United Way of Danville Area works for a healthier Community
Whether it is a neighbor without adequate food, health insurance, a victim of abuse, someone struggling with mental illness or an addiction, or many other issues that negatively affect health, United Way of Danville Area works to ensure that everyone has opportunities to get the help they need. One way is through our providing 2-1-1 call center for help, which is a 24/7 free, confidential number that people can call to be connected and get answers for their needs. We partner with businesses, health care providers, government entities, such as VC 2025 of the Vermilion County Board, and community leaders to achieve measurable lasting positive impact on people's lives and health.
Our Goal
United Way of Danville Area's goal is to promote healthy lives and increase the number of youth and adults who live healthier lives and avoid risky behaviors. We partner with Quaker's Breakfast in the Park as Pepsico employees and Quaker retirees provide children with a healthy breakfast during June in Lincoln Park. Many of these children qualify for free and/or reduced lunch during the school year, and Quaker fills in the gap in June. Partnering with Quaker, we schedule physical and/or educational opportunities for the children after they eat their breakfast. Providing healthy meals and good books at an early age helps start little ones off on the right foot in life. Seen in this picture is a little one reading a book from us at United Way of Danville Area at the Breakfast in the Park. His Mom takes advantage of opportunities to help build his healthy future from this early age.
Our Strategy
Achieving our goal requires us all to become more aware of health risks and the potential effects they have on ourselves and others, starting from before birth. Working together with others whose goals and missions intersect with ours - City and County government, businesses, schools, churches, neighborhoods, and others - we can combine our assets and achieve a healthier community. We offer Single Care prescription discount cards that have enabled local residents to save over $650,000 on prescriptions since we began distributing them in 2006. Local pharmacies are strong partners in this success, by making discounts available at their costs. We invest in programs that teach prevention of drug and alcohol abuse and encourage other healthy behaviors as well. We partner with others to combat teen pregnancy and obesity in our communities, in particular with the partners involved in the Community Health Improvement Plan: Vermilion County Health Department, OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center, and Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center.