United Way of Lee County (UWLC) is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving Lee and Harnett Counties. Since 1960, we've partnered with our local community to co-create solutions to people's most pressing challenges. We take a comprehensive approach, listening and responding to our community's needs.
With our community partners, UWLC helps people build pathways out of poverty. Each year, more than 12,000 local residents access help from UWLC and our partners as they work toward self-sufficiency. Our Barrier Busters program, launched in 2022, has helped more than 165 hard-working people overcome relatively small barriers that are keeping them from reaching their goals.
United Way mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive. As part of a global network of more than 1,000 local United Ways, UWLC helps to share innovations and create impact to improve lives. Together, we're working towards a future where every person in our community can thrive.
United Way of Lee County serves both Lee and Harnett counties in central North Carolina. Our office is located in Sanford, NC.
United Way is changing lives every day! Here are just a few examples of our local impact in 2023-2024:
- 90 hard-working people achieved their goals of housing, employment, and more through Barrier Busters assistance
- 124 families got help finding safe, affordable, permanent housing
- 178 college students received emergency help with groceries, educational expenses, etc., so they could stay in school
- 3,013 families got emergency food assistance
- 2,469 callers to NC 211 from Lee and Harnett Counties got immediate, compassionate help to access housing, shelter, food, utilities, and other immediate needs
- 135 volunteers were connected with local opportunities for service
Simply put, there is no better way to invest in the future of our community. United Way has a broad community reach and deep, long-standing partnerships and relationships, so we're able to bring people and organizations together to serve clients, many of whom have needs that can't be met by a single agency. United Way partners go through a vigorous vetting process, so you know that your donation is being used efficiently and effectively to address challenges facing our community. And all funding decisions are made by local volunteers who know and care about our community.
We know that when people can provide for themselves and their families, there's a lot less stress on community resources, and that means quality of life is better for everyone. And when children aren't living in poverty, they do better in school, they're healthier, and they are much more likely to grow up to be positive, contributing members of society. That's a win for all of us, and your gift to United Way helps make it happen!
It stays right here! Contributions made to United Way of Lee County are invested back into the Lee and Harnett communities. What you give here stays here to help build a better tomorrow for all of us!
Yes. United Way of Lee County accepts designations of $50 or more to any 501(c)(3) organization, whether it is local or not. But we encourage you to give an undesignated gift that can be used to meet the most urgent community needs.
An undesignated gift allows you to help more people than a gift to a single agency ever could. Because community problems are interrelated, and because families often need help with more than one issue, a gift to United Way’s Community Impact Fund is the best and most efficient way to help these families. Also, undesignated gifts allow United Way to be responsive to emergent needs in the community and to meet those needs quickly.
Volunteers like you! Each spring, local volunteers serve on Community Investment Teams, which thoroughly review funding applications and make funding recommendations to the United Way Board of Directors. The Board (also all volunteers) makes final funding decisions. If you're interested in serving on a Community Investment Team, click the Contact Us button at the top of the page and let us know!
We want to help! Click the Contact Us button at the top of the page to send us a message. We'll get back with you as soon as possible.