SUBMITTED PHOTO — The Marshalltown Area United Way wanted to infuse some fun into this year’s campaign with Let’s Raise the Bar(r). The title was the idea of co-chair Kyle Martin, who was inspired by co-chair Carrie Barr. The campaign will kick off Sept. 12.

The worsening economy, increasing inflation rates and stagnant wages have increased need in Marshalltown, and the Marshalltown Area United Way is focusing on meeting it with the annual campaign.

Executive Director Kendra Sorensen said her office has gotten calls every single day from people who are desperate for help.

“It’s the employed. Financially, they’re strapped,” she said. “We’ve been getting a million calls for rent assistance, people needing gas cards, utility assistance, housing in general.”

To highlight the need, Sorensen spoke about the recent United for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Project statistics for Marshall County. ALICE focuses on the working poor — residents who are employed, but do not make enough money to pay for basic needs.

The most recent ALICE report of 15,298 Marshall County households in 2021 finds:

• Since 2019, households in poverty and considered ALICE has increased by 16 percent;

• 12 percent are below the federal poverty level. The statewide average percentage of low-income households is 11;

• 25 percent were considered ALICE with incomes above the federal poverty level, but not enough to pay for basics. The statewide average percentage of ALICE households is 24;

• 37 percent were below the ALICE threshold;

• 87 percent of single-female-led households, 45 percent single-male and 20 percent married households with children were below the threshold;

• 32 percent of Black, 13 percent of Asian and 9 percent of white households were below the threshold;

• The median household income is $63,591, compared to $65,000 statewide.

ALICE data, she said, shows working-class families just are not making enough money. They are facing an increased amount of challenges, such as eviction or the shut-off of utilities.

“There are actually more white households in ALICE than Hispanic,” Sorensen said. “That blew my mind, and we just got these results at the beginning of the spring. I just find it very fascinating, when you start to look at it and understand.”

The data from ALICE is going to be a focus of this year’s campaign. The goal is to provide funding to agencies addressing needs, plus some extra.

“We know the agencies run very lean,” Sorensen said. “They haven’t been asking for more. They’re traditionally asking for the same amount and that is not sustainable with the increased cost of everything. We’re hoping we can continue to provide a little extra funding to the agencies so they can continue running the programs and services, and maybe even expand. At the end of the day, that is the only way we’re going to create change in our community.”

Raising the Bar(r)

The campaign kicks off Sept. 12 at the Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center with a JBS rib dinner. All proceeds from the free-will donation will go toward the campaign. Sorensen added cheesy hashbrowns will be provided, and other meal sides will be available.

“This is a community-wide event,” she said. “We invite everyone to come and learn what United Way stands for and about the partner agencies who get the donated dollars. This is for everyone to get behind and create a positive change for our community.”

Incorporating something different and a little fun, the title of the campaign is Raising the Bar(r), after co-chair Carrie Barr. She said it was the idea of co-chair Kyle Martin.

“The campaign title is always something like ‘United We Stand’ or ‘United We Are Better,'” Martin said. “I thought lets have some fun, and it fits into what we are trying to do, which is raise more money.”

Barr said she had a lot of fun chairing the campaign with Martin.

“He approaches life with fun, energy and good humor,” she said. “I was happy to go along with Kyle’s enthusiasm.”

Last year, Martin said the United Way campaign exceeded the goal of $800,000 by $90,000. So, they wanted to set the bar higher to $825,000.

“We did not want to rest on our laurels,” Martin said. “The giving cycle is a strange thing. One year people will go all out, but previous years, they fall short. We wanted to be forward-thinking and set a goal that is attainable. Hopefully it is.”

Martin said there is a greater need in Marshall County, particularly with homelessness and food insecurity rates increasing.

“The campaign plays a huge part in funding the 28 agencies in the county,” he said. “It’s pretty interesting right now. People are calling the United Way every day because they can’t get assistance from the Salvation Army, the House of Compassion or YSS.”

Sorensen added the majority of the people who call the United Way for help have already contacted the other agencies.

“They’re out of funding,” she said. “A lot of agencies do it by month, so at the beginning of the month, it’s first-come, first-serve. Partner agencies are not finding it sustainable. They are going through funds quickly. That leaves people with potentially being evicted and facing homelessness.”

Barr said there is a lot of time between Sept. 12 and the middle of December, when the campaign ends, to meet the needs of all the agencies.

“But we have a great structure and system,” she said. “Our community is accustomed to digging in. They trust the system, they know it happens this time of year. I recognize raising the money is challenging with inflation, but we can do it. Now is when it is time to chip in. It is a daunting task to raise this much money this quickly, but we have the right people in place. I hope we can get it.”

MARSHALL COUNTY TOWNSHIPS

The ALICE report provided the percentage of township households below the ALICE threshold:

Bangor, 31 percent

Eden, 30

Green Castle, 29

Jefferson, 34

Le Grand, 32

Liscomb, 25

Logan, 27

Marion, 25

Minerva, 40

State Center, 27

Taylor, 45

Timber Creek, 45

Vienna, 18

Washington, 4

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.