January 2021 E-Newsletter
|
|
Dear Friends,
Monday, January 18 will mark the 26th national MLK Day of Service. This holiday, honoring the service of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is the only federal designated national day of service – “a day on, not a day off.”
While volunteering in the traditional ways might not be possible right now, I encourage you to consider a virtual volunteer opportunity to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You can explore numerous virtual volunteer opportunities by visiting the Volunteer Ventura County website. Although 2021 hasn’t begun in the ways we might have hoped or expected, I continue to be inspired by the resolve of our staff and volunteers to make our community a better place. Despite the tumult around us, we continue to show up to help those who need us most.
This Monday, I encourage you to reflect on the astute words of Dr. King Jr., “Life’s most persistent and urgent question, What are you doing for others?”
|
In service,
Eric Harrison
President & CEO
United Way of Ventura County
|
|
Advocate.
You can make change happen with your voice. United Way needs people who are passionate about education, income, and health to make some noise. To stay informed, visit vcunitedway.org/advocate. To become involved in our advocacy work, email info@vcunitedway.org
|
|
|
Last Month of Open Enrollment!
|
|
Open enrollment for Covered CA ends on January 31, 2021 for anyone needing health insurance coverage. Current Covered CA members are also able to make changes to their health plan or update their information during this time. Covered CA provides financial assistance for qualified individuals needing health insurance. Please note that you can still enroll in health insurance coverage outside of open enrollment if you’ve had a life change, such as a marriage, an out-of-county move, or if you lost employer-based coverage.
For help with the enrollment or renewal process, or if you have questions regarding health coverage options, contact our Covered CA certified enrollment counselor, Catherine Pedrosa at catherine.pedrosa@vcunitedway.org or 805.485.6288, x270. Please note: As a result of social distancing requirements, there are no walk-in appointments available. All appointments will be by phone only.
|
|
AmeriCorps VIP Agency Spotlight:
Ventura County Area Agency on Aging
|
|
AmeriCorps VIP Fellow Cruz Olguin Silva is serving at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA), where she is refining and enhancing the agency’s volunteer programs. Working with the VCAAA team, she is implementing a new volunteer management system, developing a volunteer onboarding process, and creating a volunteer satisfaction survey.
Audrey Darrett, site supervisor states, “Cruz draws from tools she’s acquired from her education and AmeriCorps VIP Fellow Program, to create better workflows for departments who need to recruit and retain volunteers. She is an asset to our VCAAA team. VCAA is excited about the accomplishments of our AmeriCorps VIP Fellow, and we plan to partner again as a participating site in the upcoming 2021-2022 term.”
As the Supervising Organization for the AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP) in Ventura County, UWVC is responsible for training and placing AmeriCorps members with community organizations throughout Ventura County. A VIP Fellow serves at a local non-profit for 11 months (September – July) with the objective of building and enhancing the organization’s ability to leverage volunteers in their service delivery or operations. VIP Fellows qualify for a living stipend, free health care, and an education award upon completion of service. It is a great way to serve our community while developing professional skills and networks.
To learn more about being a participating site or a VIP Fellow, please contact Susan Englund at 805.485.6288, x226, or susan.englund@vcunitedway.org.
|
|
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program Launches February 1
|
|
Beginning on February 1, 2021, individuals and families with income up to $57,000 can have their state and federal tax returns prepared and filed for free.
Due to COVID-19, we will be preparing tax returns virtually and through a drop-off process. Details will be available in late January on our website.
Tax preparers will assist eligible filers to access the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credit.
The California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) is a refundable California state credit created by the governor and legislature in 2015 as a way to help low-income working families. The CalEITC is designed to be a supplement to the federal EITC, which has been around for decades. Eligible families and individuals just need to file their tax return in order to claim CalEITC and federal EITC.
Last year California also established a Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) for working parents with children under age 6 who qualify for CalEITC.
New this year, eligible workers with an ITIN and income under $30,000 can now claim the CalEITC. Self-employed workers with 1099 forms and cash earnings also qualify.
|
|
Get Involved and Make a Difference Today!
|
|
Interested in Volunteering? United Way’s Volunteer Ventura County (VVC) center is a great resource to connect you with volunteer opportunities. VVC partners with more than 250 community organizations in Ventura County. The organizations post their needs for community members to view and respond to. There are a variety of causes and opportunities to connect with.
Current featured volunteer opportunities include:
- American Red Cross: Various volunteer opportunities available
- Action Ventura County: COVID-10 Grocery Delivery & Phone Companionship Services
- Westminster Free Clinic: Letter of Support Writer
- The Samaritan Center of Simi Valley: Pantry Volunteer & Sorting Room Volunteer
|
|
Mentors Needed for Women United Education Award Recipients
|
|
Women United is seeking potential mentors in professional positions who would like to guide a single mom who is pursuing a college education to reach her career goals. This year, five new recipients of the Women United Education Award are looking to work with mentors who will guide, encourage, and support them in their professional journeys. The career goals of the students looking to be matched are in the following fields:
- Accounting and Finance
- College Counseling
- Entrepreneurship
- Healthcare Administration
- Law
Serving as a mentor is a unique and rewarding experience. Your leadership skills will be enhanced and the guidance you provide will positively impact the life of a single motherpursuing her higher education and career goals. This opportunity will provide a valuable experience for both the mentor and mentee.
Proficiency in the listed fields is not a requirement to serve as a mentor. Anyone who has professional experience in a business environment and is willing to share their knowledge with a mentee is encouraged to become a mentor.
|
|
TEXT TO GIVE!
Did you know that United Way of Ventura County has gone mobile? Make a $10 donation to the United Way’s Community Impact Fund using your cellphone. Your donation counts! Simply text the keyword UWVC to 91999. Standard message & data rates apply.
SPREAD THE WORD!
Forward this e-newsletter
You can LIVE UNITED by helping us spread the word. Imagine how many people we could reach if everyone forwards this newsletter to five people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
?
?
?