United Way of Mat-Su thanks volunteers for helping throughout the community

It has been a busy summer here at United Way of Mat-Su. Our annual Dinner with the Seahawks and Play60 Challenge events ushered in the season. With our partners at the Mat-Su Sea Hawkers Booster Club and with the help of community volunteers, we raised significant funds to support both UWMS and MSSH youth programs and scholarships. Play60 encouraged over 150 Valley youth to get out and move for 60 minutes a day and would not have been possible without volunteers running each activity station.

This year, we expanded our annual volunteerism into a full Week of Caring. Local businesses partnered with UWMS to Week of Caring saw…

• MVFCU employees building, cleaning and painting at the Alaska Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Houston

• Another group of MVFCU employees preparing Camp Togowoods for a summer of fun with the Girl Scouts of Alaska

• Yet a third MVFCU group at the Big Lake Library, improving the library grounds for the start of summer

• Mat-Su Job Corps, MEA and groups from the Mat-Su Borough School District undertaking a big push to trim, rake, and plant more trees at the Myron J. Babb Arboretum in Palmer

• Friends from First National Bank of Alaska lending a hand to Family Promise of Mat-Su

• Wells Fargo employees dedicating a day of service to The Children’s Place in Wasilla

Thank you to everyone who participated in Week of Caring! You’re helping us build a better Mat-Su.

Have you been to the Palmer Amoosement Park lately? You might be surprised by what you find!

Your United Way of Mat-Su staff, Palmer Rotary, the City of Palmer and volunteers from Group Mission International have been hard at work improving the Amoosement Park. Brush, debris and trees have been cleared from around the playground, creating a more open, safe space with better visibility. Damaged playground equipment has been removed and the playground has been repainted in vibrant colors. The change is amazing!

This is a multi-phase project. A further set of improvements will take place shortly, including installation of security lighting and cameras provided through generous support from United Way of Mat-Su, Palmer Rotary and the Palmer Community Foundation.

Stop by next time you’re looking for a place to play and check out the park’s new look!

Stuff the Bus 2019 Back-To-School Fair was a huge success! On August 13th, UWMS and many volunteers and community partners came together to help over 1,100 Valley students look and feel their best for the first day of school. Backpacks and necessary school supplies were and Each child was able to select a back-to-school outfit from Frontline Mission and Big Lake Community Clothing Closet. Haircuts were provided by the fabulous staff of Hello Darlin’ Salon in Wasilla. Members of the United Way of Mat-Su Board of Directors, Wells Fargo, First National Bank of Alaska, MVFCU, Thrive Mat-Su youth leaders, Wasilla Area Senior Center, MSBSD registrars, Wasilla Sunrise Rotary, and community individuals pitched in to make sure this event ran smoothly. We are grateful for the outpouring of support that makes Stuff the Bus possible!

Interested in learning more about your United Way of Mat-Su and all we do to build a better community? Visit us at these special days during the Alaska State Fair:

Monday, August 26th from noon-5pm, find us on the Yellow Trail during Wellness Day.

Tuesday, August 27th, from noon-4pm, find us in the Borealis Events tent (near the Borealis Theater) during Senior Day.

Learn more by visiting our (new and improved!) website at unitedwaymatsu.org or find us on Facebook: @unitedwaymatsu