Our Work
The Schuylkill United Way is dedicated to providing funding, guidance and encouragement to our partner agencies who help people throughout Schuylkill County by way of a variety of programs and services.
Our board members and officers comprise Schuylkill County business and community leaders who seek to assist our neighbors through empowering our Partner Agencies — with a particular emphasis on health and education.
County Programs Operated by Schuylkill United Way
Annual Campaign
Our annual campaign runs from September through November. During this period, we actively seek the funds needed to answer our Partner Agencies’ calls for assistance in the following year.
Our 2026 Campaign Goal is:
Captain Jason B. Jones Memorial Day of Caring
Each year on the second Friday of May, hundreds of volunteers blanket Schuylkill County to lend a hand to our Partner Agencies, other nonprofits, and parks & municipalities. Businesses, civic organizations, and individuals come together for the one day of community service with major impact.
Schools, libraries, and nursing homes participate in various ways too. The most popular is doing a letter writing campaign for Operation Gratitude organized by Schuylkill United Way.
In 2015, our Day of Caring we renamed in honor of a local fallen hero, Captain Jason B. Jones of Orwigsburg. We serve in part to honor Capt. Jones’ passion for service and love of community.
Want to get involved? Contact Becky Woods, Director of Marketing & Programs, at bwoods@schuylkillunitedway.org.
Stuff the Bus
During the month of July, businesses, hospitals, and many nonprofits and organizations host collection boxes for either internal supply drives with employees or for the public to bring their school supply donations. Thanks to generous donors & dedicated volunteers, SUW was able to expand Stuff the Bus to our county schools and other groups who work with our youth.
In 2025, over 150 volunteers worked to fill 2,000 backpacks to ensure Schuylkill County students have a strong start to the new school year! If you’d like to get involved, please contact Becky Woods at bwoods@schuylkillunitedway.org.
High School Football Challenge
All 14 county teams compete in a series of speed, strength, agility, and skill contests. There is also a Kick Out exhibition during “half time.” Winners receive medals and trophies. The champions earn the Commissioners Trophy, SUW Traveling Trophy, winning banner, a gift card for a team spaghetti dinner, and of course bragging rights!
Admission is free and everyone gets to visit with our Partner Agencies and generous sponsors. A host of games, give-a-ways, and resources are available to all who attend. A variety of food trucks are on site for teams and fans to purchase dinner and treats.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mike Joyce, Director of Community Engagement, at mjoyce@schuylkillunitedway.org. For questions about the Challenge, please contact Becky Woods at bwoods@schuylkillunitedway.org.
Nurse’s Pantry
We are incredibly grateful to partner with Schuylkill County school nurses to help our student stay focused, stay healthy, and stay in school. Here are a few testimonials from the school nurses in regards to the Nurse’s Pantry:
“I have used various items so far that I would have had to search high and low for in the past. Thank you so much!”
“The Nurse’s Pantry has made a huge difference in our ability to assist students and families that have been impacted by homelessness and crisis situations.”
“…your very generous contributions have been frequently used AND with much appreciation by our nursing staff and families in need.”
Equally, SUW thanks the donors and all who have completed supply drives to support the Nurse’s Pantry.
Schuylkill County HIVE
It’s not another acronym! Schuylkill United Way is proud to partner with Schuylkill Community Action, Schuylkill Connects, and Tamaqua Area Community Partnership to create these intentional gatherings for community problem solving, education, and resource sharing.
Topics and activities that have been covered since the initial Schuylkill County HIVE gathering in March 2024 include: resource mapping, grant & funding presentations, intentional networking, and asset based community development. Presenters have included Penn State Clinical & Translational Science Institute, @ Home in Adams County, the Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement, CORE Susquehanna AmeriCorps, and Schuylkill Transportation System.
Click here to see what HIVE accomplished in their first year.
This is a long-term initiative that will grow to meet the expressed needs of those who attend HIVE gatherings. Schuylkill County HIVE gatherings happen on the first Mondays of March, June, and October from 1 PM – 3 PM at Alvernia Pottsville CollegeTowne, located at 500 Progress Avenue in Pottsville. The next HIVE is Monday, October 6, 2025.
Schuylkill County HIVE is a response to the data, conversations, and ideas shared during SUW’s Meet ALICE gathering in September 2023. The 2023 ALICE in PA report indicated that while 12% of Schuylkill Countians are living at or under the Federal Poverty Line, another 28% are Asset Limited, Income Constrained Employed (ALICE = working but still unable to make ends meet). 40% of our population is extremely vulnerable and at the mercy of our community assistance programs and resources. We must work together.
ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)
ALICE are households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county. The most recent report released in May 2025 shows 15% of Schuylkill Countians are at or below the Federal Poverty Line with another 27% of households being ALICE. This means 42% of our county households are extremely vulnerable and in need of our human service organizations, especially SUW’s Partner Agencies.
- Click here to download the most recent ALICE report for Schuylkill County.
- Click here to visit United Way of Pennsylvania’s ALICE data and resources, including an interactive map to compare PA counties.
- Click here for the ALICE experience, created by the United Way of Pennsylvania and Harrisburg University Science and Technology.
Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP)
This program is currently on hold by the Federal Government.
The Schuylkill United Way is the administrator for the Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) funds in Schuylkill County. EFSP funds are distributed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to benefit Schuylkill County residents.
Diversity Policy
Schuylkill United Way believes firmly in dignity for all people. We reaffirm this belief in our policies which guide and direct our employment practices, program funding, volunteer recruitment, and service delivery. The vision of the Schuylkill United Way is to be a proponent of diversity, welcoming and serving everyone. Our goal is to have our staff and volunteers genuinely demonstrate the principles of diversity which enrich our community.
Diversity, as defined by the Schuylkill United Way, provides equal opportunity to all people without regard to race, creed, color, religion, marital status, disability, sex, age, or national origin. Schuylkill United Way promotes the full realization of this policy through the positive recognition of the value of diversity.
We will apply this policy to our board and committee participation, service delivery and employment practices including recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion, discipline, and termination. We will apply this policy to our relationship with partner agencies, the community we serve, and the general public.