Life is a beautiful journey, but it comes with its share of challenges. Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, collectively known as mental health, plays a crucial role in shaping how we navigate those challenges. However, it is disheartening to realize that a concerning number of Americans face mental health issues regularly. One in five adults struggle with some form of mental health issue annually, while one in twenty experiences a severe condition within a year.

We're on a mission to increase the organized capacity of people in Central Georgia communities to care for one another, by working collaboratively, to disrupt the cycle of poverty in our community. Volunteers play a crucial role in our success, just as they do in many other nonprofit organizations in Central Georgia. Volunteering has a lot more value than just being kind; Independent Sector, a nonprofit organization that tracks volunteer hours across the nation, estimates that in 2023 volunteer time was worth $31.80 an hour.

A partnership between United Way of Central Georgia and Roger Jackson and Motivating Youth Foundation brought Delivering Good to Bibb County. It is supported by Macon-Bibb County, Griffith Family Foundation, and Rhythm & Jazz Foundation.

In its backyard, Brookdale Resource Center is adding a new resource that will feed hundreds of people fresh food. This special announcement was made at a press conference held by Mayor Lester Miller, United Way of Central Georgia (UWCG), Bibb County School District, and Bibb County Cooperative Extension on Thursday, March 16. You can watch it here. 

The United Way of Central Georgia and NewTown Macon are partnering to host Seuss on the Loose during March First Friday. The event will take place in the Third Street park median between Cherry Street and Poplar Street on Friday, March 3 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Laundromat Library, a United Way of Central Georgia

Hello House at Brookdale officially opens Monday, January 30th. A short-term shelter, Hello House is an expansion of services at Brookdale Resource Center. The former Brookdale Elementary School gymnasium has been converted into a short-term 50 bed shelter to accommodate the growing number of those experiencing homelessness in Macon-Bibb County.

With the Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Authority, United to End Homelessness, an initiative of United Way of Central Georgia, is monitoring the forecasted weather. Due to the cold temperatures forecasted, we advise our unhoused neighbors to take advantage of the additional warming beds at Brookdale Resource Center and the Salvation Army. Routine shelter services will also be available at Brookdale Resource Center and the Salvation Army shelter.