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 brought hard tests: federal uncertainty and the everyday barriers that quietly derail progress – 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 community 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 urgent needs. 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 individuals find a way forward when they need it most.
Real emails. Real people. Real needs.
When the safety net frayed, our community stepped up.
The 2025 federal government shutdown disrupted SNAP benefits and delayed wages for thousands of families — many of whom were already stretching every dollar. Lost income hit at the worst possible moment and the gaps widened fast.
That's when the power of pooled giving mattered most. Because of donors across Greenville County, United Way was able to move quickly — directing targeted support to a local food bank to keep people housed, fed and secure during a period of widespread uncertainty.
No single donor made this happen. Every gift — large and small — flowed into one fund, one coordinated response, one community saying: we've got you.
Invested in local food banks
Pounds of food mobilized to the community
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.
Through our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, sponsored by the IRS, United Way connected low- and moderate-income households across the Upstate with free, expert tax preparation. More than 200 trained volunteers showed up at 40+ locations to make sure families kept every dollar they earned and every credit they deserved.
This year, those volunteers gave 12,500 hours — because access to financial opportunity should never come with a price tag.
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
49 sites. One mission.
In 2025, VITA reached thousands of households across South Carolina through 49 sites — 32 traditional locations, 11 virtual and 6 facilitated self-assistance sites. From our main hub in Greenville County, we partnered with organizations across the Upstate to bring free tax help to the communities that need it most.
LEAD
MOBILIZE
