CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLENOW) – United Way of Greater Nashville is a nonprofit organization of agencies and partners working together. Their mission is to unite the community and mobilize resources so every child, individual and family thrives.

Lori Shinton is chief growth officer with the United Way of Greater Nashville, which serves in Clarksville at the local United Way office, 107 Jefferson St. 

Shinton said the United Way of Greater Nashville supports 52 organizations with around 20 of those based in Clarksville. Some of those groups also provide services and support to people in Montgomery County and in other counties as well.

“We are seeing more people than we would like that live on the margins. They are one health care situation, one disaster event, or one car repair, from being in a really bad situation,” Shinton said.

How United Way helps local families

United Way supports partner agencies so they can serve more people in the community.

“What I want people to understand is that the United Way does a lot of work with nonprofits that is kind of behind the scenes. We do things to help nonprofits really reach more people and have a larger impact,” Shinton said.

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For local students and families, in July, the United Way held its annual Stuff the Bus event. Around 1,000 backpacks were handed out at the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System Families in Transition Back to School Bash.

In addition,1,000 backpacks were donated to the Clarksville-Montgomery County Education Foundation and 1,500 were given to elementary schools in Montgomery County. Another 500 backpacks will be given out at National Night Out set for Aug. 4 at Austin Peay State University.

Upcoming United Way events

The United Way will hold its annual Safety Fair & Fall Festival from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Rym Tyme on Riverside Drive. The event is free and open to the public. Shinton said everyone is invited to bring the whole family for the activities and learn more about safety.  

Shinton also talked about the United Way’s involvement and support of the local Canopy Initiative, which is a group of nonprofits, citizens, businesses and others that are working to help people that are unhoused.

“This collaboration and community-led event to help uplift our neighbors is the kind of thing the United Way wants to build support for. We just want our community to care for each other and for our neighbors to be helped,” Shinton said.

United Way is also well known for its workplace campaigns, which will be starting in August. “If your company is not in a United Way campaign and you would like to develop a campaign, you can reach out to us locally and we can help set that up,” Shinton said.

To learn more about the work of the United Way, visit unitedwaygreaternashville.org, email Lori.Shinton@unitedwaygn.org, or call the United Way of Greater Nashville, Clarksville Office, at 931-647-4291.

Giving Grace, sponsored by Grace Dental, is a Clarksville Now series showcasing local nonprofit organizations.