The old adage goes, “Give someone a fish and they eat for a day; teach them to fish and they eat for a lifetime.”  United Way programs help provide the knowledge, skills, and resources people need to make their own way in society.  This is the most effective way to fight poverty and hopelessness.  United Way programs also teach life skills to thousands of local people with mental and physical disabilities.

	Almost 8,000 hours of adult literacy tutoring provided
	Almost 8,000 hours of assistance provided to individuals with developmental disabilities to learn and enjoy use of recreation time
	More than 5,600 hours of respite care for family caregivers

Leo had been living in the United States for 20 years, but he never learned to speak a word of English.  He openly admitted that he was too scared to try and speak, and was afraid of making mistakes.

Last year, a good friend of Leo’s encouraged him to visit Literacy Volunteers of Hunterdon County to get help.

Leo and his LVA tutor, Marcia, communicated in sign language until he felt reassured that it was OK to make mistakes when learning a new language.  Soon, Leo became comfortable speaking English and he continues to add to his vocabulary each and every day.  In fact, he is now studying for his U.S. citizenship exam and his friends jokingly say that they can’t get him to stop talking now.

* The name in this story has been changed to protect the confidentiality of this individual.

Last year, United Way of Hunterdon County provided $98,769 to support programs that foster self-sufficiency and provide respite to caregivers, working in partnership with:

Arc of Hunterdon County

Hunterdon Museum of Art

Literacy Volunteers of America, Hunterdon County

Women’s Crisis Services