33 percent of teens are struggling with depression and other mental health challenges. United way provides grant support to local mental health providers so no child is denied mental health services because his or her family lacks insurance or the funds to pay for counseling.

5. Many families with children do not have a car; transportation is a major challenge for these families. United Way’s Wheels for Work program accepts donated vehicles and gives them to families with children that lack transportation and need a car for work, to get their kids to school, and to run family errands to the grocery store, doctor’s office, ect.

6. Medical care transportation. United Way’s Hope for Healing program provides gas cards to help disadvantaged families who have a seriously ill child and need transportation assistance to get their child to a medical center in Des Moines, Iowa City or Rochester.

7. Prescriptions for kids. United Way’s Prescriptions for Kids program helps low income families pay for prescription drugs for children when there is no insurance or if families are unable to pay for a child’s much needed medication.

8. Clothes for kids. United Way provides support for programs that provide clothing, coats and other items for kids in need. United Way provides impoverished families with vouchers to Goodwill to help children and teens that lack proper clothing.

9. Personal needs for children. For children that lack basic needs for prescription eye glasses, durable medical equipment, winter coats, personal hygiene items and other needs, United Way helps meet these needs.

10. Emergency support. United Way helps families dealing with emergency or crisis such as a fire, car accident, death of a parent, or a serious illness of a parent or child. Low income families when dealing with a family emergency are often in very desperate situations and can use a friendly helping hand during a very difficult time.

United Way’s support for our disadvantaged youth can make a real impact on the lives of many children, in some cases, a life-changing impact. The support United Way provides can help these children thrive and give them hope for a brighter future.

Donations to United Way collectively will touch the lives of hundreds of children in need. 100 percent of every donation stays right here in the Fort Dodge/Webster County area to support programs that help disadvantaged children and their families.

The 2024-2024 United Way campaign has begun. Donations can be mailed to the United Way of Greater Fort Dodge office at 24 N. Ninth St., Suite B, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.Or you can donate online at www.unitedwayfd.org.

Randy Kuhlman is the chief executive officer of the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way.