Did you know…

MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. The Corporation for National and Community service has been charged to lead this effort for the last quarter century. This day of service helps to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, address social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”

With the support of Oskaloosa Community Schools, United Way of Mahaska County helped to organize a day of service in 2022. Various students from William Penn University sports teams and teachers from the Oskaloosa Community School District spent the day volunteering at a variety of locations in Mahaska County. There were approximately 186 volunteers that contributed over 372 hours of volunteering!

Why Serve on MLK Day?

Dr. King recognized the power of service. He famously said, “Everyone can be great because everybody can serve.” Observing the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday through service is a way to begin each year with a commitment to making your community a better place. Your service honors Dr. King’s life and teachings and helps meet community challenges. Service also brings people together of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. The MLK Day of Service encourages all types of service, particularly projects that have a lasting impact and connect participants to ongoing service. The most successful projects connect to the life and teaching of Dr. King, meet a pressing community need, and include time to reflect on his teachings.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), an IRS-sponsored program, helps eligible individuals and families receive the full federal and state tax refunds they are entitled to. Households earning less than $69,000 may qualify for free tax preparation services through VITA.

The average cost of professional tax preparation for a basic return is typically between $250 and $400—an expense that can be a significant barrier for many working families. As a result, some individuals attempt to file on their own and risk missing valuable tax credits, while others may not file at all.

Through VITA, IRS-certified volunteers provide free, accurate tax preparation and filing. This service helps ensure that individuals and families keep more of what they earn, access critical refunds and credits, and avoid the financial burden of paid preparation services.

Addressing Food Insecurity

Since 2015, the Take-Along Food Program has worked to fight childhood hunger in Mahaska County by providing weekend meals to local children experiencing food insecurity.

This United Way of Mahaska County initiative is made possible through the support of local schools, community partners, and caring volunteers who come together to assemble and distribute nutritious meal packs to students in need at Oskaloosa Elementary, Oskaloosa Middle School, Fremont Elementary, and Eddyville Elementary.

For many children, school meals are their primary source of nutrition during the week. The Take-Along program helps bridge the gap over weekends, ensuring students have access to food when school is not in session — helping them stay healthy, supported, and ready to succeed.

15%

of children in Mahaska County experience food insecurity

17%

of children across Iowa face food insecurity

Back-to-School

The Back-to-School Fair started with a few dedicated organizations and has grown into a community wide committee. This change helps ensure that the Fair is an inclusive place for students to get ready for school. United Way of Mahaska County partners with several local businesses and organizations to launch the Back-to-School Fair every year, serving students in North Mahaska and Oskaloosa Community Schools. The year 2026 marks our 20th year of this program, and the coordinators are confident that this year will be another that fully represents the Mahaska County community’s commitment to their children and schools. Our goal is to provide students with the supplies necessary to be successful in their upcoming school year.

Taking ONE Day to Build a Stronger Mahaska County.

The Day of Caring is an annual event which brings volunteers from across the community together for one day of collective, meaningful impact. Volunteers spend time landscaping, painting, building, and doing repairs throughout the community and you can join us in the work of UNITED IS THE WAY. The Day of Caring is an opportunity to use your time and talents to support United Way and our community. It provides an opportunity to see first-hand the work United Way and our partners are doing to improve education, income and health in Mahaska County.

BRRR

The need for warm winter clothing is a serious one, especially in Iowa. Iowa’s winter temperatures typically average in the low 20s °F, and recent winters have remained consistent with this long-term pattern. The Winter Coat drive is a great opportunity for community members to clean out their closets and make an impact during the season of giving. Items collected during the drive are given to people in need at no charge. Accepted donations include winter coats, snow boots, snow pants, winter hats, gloves/ mittens, scarves, and other winter outerwear. Whenever possible, please launder items prior to donation.