United Way teaching Families Financial Stability

The United Way of Oconee County launched a new program this year at Christmas.  Kim Ellis with the United Way of Oconee County tells about the Family Financial Stability Program.  “This season we did a Family Financial Stability Program, which partnered with the Community Impact Team of the United Way and we did a Financial Stability Program where we paired up families with actual bank counselors in the community to teach them financial skills and budgeting.” This new program not only helped participating families during the holidays but also will teach them financial strategies throughout the year, explains Ellis. “Myself along with the Community Impact Team sat down and we really want to make a difference, an impact on the community to help those families not only just at Christmas but throughout the year for other types of assistance that they may need and let them know that they can do this on their own and we just want to coach them along in that.” Ellis tells how families were chosen for the new program. “When they come in looking for assistance for Christmas they are briefed on the Financial Stability Program, if they are interested then they are screened.  We collaborate with other agencies, so the first thing that we let them know is they cannot be on any other list in the county.  Then they have to have little of no income, which is similar to the SNAP Guidelines.  Everything that they state on their application is verified because duplication is something that we do not want to happen.” Ellis says the Family Financial Stability Program would not be possible without the volunteers from area banks. “Counselors take on two families, they are volunteers who work at the banks here in Oconee County and nearly ever bank in the county has paired up with United Way for this program.” To learn more about this or any program offered through the United Way of Oconee County, visit www.oconeeunitedway.org.