May 20, 2009

After the first day of taking appointments for the Laid-Off Workers Center, United Way of the Plains announced a contribution of $50,000 from the Kansas Health Foundation for the United Way Laid-Off Workers Fund. The funds will help United Way provide emergency financial assistance to local laid-off workers through the Laid-Off Workers Center.

On Monday, United Way made 230 appointments for the Laid-Off Workers Center’s June opening session. United Way will continue to take calls through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To set up an appointment, individuals must call United Way’s information number by dialing 2‑1‑1 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The deadline to call for an appointment for the June session is Friday, May 22. The center will be open on a monthly basis as needed beyond June.

“We greatly appreciate this gift from the Kansas Health Foundation,” said Patrick J. Hanrahan, president of United Way of the Plains. “As we continue to respond to our community’s economic crisis, we are thankful for their generous support of our work.”

United Way of the Plains set up the Laid-Off Workers Fund to help provide funding for emergency assistance to laid-off workers. The fund will distribute assistance through the Laid-Off Workers Center that United Way is coordinating with numerous local agencies and organizations (nonprofit and government). Donations to the fund can be made by checks payable to “United Way Laid-Off Workers Fund” and mailed to United Way of the Plains, 245 N. Water, Wichita, KS 67202.

To qualify for help through the Laid-Off Workers Center, laid-off workers must:

· Pre-register by calling United Way’s information line by dialing 2-1-1;

· Have been laid off due to lack of work and approved for unemployment compensation sometime since October 1, 2008 (not fired, quit, or on medical leave);

· Show that they have emergency financial needs and have insufficient personal resources to adequately provide food, clothing and/or shelter; and

· Have been laid off from a job in Sedgwick, Butler or Sumner counties, or lived in those counties at the time of the layoff, between Oct. 1, 2008, and the present.

Services at the Laid-Off Workers Center will include:

· Emergency financial assistance (food, utilities, and shelter). Checks will be written directly to the merchant, landlord or utility company. No cash on premises.

· Budget and debt management counseling

· Arrangements for utility bill payment plans

· Help applying for government programs

· Job training and job search assistance

· Continuing education information

· On-site child care services during the appointment

· Food assistance