-By Abby Hamilton, President and CEO, United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge
For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside the people who make our region stronger—nonprofit leaders, school counselors, health workers, and volunteers who give their time and heart to lift up others.
I’ve seen what it takes to keep programs going when resources are tight: creativity, compassion, and sheer determination.
But I’ve never seen so many of our local organizations facing the same painful question at once:
What happens if the funding just stops?
This is no longer a quiet concern. It’s showing up in our inboxes, in urgent partner calls, and in real-time impacts across our community.
Youth programs are losing federal support. Fresh food deliveries to local pantries have slowed. Essential health services are slipping out of reach. Early childhood programs—years in the making—are at risk of unraveling as key grants hang in the balance.
This isn’t just about dollars. It’s about the kind of community we want to be.
When the Safety Net Frays
At United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, we work every day to connect people with what they need to thrive—housing, health care, child care, food, transportation, and more. But right now, we’re seeing the gaps grow wider.
As federal dollars shrink or shift, local nonprofits are being asked to stretch beyond their limits. Programs that have quietly held our communities together for decades are being scaled back or shut down—not because they failed, but because the funding vanished.
It feels like the safety net is starting to unravel. And as anyone who’s ever repaired one knows—once the threads begin to pull loose, it’s hard to weave them back.
And Yet, I Still Believe
In the face of all this, I still believe in this community—because I’ve seen what we’re capable of when we come together.
We’ve done it before: during a pandemic, after floods, in the wake of hard reckonings and uncertain times. Roanoke shows up. We check on our neighbors. We roll up our sleeves. We lead with heart.
That’s what gives me hope. That’s why I’m writing today.
Because this isn’t just a moment of loss—it’s a moment of decision. And we get to choose how we respond.
How You Can Help
🔹 Give where it matters most.
When you invest in United Way or our nonprofit partners, your dollars stay local. They help keep services open, staff in place, and people connected to care.
🔹 Raise your voice.
Contact your representatives. Let them know you support funding for early childhood programs, affordable housing, mental health services, and food access. These aren’t extras—they’re essentials.
🔹 Stay involved.
Volunteer. Share this message. Talk to friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Every act of connection is a thread that strengthens our community fabric.
A Moment to Lead with Heart
At United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, we believe real change happens when we come together—not just in moments of crisis, but in moments of possibility.
We’re not here to patch holes. We’re here to build systems that last. That’s the power of collective impact. And that’s what this moment is calling for.
So let’s rise to it—together.
Let’s show what it looks like when a region leans in instead of turning away. Let’s be the ones who step forward with generosity, with resolve, and with love for our community.
Because when the safety net frays, we rise together.
