UNITED WHEN HELP CAN’T WAIT
MEETING URGENT NEEDS WITH OUR DIRECT SERVICES
community connections through 211
returned to families through VITA
rides connecting people to work and care
These are the moments we showed up for.
This past year, our community faced real tests, from federal uncertainty, strained families already stretched thin, and everyday barriers kept showing up: a car that won’t start, a bill that can’t wait, a form that stands between someone and their next opportunity. Through 211, VITA, Ride United and more, United Way of Greenville County met our neighbors where they were, and helped them take the next step toward stability.
One number. Thousands of doors opened.
Day after day, we hear from our community—through calls, messages, and an inbox filled with real need. Behind each one is a family facing something urgent: a housing crisis, a sudden loss of income, an unexpected barrier that can quickly become overwhelming. In these moments, support from our community becomes the bridge between uncertainty and stability, helping neighbors find a way forward when they need it most.
Real emails. Real people. Real needs.
Community Relief
In response to the 2025 federal government shutdown, when SNAP benefits and wages were disrupted, more local families found themselves suddenly without critical support. Lost income, unexpected expenses and delayed assistance quickly pushed many to the edge.
United Way of Greenville County stepped in to provide immediate, targeted support during this period of instability. Whether helping to mobilize food or keep a roof overhead, the fund helped our neighbors could remain housed, fed and secure in a moment of widespread uncertainty.
$45,000
invested in Harvest Hope
50,000
pounds of food mobilized to the community
250
individuals fed each day for a month
Sometimes, the barrier is simply getting there.
In 2025, United Way of Greenville County launched Ride United, a pilot program made possible through a grant from Lyft, providing free rides to residents without reliable transportation to reach work, appointments and essential services.
In its first few months, the program delivered hundreds of rides across Greenville County. The majority supported employment, reinforcing what we know to be true: access to transportation is access to opportunity. Seeing the demand, and the impact,we are continuing to invest in and expand this critical program.
rides provided
UNIQUE RIDERS used the service for job interviews, medical appointments, childcare, etc.
of the rides supported employment
Success story — Ride United
A reliable ride can change everything.
Just ask Roddrick.
For many in our community, the distance between where they are and where they want to be isn’t measured in miles, it’s measured in access. Roddrick knew that feeling firsthand.
Through United Way of Greenville County’s Ride United program, Roddrick received the transportation support he needed to land a job and take a meaningful step toward stability. One ride. One opportunity. One life moving forward.
Helping families keep what they've earned.
In 2025, our VITA program served thousands of households across South Carolina through 49 sites: 32 traditional locations, 11 virtual and 6 facilitated self-assistance sites.
Nearly 200 dedicated volunteers gave 12,500 hours of their time to ensure families received every dollar they earned and every credit they deserved — at no cost.
Since inception, our VITA program has filed approximately 150,000 returns and returned more than $200 million to households across South Carolina.
10,404
$11.7M
$3.2M+
$2.06M
12,500
LEAD
MOBILIZE
