Throughout the current campaign, we continue to learn how great things happen when we live united. United Way of Story County (UWSC) focuses on education, income and health – the building blocks for a good quality of life – and the community is coming together to help advance the common good in these areas.
In addition to investing in core programs through partner agencies, UWSC offers the opportunity for human service agencies in Story County to apply for grant funding. When funding is available (which may come from such sources as campaign donations directed to education, income or health, income from the UWSC Endowment or the annual budget, or from Golf Fore Kids), the UWSC Allocations Committee will review applications before presenting recommendations to the UWSC Board of Directors. The awarded grants must support unanticipated, emerging or other under-funded needs.
Earlier this summer, UWSC awarded Community Impact Grants to support projects on a larger scale than the monthly grant applications. Applicants were asked to demonstrate how their programs impact the community and people served in the areas of education, income and health. In July, the UWSC Board of Directors voted to allocate more than $114,000 total to seven programs.
For the next few weeks, this column is highlighting all Community Impact Grant recipients as a way to share the good work of local agencies and, at the same time, fill you in on other opportunities UWSC provides beyond the traditional campaign and funding model.
The Board voted to allocate a $24,580 grant to HIRTA (Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency) to help with the cost of video camera surveillance on vehicles operating in Story County.
HIRTA provides door-to-door transit services in the counties of Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story and Warren. All rides are open to the general public, including persons with disabilities.
To ensure the safety of passengers, employees and property, HIRTA is in the process of putting video cameras on their vans and buses. The grant from United Way will provide funding for two vans and five buses in Story County to be equipped with cameras.
The camera data will be randomly reviewed as needed with incidents and accidents. The data can then be used to accurately account for a specific situation on the bus, for extended training, and/or for communication with other agencies in passenger/driver behavior. Security cameras also allow for audio recording and have an option to view the speed of the vehicle and event logs, presenting a true and accurate picture of what is happening with the vehicle the entire time it’s in service. In addition, because the camera data will allow for a first-hand account of accidents, HIRTA will receive lower insurance costs.
Human service providers frequently identify lack of transportation as one of the leading barriers countywide in client ability to overcome challenges. Under the income/financial stability focus, United Way collaborates with local community partners to help address the transportation barrier. Supporting HIRTA’s programs is one way to help address such barriers.
The momentum is building, and we’re excited to share the collective good work. We invite you join us and see that great things happen when we live united. You can give, you can advocate and you can volunteer.