During this season of gratitude and giving, many of us reflect on what it truly means to be a strong community. At United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, community resiliency starts with families — and grows through the partnerships, programs, and people who support them every day.

Resiliency isn’t just about responding to crises. It’s about building systems that help families stay stable, supported, and connected long before challenges become emergencies. Through strategic investments and direct services, United Way works year-round to strengthen the foundation families rely on — especially during moments of transition, uncertainty, and growth.

    Funding the Network That Supports Families

Through the Community Impact Fund, United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge invests in a network of local nonprofit partners and provides direct services that strengthen families across our region. These funds support programs that address immediate needs while also promoting long-term stability.

Community Impact Fund investments help ensure families have access to early learning opportunities, health navigation support, and essential resources that promote resilience and self-sufficiency. By supporting both partner organizations and United Way–led initiatives, we help create a coordinated system of care that families can rely on throughout every stage of life.

    Early Learning Strategies: Supporting Children, Caregivers, and Childcare Providers

Strong early learning systems are foundational to community resiliency. United Way’s Early Learning Strategies focus on helping families navigate early childhood education while also strengthening the quality of care available across the region.

For families, this work includes guidance on finding and accessing childcare, understanding early learning resources, and navigating systems during a child’s most critical developmental years. For childcare providers, United Way works alongside partners to support best practices aligned with Virginia’s Birth-to-Five Initiative, helping ensure learning environments are safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate.

Quality early learning doesn’t just benefit children — it supports working parents, caregivers, and entire communities by creating stability today and opportunity for the future.

    Community Health Workers: Trusted Support Close to Home

In Franklin County, United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge supports Community Health Workers (CHWs) who provide direct, relationship-based assistance to individuals and families navigating health and social challenges.

Community Health Workers help connect neighbors to healthcare, community services, and preventative supports — often serving as a trusted bridge between families and the systems designed to support them. By meeting people where they are and building trust over time, CHWs help address barriers early and strengthen long-term stability.

This approach is a vital part of community resiliency, ensuring families are supported not only in moments of crisis, but throughout their health and wellness journeys.

    Family Huddle: Listening to Families to Strengthen Systems

Community resiliency also means listening — especially to the families most impacted by the systems intended to serve them.

United Way’s Regional Family Huddle brings together parents, caregivers, and guardians of children from birth to age five to share experiences, learn about available childhood services, and provide feedback that helps strengthen early childhood systems across the region.

    Upcoming Family Huddles:

• January 13, 2026
• February 10, 2026

By centering family voices, United Way helps ensure programs and services reflect real needs — creating stronger systems and more resilient communities.

    A Season to Strengthen What Holds Us Together

As we move through this season of gratitude and giving, your support of the Community Impact Fund helps sustain the partnerships, programs, and direct services that make community resiliency possible.

Together, we’re not just responding to immediate needs — we’re building a stronger, more connected future for families across Virginia’s Blue Ridge.

    Learn more:

• United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge — Community Impact Fund
  https://uwvbr.org
• United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge — Youth Opportunity & Early Learning
  https://uwvbr.org/youth-opportunity/
• VDOE — VQB5, Virginia’s Quality Measurement and Improvement System
  https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/early-childhood-care-education/quality-measurement-and-improvement-vqb5