United Way invested $200,800 in 7 partner agencies to change lives for 5,029 local people.

Lori's Story
"If it weren't for Melissa's help and support, I would probably still be at a minimum wage job with no ambition or goals. She allowed me to see that I had ability and boosted my confidence to use it."

Finances were stretched and cramped quarters were causing stress for the whole family in the summer of 2005, when Lori and her two babies lived in one small bedroom of her parents' mobile home in Richmond. Lori worked full-time at a minimum-wage job. She says she had no idea where she was going with her life and could see no light at the end of the tunnel.

During well child visits, public health nurse Shirley Helms reassured Lori that she was doing well as a mother, but needed help developing her self-reliance. Shirley referred Lori to the Family Development Case Management Program at Midcoast Maine Community Action (formerly C.E.D.) With help from her case manager, Melissa, Lori found an affordable apartment in Bath and accessed one-time housing assistance, funded by United Way, to make the transition. Lori learned how to do things for herself. With child care vouchers from Family Focus, she was able to continue working and go to school to become a CNA.

Now Lori is working in a better paying job as a CNA and her relationship with her mother is improving. Her finances are still tight, but she has dramatically improved her credit score and hopes to go to school to become an RN.

With the support of United Way donors and her case worker, Lori was able to see choices in her life, recognize that she had potential, and act on opportunities to improve her life