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More Than Child Care: How Mixed Delivery Opens Doors for Families
A parent is trying to finish school while raising a young child. They’re working toward a degree and a more stable future for their family, but there’s a problem: childcare. The bills have piled up, leaving a significant balance and a constant source of stress. Finishing school is supposed to open new doors. But without…
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Meet Carla: Supporting the People Who Help Young Children Learn
Walk into an early childhood classroom and you might see children playing, talking, laughing, and exploring. Carla sees something more. She notices whether teachers are down on a child’s level. She listens to how teachers and children talk to one another. She looks at whether children can reach materials and make choices on their own.…
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New Nature Trail Experience Opens at Rocky Mount Community Park
Your next walk in Rocky Mount Community Park might come with a few surprises. Today, community members gathered at Rocky Mount Community Park to celebrate something new along the trail — more than 30 nature-themed signs designed to turn an everyday walk into an outdoor learning adventure. Installed throughout the wooded paved trail, the new…
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A New Tax Change Could Make Giving More Accessible in 2026
A new federal tax change may allow more people to receive a tax benefit for charitable giving—even if they take the standard deduction. Most people don’t give because of taxes. They give because they care. They give because they want children to succeed, families to thrive, and communities to grow stronger. But starting in tax…
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Celebrate United 2026: An Evening of Celebration, Community and Excitement
On Thursday, June 4, the Crystal Ballroom at Hotel Roanoke was filled with something you could feel the moment you walked in: energy, excitement, and a room full of people who care deeply about this community. Celebrate United 2026 brought together local leaders, volunteers, advocates, supporters, and neighbors for an evening dedicated to recognizing the…
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Mental Health Is More Than Mental Health Care
May is Mental Health Month. While conversations around mental health have come a long way, many people still immediately think of therapy appointments, diagnoses, or prescription medications when they hear the phrase mental health support. Those resources matter deeply. Professional care can be life-changing and even lifesaving. But mental health is also much bigger than…
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Meet Hollie: Connecting Families to the Support They Need
When families try to find childcare or early learning support, it’s not always simple. There are long waitlists. Applications. Paperwork. And often, no clear place to start. That’s where Hollie Harmon-Smith comes in. Hollie is the Access and Engagement Coordinator at United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. When asked to describe her role, she said, “I feel like…
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Connecting with Families at the Blue Ridge Kite Festival
Each spring, families from across the region gather at Green Hill Park for the Blue Ridge Kite Festival, a longtime community tradition that draws nearly 10,000 attendees and fills the sky with color, energy, and connection. This year, UWVBR and Ready Region West were proud to be part of that experience for the fourth year,…
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A New Home, a New Law, and a Region Ready to Move
UWVBR opens its doors — and marks a historic turning point on childcare By Abby Verdillo Hamilton, President & CEO, United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Tuesday morning, we cut the ribbon on our new headquarters, and it turned out to be a bigger moment than even we anticipated. For a hundred years, United Way…
