Our Work

In addition to supporting our partner agencies, United Way of Central Texas impacts the community through our work establishing and carrying out specific programs made possible by collaborating with other organizations and community leaders.

VITA Program (TAX HELP)

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free tax help to Central Texas families with a household income of $45,000 or less. IRS Certified VITA/TCE Volunteer Tax Preparers provide this service free of charge meaning customers will receive 100% of their refund. For site hours and more information, please click here. 

Financial Stability Initiative

UWCT spearheaded efforts to offer a volunteer led Free Tax Preparation service to the low-income residents of Central Texas.  The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program was initiated in the 2007 Tax Season and to date has brought in excess of $1 Million back into our economy through federal refunds.  More than 1,000 Central Texans took advantage of this opportunity and had their tax return done by one of our volunteers.

In addition to preparing taxes, UWCT is working with area banks to set up checking and savings accounts for the un-banked population of Central Texas.  We are also providing financial literacy classes to teach basic budgeting and savings to help local families build their wealth.  

If you are interested in learning more or  volunteering for this program, click here.

Community Needs Assessment

United Way of Central Texas is currently partnering with Bell County, Scott & White, Metroplex Health Systems, King’s Daughters Hospital, Texas Health Institute and other organizations to complete a Community Needs Assessment. This evaluation will serve as a synopsis of the well being of the citizens of Central Texas and expose weak areas needing improvement. We are currently in the final stages of collaborating on and creating a community-wide survey to help us discover the true needs in Bell County. With the results in hand, all of the partners of this Assessment will be able to battle homelessness, poverty, abuse, and many other issues more efficiently armed with knowledge and a better way to fight together.

UWCT Homeless Continuum of Care Initiative

United Way of Central Texas has made it a top priority to help find long-term solutions to the needs of the homeless population of Bell County.  There are already good resources in place to help the homeless, but we acknowledge that there are needs that are not being met.  We have formed a coalition to begin the process of working on and executing a 10-year strategic plan to end chronic homelessness in our community. 

Our focus is to become proactive in exploring ways to broaden the services that individuals are receiving, so as to do more than provide food and shelter for them, and also to assist them to escape the plight of homelessness

Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (Mid-Tex VOAD)

United Way of Central Texas is an active leader in this organization that is constantly working to ensure our community is adequately prepared to handle and respond to disaster situations. The Mid-Tex VOAD is made up of dozens of local agencies including the American Red Cross and Salvation Army as well as partners from Bell County Emergency Management, the Cities of Temple, Belton and Killeen, and area churches to coordinate volunteer responses to aid evacuees.

2-1-1

UWCT is a partner of 2-1-1 Texas, which is a service that connects people in need to resources not only in the local community, but also statewide and nationally.  This service is  available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

E.M.B.R.A.C.E. 

(Embracing, Bridging, Reaching, Assimilating, Caring, Educating)

UWCT provides support for this program as it educates legal immigrants to become actively engaged in our community and grow to be productive citizens of Bell County. The class curriculum includes things like ESL training, basic budgeting, how to obtain Social Security cards, and information on how to assimilate to our culture.

Family Wize

United Way of Central Texas has partnered with Family Wize to offer free discount drug cards to individuals who have no prescription coverage.  Cards are distributed free of charge and with no restrictions to anyone in the community in need of one.  They can be picked up at our office or the Bell County HELP Center.