July 2026
Dear Supporters, Volunteers, and Community Members,
As I travel throughout Middlesex County and meet with residents, community partners, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and local leaders, one message continues to emerge: too many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet.
While Middlesex County is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family, many individuals and families are facing difficult choices every day. The cost of housing continues to rise. Food insecurity remains a reality for households across our communities. Access to healthcare and supportive services can be difficult to navigate. Even families who are working hard, often at more than one job, are finding it increasingly challenging to achieve financial stability.
The reality is that many of these households do not qualify for traditional assistance programs, yet they are one unexpected expense away from crisis. These are the ALICE families we often talk about Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. They are our teachers' aides, childcare workers, retail employees, healthcare support staff, seniors on fixed incomes, and countless others who help our communities function every day. At Middlesex United Way, we are committed to ensuring that no one faces these challenges alone.
Through strategic partnerships, grant investments, volunteer engagement, and community collaboration, we are working every day to strengthen Middlesex County. We support programs that address food insecurity, expand access to health and wellness resources, promote financial stability, and help individuals and families secure safe and stable housing. We bring people together around shared solutions because we know that lasting change happens when communities work collectively. While the need is significant, so is the opportunity.
Every day, I witness the generosity, compassion, and resilience that define Middlesex County. I see volunteers giving their time to support local programs. I see businesses investing in their communities. I see donors choosing to make a difference through Middlesex United Way. I see neighbors helping neighbors. These acts of kindness and commitment remind me that hope is not simply something we feel—it is something we create together.
As we look toward the future, I invite you to join us in this important work. Whether you choose to give your time, share your talents, make a financial contribution, advocate for those in need, or simply help spread awareness, your involvement matters. Collective impact begins with individual action.
The challenges before us are real, but so is our ability to address them. Together, we can continue building a Middlesex County where every individual and family has the opportunity to thrive.
Thank you for believing in our mission and for being part of the solution. With your support, Middlesex United Way will continue mobilizing our community, investing in local solutions, and creating pathways to a stronger, healthier, and more financially secure future for all. Together, we are making a difference.
With gratitude,
- Shawonda S. Swain
President & CEO, Middlesex United Way