United Way of Lewis County

11/04/2026

ALICE* households have income above the Federal Poverty Level, yet often struggle to afford the basics: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology, and taxes.

But sometimes, what looks like a luxury can actually be a basic need. And the extra cost of meeting that need can put even greater strain on an already stretched budget.

What's something that feels like a luxury but is actually a necessity in your everyday life? Tell us in the comments!

*ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed

11/03/2026

A love of reading starts long before a child learns to read on their own! 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥.

And the best part? Just a few minutes of reading together each day can make a lasting difference!

Here are a few simple tips to raise a lifelong reader:

📘 Make reading a daily habit. Even 10–15 minutes at bedtime or during a quiet afternoon can make a difference.

📕 Let your child choose the book. Following their interests makes reading fun!
Bring stories to life! Use silly voices, point to pictures, and ask questions along the way.

📙 Read it again! Repetition helps build vocabulary, memory, and confidence.

📗 Make it special. Snuggle up and enjoy the time together. Reading is about connection, too!

Through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library , United Way of Lewis County and the Lewis County Rotary Foundation help families build these important habits by delivering FREE, age-appropriate books to more than 2,300 local children each month, from birth to age five.

Enrolling your child is easy! Visit www.imaginationlibrary.com to register today.

10/29/2026

What an incredible gathering of community partners! 💙💛❤️

Yesterday, we were thrilled to bring together 𝟐𝟑 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 for our Partners in Impact meeting. The room was filled with meaningful conversations, valuable resources being shared, new connections being made, and exciting opportunities for collaboration.

At United Way of Lewis County, we believe that some of the greatest community impact happens when we come together. By connecting organizations, sharing knowledge, and strengthening partnerships, we can better serve our neighbors and help ensure that children, individuals, and families throughout Lewis County have access to the tools, opportunities, and resources they need to thrive.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who joined us! Your dedication to serving our community is inspiring, and we're excited to see what we can accomplish together.

Because when we work together, our collective impact is so much greater.

10/27/2026

🍂 October News from United Way of Lewis County!

There's a lot happening at United Way, and we're excited to share what we've been up to this fall! From community partnerships and upcoming events to meaningful ways you can get involved, our October newsletter is full of updates about the work we're doing together to make a difference across Lewis County.

Email from United Way of Lewis County   View as Webpage Dear Friends, As we head into the final months of the year, I'm reminded of what makes Lewis County special: neighbors looking out for one anoth

10/25/2026

🎃🩵 A wonderful day of connection and community!

United Way of Lewis County was thrilled to be part of the Lewis County Autism Coalition’s Teal Pumpkin Event today!

We loved connecting with local families, celebrating a fun and welcoming sensory-friendly experience, and signing up little ones for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library! 📚❤️

Events like these remind us how important it is to create inclusive spaces where every child and family feels welcome, supported, and connected.

A big thank you to the Autism Coalition for bringing our community together and allowing us to be part of such a special day!

10/23/2026

Please join us in welcoming Vanessa Prigmore to her new role as Director of Development & Community Impact at United Way of Lewis County!

A proud Oregon State University graduate (Go Beavs!), multigenerational Lewis County resident, and longtime Toledo community member, Vanessa brings a deep commitment to the people and places she calls home.

From volunteering with Morton's Backpack Program and serving with the Arbor Health Foundation to her current role on the Toledo Community Foundation board, Vanessa has spent years helping strengthen her community.

She believes in the power of relationships, collaboration, and bringing people together to make a difference. We're excited for the energy, experience, and passion she'll bring to this new chapter at United Way!

As we welcome Vanessa, we also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Chris Judd for his dedication to United Way of Lewis County and our mission over the past four and a half years. We're grateful for his service, commitment, and contributions to our community.

Please join us in welcoming Vanessa and thanking Chris for his years of service! ❤️

10/22/2026

Rain happens. Let’s be ready, Lewis County! 🌧

Grab your calendar and join Lewis County Emergency Management for the 2026 Lewis County Annual Flood Meeting.
📅 Wednesday, October 28
⏰ 1:00–3:00 p.m.
📍 Lewis County Historic Courthouse
BOCC Hearing Room, 2nd Floor
351 NW North Street, Chehalis

There will be a winter weather briefing from the National Weather Service, along with updates from partners as we prepare for the upcoming flood season.

Questions? Contact Lewis County Emergency Management at 360-740-1151.

Bring your questions ... and share this with a neighbor. Preparedness is better together!

🌧️ Rain happens. Let’s be ready, Lewis County! ☔

Grab your calendar and join us for the 2026 Lewis County Annual Flood Meeting!

📅 Wednesday, October 28
⏰ 1:00–3:00 p.m.
📍 Lewis County Historic Courthouse
BOCC Hearing Room, 2nd Floor
351 NW North Street, Chehalis

We’ll hear a winter weather briefing from the National Weather Service, along with updates from partners as we prepare for the upcoming flood season.

Whether your rain boots are by the door year-round or you’re still holding onto summer, this is a great opportunity to stay informed and get prepared! 🌦️

Questions? Contact Lewis County Emergency Management:
☎️ 360-740-1151
📧 [email protected]

Bring your questions ... and share this with a neighbor. Preparedness is better together! 💙

10/22/2026

🌟 BOARD SPOTLIGHT: Meet Holly Abbarno!

For Holly Abbarno, supporting Lewis County families and helping kids succeed is more than a passion. It's a family affair!

A Rochester High School graduate and educator with Centralia School District, Holly has made Lewis County home in every sense. Now in her second year on the United Way of Lewis County Board of Directors, she brings a deep commitment to education, community, and creating opportunities for local children.

That commitment runs in the family! Her oldest son teaches at Centralia Middle School and coaches football at Centralia High School; her daughter is a substitute teacher, and her two youngest children attend local schools. Her granddaughter attends Bezos Academy, a preschool United Way helped bring to Lewis County, giving Holly a firsthand look at the impact of community partnerships.

Holly also puts her passion into action, volunteering with Reading Buddies, the Back-to-School Supply Drive, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Hub City Mission, and the Spring Youth Fair.

She believes strong connections between families, schools, and communities help every child thrive.

When she's not teaching or volunteering, you'll find Holly hiking, camping, traveling, or enjoying time with her family.

Thank you, Holly, for putting kids first and helping build a stronger Lewis County! ❤️

10/20/2026

Thank you to the Puget Sound Energy Foundation for investing in housing security across our region!

We're grateful to receive a $4,000 grant to support programs that help individuals and families meet their basic needs and build greater stability.

Community-based solutions create lasting local impact, and we're proud to partner with organizations that recognize that it is essential to help people move forward, not just get by.