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Go Big GIVE Registration is Open

skirkley — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:45:52 +0000

Go Big GIVE Registration is Open skirkley Tue, 01/13/2026 - 1:45pm

Check out the new look and set sail for giving!

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Heartland United Way makes holiday giving easy

skirkley — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:54:45 +0000

Heartland United Way makes holiday giving easy

skirkley Thu, 11/06/2025 - 10:54am

GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA (November 6, 2025) The season of giving is upon us, and Heartland United Way is making it easy to unite to help others during the holidays.

HUW boosts assistance to our communities in three ways this time of year: Heartland United Way Toy Collection & Toys for Tots Toy Distribution, Holiday Adopt a Family Program and Christmas Cheer Food Program.

How can you help?

Local banks are now collecting donations for Christmas Cheer. The program provides a food voucher to provide a holiday meal for people in need in Hall County. Donations are being accepted at these Grand Island bank locations as well as the HUW office at 1441 N. Webb Road:

Equitable Bank
Five Points Bank
FNBO
Home Federal Bank
Pinnacle Bank

You can also donate to Christmas Cheer or Heartland United Way’s Toy Drive and Toys for Tots Distribution online at: https://www.heartlandunitedway.org/form/christmas-cheer-donation-form.
Toy Drive boxes have also been set up throughout our communities to collect gifts for children who would otherwise go without a holiday present between November 7th through December 7th. You can drop off a new and unwrapped toy, book or game at these locations:

Advance Auto Parts
AMGL, PC
Amur
Animal Medical Clinic
Bargain Barn
Bomgaars – Grand Island
Bomgaars - Kearney
Bomgaars – St. Paul
Bruning Bank
Cairo United Methodist Church
Centura Public Schools
CHI Health St. Francis
Chief Buildings Office
Chief Carriers
Chief Industries - BonnaVilla
Clean Slate Removal
Corteva Agriscience
Dollar General - Doniphan
Equitable Bank
First Interstate Bank - Grand Island
Gates Elementary - GIPS
General Collection
GIX Logistics
GO Physical Therapy
Grand Island Express
Grand Island Jazzercise
Heartland United Way
Heritage Bank - Aurora
HobbyTown
Home Federal Bank
Hornady Manufacturing
Larry's Appliance
Lincoln Elementary - GIPS
Literacy Council of Grand Island
Nebraska State Fair
Matt Jurgena Agency - American Family Insurance
Melissa Reed - State Farm Insurance
Menards
MNB Bank - Doniphan
MNB Bank – Grand Island
Newell Elementary - GIPS
Pham's Coffee & Boba
Railside Barbershop
Ryder Rosacker McCue & Huston
Sunrise Express
The Hair Company
Travelers Taproom
Viaero Wireless
Y&N Liquor LLC

To learn more about how to support Heartland United Way’s holiday efforts through donations or volunteering, visit www.heartlandunitedway.org/helping-during-holidays.

United is the way we connect our community to deliver the magic of the holidays.

Solid Red

Help Fill the Gap

skirkley — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:35:47 +0000

Help Fill the Gap

skirkley Fri, 10/31/2025 - 8:35am

Many local families are feeling the strain as SNAP benefits are temporarily paused. Essentials like milk, eggs, and fresh produce have become harder for some of our neighbors to afford — and together, we can help bridge that gap.

Heartland United Way is joining forces with local partners to ensure families have access to the nutritious food they need. You can make a difference in two meaningful ways.

DONATE FOOD

Consider donating food to these organizations in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Grand Island
Cairo Community Food Pantry
Crossroads Mission Avenue, Grand Island
Central Community College, Grand Island
Central Neb. Community Action Partnership
Dannebrog Food Pantry
First Faith United Methodist Church, Grand Island
Food Bank of the Heartland, Central City
Free Food and Many Blessings, Grand Island
Grand Island Elks Lodge
Grand Island Public Library
Grand Island Public Schools
Hope Harbor, Grand Island
Hamilton County Backpack Program, Aurora
Hamilton County Food Pantry, Aurora
Howard/Greeley County Food Pantry, St. Paul
Mid-Plains Center, Grand Island
Literacy Council, Grand Island
Little Blue Food Pantry, Grand Island
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
St. Mary's Food Pantry, Grand Island
Salvation Army
Third City Community Clinic, Grand Island
United Methodist Church Pantry, Central City
Willow Rising, Grand Island
Wood River Food Pantry

DONATE FUNDS

Donations made to Help Fill the Gap will be given to Heartland United Way community partners Crossroads Mission Avenue and Hope Harbor to buy fresh foods for the food boxes they distribute. Heartland United Way will match donations to the Fill the Gap Fund up to $10,000 to also help smaller food pantries in our 4-county area.

Fill the Gap Credit Card Donation Form

First

Middle

Last

Suffix

Address

City

State

ZIP Code

Preferred Email

Phone Number

Add dashes to phone number

Designate my donation to:

Hope Harbor

Crossroads Mission Avenue

Please keep my gift anonymous

Yes

TOTAL

Amount of Credit Card Donation

Stripe

“From infants and children to seniors and individuals with disabilities, many rely on these benefits to access nutritious food. These cuts will place additional strain on local food pantries and nonprofits, which are already operating with limited resources. We must come together as a community, united, to ensure every person has the food and support they need to thrive."

Heartland United Way President and Chief Professional Officer Karen Rathke

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Apply for holiday help starting October 1st

skirkley — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:20:36 +0000

Apply for holiday help starting October 1st

skirkley Tue, 09/30/2025 - 2:20pm

GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA (September 30, 2025) The holiday season is almost here and so is more help for families struggling in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counites.

Registration for the Heartland United Way’s holiday assistance programs begins October 1 through November 17, at 5:00 p.m.

HUW boosts assistance to our communities in three ways this time of year: Heartland United Way Toy Collection & Toys for Tots Toy Distribution, Holiday Adopt a Family Program and Christmas Cheer Food Vouchers.

Heartland United Way Toy Collection & Toys for Tots Toy Distribution

Holiday Toy Drive and Distribution is hosted by the Heartland United Way with toys donated from community members, Local 4’s Present Patrol, Toys for Tots, and the United States Marine Corps. Reserve. It provides holiday assistance for children aged 12 and under in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties whose parents are not financially able to provide gifts for them during the holidays. Locations to drop off toys will be announced on our website & social media starting November 7th. Toy distribution will be on December 11. In 2024, 2,479 children received gifts through this program.

Holiday Adopt-a-Family Program

Families accepted into this program through referrals are experiencing extraordinary needs due to job loss, health issues, a house fire or other major circumstances. Adopters donate wrapped gifts to an assigned family anonymously based on a description of the family’s biggest needs & wishes. In 2024, Heartland United Way connected 34 local families with adopters.

Christmas Cheer

Christmas Cheer provides a voucher to Hall County individuals and families in need for purchasing groceries for a holiday meal. In 2024, 1,081 families received a holiday meal through this program. Donations can be made at the Heartland United Way office at 1441 N. Webb Road in Grand Island and participating banks, which will be announced soon. Christmas Cheer donors can give in honor or in memory of someone.

Those in need can visit www.heartlandunitedway.org/holiday-help to learn more about the programs and sign up.

If you’d like to support these efforts, visit www.heartlandunitedway.org/helping-during-holidays to learn more about toy collection, donation and volunteer opportunities.

United is the way we connect with purpose to ensure the needs in our community are met.

Solid Red

Helping During the Holidays

skirkley — Wed, 07 May 2025 20:29:22 +0000

Helping During the Holidays

skirkley Wed, 05/07/2025 - 3:29pm

During the holiday season, Heartland United Way provides necessities, gift items, and food vouchers to individuals experiencing extraordinary needs through three programs – Holiday Toy Program, Holiday Adopt a Family Program, & Christmas Cheer. The Heartland United Way works closely with our community, local school social workers, United Way community partners and the U.S. Marine Corps & their Toys for Tots program to make these programs possible.

Each year, our organization is able to serve the referred individuals and families because of the generosity of our community members and the assistance of local businesses.

If you're looking for assistance, click here.

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Heartland United Way Holiday Toy Drive

The Holiday Toy Drive provides holiday gift assistance for children age 12 and under in Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick Counties whose parents are not financially able to provide gifts for them during the holidays. This program is not meant for providing additional toys.

Parents whose children are accepted into the program will receive a letter/voucher to “shop” for their child’s gifts from the donated items on distribution day.

In 2024, 2,479 children received gifts through this program.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys and gently-used books are collected starting in November 2025. Please drop off donations of new, un-wrapped toys at the Heartland United Way office (1441 N Webb Road, Grand Island).

Donate a Toy

Most Needed Toys

Donate Dollars

Holiday Credit Card Donation Form

First

Middle

Last

Suffix

Address

City

State

ZIP Code

Preferred Email

Phone Number

Add dashes to phone number

Donation Recognition

My donation is in memory/honor of

Honor

Memory

Not Applicable

Honor of

Enter the name this donation is in honor of

Memory of

Enter the name this donation is in memory of

Designate my donation to:

Christmas Cheer

Holiday Toy Drive

Please keep my gift anonymous

Yes

For publication in The Independent, please list my information as follows: (EX. John & Mary Smith)

TOTAL

Amount of Credit Card Donation

Stripe

Host a Toy Collection Box

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Toy Collection Site!
Please complete the form below by November 1.

Important Dates:

Boxes Available for Pickup - November 3 - 5
Heartland United Way Toy Drive Collection - November 7 - December 7
Heartland United Way Toy Drive & Toys for Tots Distribution - December 11

Volunteer

Check Go2Volunteer for holiday volunteer opportunities!

Toy Distribution Set Up
Toy Distribution Stocking Stuffer Table Attendant
Bilingual Personal Shopper
Personal Shopper
Toy Distribution Stocking and Organization
Toy Distribution Clean-Up

Holiday Adopt a Family Program

The Adopt a Family program allows businesses, community members, and organizations to provide local families with food, necessity items, and gifts during the holidays. Families accepted into this program are experiencing extraordinary needs due to job loss, health issues, a house fire, or other major circumstances. Adopters donate gifts to an assigned family anonymously based on a description of the family’s biggest needs. In 2024, Heartland United Way connected 34 local families with adopters through the program.

All families must be referred or nominated by a social worker, church or other agency.

Christmas Cheer

Christmas Cheer was established in 1910 to provide a helping hand to local families during the holidays. A volunteer board operated this program, and in 2024 the Heartland United Way began to carry on this tradition. This program provides a grocery voucher for a holiday meal to Hall County people & families in need. In 2024, 1,081 families received food vouchers through this program.

Adopt a Family

Thank you for your interest in the Heartland United Way Holiday Adopt A Family Program. Please fill out the form below by November 17th to be added to the adopters list. You will be contacted by mid November with Adopter assignments.

Nominations for Adopt a Family close in early November.

Once nominations close, anonymous information will be shared with the adopter families in mid-November to give adopters at least two weeks to shop and wrap presents before delivering them to the Heartland United Way.

Depending on the family you are paired with will determine when to bring your wrapped, precious gifts to the Heartland United Way. Our team will connect with you to provide you with a timeline to be determined.

Donate to Christmas Cheer

You can donate to Christmas Cheer by cash or check at the Heartland United Way office at 1441 N. Webb Road in Grand Island and these Grand Island bank locations.

Holiday Credit Card Donation Form

First

Middle

Last

Suffix

Address

City

State

ZIP Code

Preferred Email

Phone Number

Add dashes to phone number

Donation Recognition

My donation is in memory/honor of

Honor

Memory

Not Applicable

Honor of

Enter the name this donation is in honor of

Memory of

Enter the name this donation is in memory of

Designate my donation to:

Christmas Cheer

Holiday Toy Drive

Please keep my gift anonymous

Yes

For publication in The Independent, please list my information as follows: (EX. John & Mary Smith)

TOTAL

Amount of Credit Card Donation

Stripe

Solid Red

Sponsors Needed As Go Big GIVE Deadline Approaches

sysop — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:19:31 +0000

Sponsors Needed As Go Big GIVE Deadline Approaches

sysop Wed, 02/19/2025 - 6:19pm

Dozens of nonprofit organizations have already signed up for one of central Nebraska’s biggest days of giving and now The Greater Grand Island Community Foundation and Heartland United Way are asking local businesses to Set Sail for Giving.

Through match-pool funds and incentive prizes, which have distributed more than $500,000 over the past decade, donors can feel confident their contributions will make a splash. Your steadfast support has allowed our local nonprofits and the people they assist to navigate smoothly on their journey to enhance our communities. Local businesses make this possible through sponsoring Go Big GIVE.

Go Big GIVE is a multi-county effort that supports over 150 nonprofits, each charting a course to improve the quality of life in Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick Counties.

Over the past eleven years, Go Big GIVE has raised more than $10.6 million and supported over 200 nonprofits, thanks to sponsors and donors. Last year alone, the effort raised an incredible $1.5 million.

Potential sponsors can email give@GoBigGIVE.org for a form that will need to be returned by April 1, 2025.

Nonprofits have until THIS FRIDAY, February 21, at 5:00 PM to register for Go Big GIVE.

Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 1, when Go Big GIVE will once again inspire donors to make waves of generosity. Together, let’s Set Sail for Giving and make the 12th year of Go Big GIVE one for the record books!

Go Big GIVE brings Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick Counties together as one community, raising money and awareness for our local nonprofits during the 24-hour online giving day on May 1. We inspire people to give generously to nonprofits making the heartland stronger, creating a thriving community for all. Go Big GIVE is organized by the Heartland United Way and Greater Grand Island Community Foundation.

Solid Red

Solid Red

Go Big GIVE Registration is Open

Heartland United Way makes holiday giving easy

Help Fill the Gap

Many local families are feeling the strain as SNAP benefits are temporarily paused. Essentials like milk, eggs, and fresh produce have become harder for some of our neighbors to afford — and together, we can help bridge that gap.

Heartland United Way is joining forces with local partners to ensure families have access to the nutritious food they need. You can make a difference in two meaningful ways.

DONATE FOOD

DONATE FUNDS

Heartland United Way President and Chief Professional Officer Karen Rathke

Apply for holiday help starting October 1st

Helping During the Holidays

Heartland United Way Holiday Toy Drive

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Toy Collection Site!
Please complete the form below by November 1.

Important Dates:

Status message

Check Go2Volunteer for holiday volunteer opportunities!

Toy Distribution Set Up
Toy Distribution Stocking Stuffer Table Attendant
Bilingual Personal Shopper
Personal Shopper
Toy Distribution Stocking and Organization
Toy Distribution Clean-Up

Holiday Adopt a Family Program

Christmas Cheer

Status message

Sponsors Needed As Go Big GIVE Deadline Approaches

Solid Red

Go Big GIVE Registration is Open

Heartland United Way makes holiday giving easy

Help Fill the Gap

Many local families are feeling the strain as SNAP benefits are temporarily paused. Essentials like milk, eggs, and fresh produce have become harder for some of our neighbors to afford — and together, we can help bridge that gap.

Heartland United Way is joining forces with local partners to ensure families have access to the nutritious food they need. You can make a difference in two meaningful ways.

DONATE FOOD

DONATE FUNDS

Heartland United Way President and Chief Professional Officer Karen Rathke

Apply for holiday help starting October 1st

Helping During the Holidays

Heartland United Way Holiday Toy Drive

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Toy Collection Site!Please complete the form below by November 1.Important Dates:

Status message

Check Go2Volunteer for holiday volunteer opportunities!

Toy Distribution Set UpToy Distribution Stocking Stuffer Table AttendantBilingual Personal ShopperPersonal ShopperToy Distribution Stocking and OrganizationToy Distribution Clean-Up

Holiday Adopt a Family Program

Christmas Cheer

Status message

Sponsors Needed As Go Big GIVE Deadline Approaches

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Toy Collection Site!
Please complete the form below by November 1.

Important Dates:

Toy Distribution Set Up
Toy Distribution Stocking Stuffer Table Attendant
Bilingual Personal Shopper
Personal Shopper
Toy Distribution Stocking and Organization
Toy Distribution Clean-Up