Financial Stability

ALICE families make more than the Federal Poverty Level but fall below the ALICE Threshold. That threshold is an income at which individuals and families are able to afford their basic needs. The ALICE Threshold is based on budgets that include costs for everyday essentials like housing, transportation, food and child care.

Our Ready. Set. GO! Weekend Food Bags provide easy-to-prepare, healthy meals for local elementary students who lack access to food over the weekends. In our service area, many children come to school without the essential resources they need to thrive. They often do not have nutritious food when school meals are unavailable during the weekends, which contributes to educational disparities and makes it difficult for these children to excel academically and fully engage in their learning.

Currently, we provide 200 elementary age students with weekend food bags each week. However, the demand for this program continues to grow, and we need your support! This program is made possible by direct financial contributions within our community. 

Our Power of $10 Initiative and direct contributions allow us to provide this program in coordination with local schools. This program works directly through elementary school counselors to ensure that we are supporting students with the greatest need to the available resources. 

These programs are made possible by direct financial contributions within our community. For more information contact Arial at ahowell@unitedwayif.org.

Classroom Helpers- Foster Grandparents Program

The AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program connects adults age 55 and older with children and youth who benefit from additional support, encouragement, and positive relationships. Our volunteers serve in schools, early childhood programs, afterschool programs, libraries, juvenile justice settings, and other community organizations across Eastern Idaho. Foster Grandparents provide one-on-one and small-group support to children who may be struggling academically, socially, emotionally, or behaviorally, helping them build confidence, develop skills, and experience the stability of a caring adult relationship.

The program serves two important community needs at the same time. For children, it increases access to individualized attention and mentorship in classrooms and learning environments where staff resources are often stretched thin. For older adults, it creates meaningful opportunities to remain engaged, connected, and active in their communities. Income-eligible volunteers receive a tax-free stipend and mileage reimbursement, helping offset financial barriers while providing supplemental support that can improve financial stability. The program also helps reduce social isolation by fostering relationships, purpose, and a sense of belonging through service.

As schools and community programs face increasing challenges related to student behavior, mental health, learning gaps, and limited staffing, the need for caring, consistent volunteers continues to grow. The Foster Grandparent Program works to strengthen communities by bringing generations together, ensuring children have additional support to thrive while empowering older adults to share their time, experience, and compassion in ways that make a lasting difference.

For more information contact Cheiska Motloch, Volunteer Coordinator, cmotloch@unitedwayif.org.