An Intern’s First Week at United Way

June 1, 2022

When I began my first week as a Social Justice intern, I faced many unknowns. I knew the general goals of my eight weeks at United Way, I had met two of the four employees in my interview, and I knew a person I had never met before was picking me up in the morning. So, at exactly 7:50AM on Monday, with my lunchbox in hand, I left the residential hall, entered Kayley’s truck, and began my first week at United Way of Wayne and Holmes.

As I walked into the office, dampened by a cold rain, I was immediately enveloped in warmth. Within the light blue walls, three women introduced themselves to me with a smile and I gradually felt more comfortable in the new space. After learning how to operate the coffee machine and where to keep my belongings, I was invited to a “welcome brunch.” Over omelets and coffee, I learned more about the organization and the four women who would serve as my supervisors and mentors for the next eight weeks. With a full stomach, I spent the rest of the day touring the office, cleaning eight hundred ducks from the previous day’s Duck Derby, and being part of my first Facebook live.

My second and third day was an opportunity for me to feel the sunshine on my face, have dirt under my feet (or rather, turf), and meet the community United Way serves. Helping with the “Reading Under the Lights” events brought me face-to-face with people in the community that I would never meet otherwise. As a College of Wooster student, campus is a little “bubble,” with just an occasional visit downtown and uptown on the weekends. While floating around in my little bubble, I often miss the outside community, especially the K-12 students. Seeing their smiling faces while they choose their books and hearing their laughter as they meet a “Pete the Cat” mascot made the sweat on my brow and the soreness in my feet all worth it. I saw parents, who usually pass by in their cars on Beall Avenue on their way to work, sitting with their children to read as a family. The community who seems so far away sometimes was right there, asking me questions and saying hello, and I felt connected to them in a whole new way.

My interactions with the community did not end with the “Reading Under the Lights” events. I was fortunate enough to attend an Extreme Weather Shelter meeting with my supervisor, located at the Salvation Army. In this meeting, I was able to see the background planning and logistics of running the shelter, such as how many cots can fit in the space or how to find storage solutions. A day later, I helped with United Way’s Annual Meeting, where I met almost one hundred of their partners and donors. As I sat over a nice meal, overlooking the long tables of people chattering, I realized that in my first week at United Way, I saw all of the essential components of a non-profit. Helping a community isn’t just sitting in an office, going to meetings, or even, being face-to-face with the community. Rather, it is the wonderful combination of all those things. Without sitting in front of a computer for hours, making dozens of calls, and writing email after email, organizations cannot operate. But, without making real-life connections with those in the community, one can often lose focus and the drive to do what is needed. The balance is necessary, and it is impossible to function without it.

And that is what I learned in my first week as an intern at United Way.

- Alexa Carlozzi

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Why we stay nonpartisan

By Katie Koglman • October 7, 2026

United We Help: Why United Way Wayne and Holmes Stays Nonpartisan Turn on the television. Scroll social media. Check your mailbox. Election season brings a steady stream of political messages, each competing for our attention and asking us to choose a side. It can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to separate facts from opinions and decide whom to trust. At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we value the trust our community places in us. That is why we want to be clear about our role during elections.We do not endorse candidates, oppose candidates, or tell people whom to vote for. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we are prohibited from participating in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. This is a legal requirement , not simply an organizational preference. Our responsibility is to serve Wayne and Holmes Counties and bring people together to help our neighbors. Nonpartisan does not mean silent We see the challenges people face every day: families struggling to afford groceries, workers facing transportation barriers, children needing opportunities to learn, and neighbors searching for mental health support. We have a role in helping our community and policymakers understand those needs. We can share information, educate elected officials, build relationships, and speak up about issues connected to our mission. We can also engage in some lobbying on specific legislation, within the limits that apply to charitable organizations. Speaking up about a community need is different from asking you to vote for a particular candidate. Can we do that? Our “Can We Do That? A Quick Guide to Nonprofit Advocacy” graphic uses a traffic-light approach to explain the difference. Green: Speak up for our community. Share stories, explain community needs, educate policymakers, and encourage civic participation. Yellow: Know the rules. Supporting or opposing specific legislation is lobbying, which comes with limits and responsibilities. Red: No candidate endorsements. We cannot support or oppose candidates, contribute organizational funds to their campaigns, or use our organizational voice to tell you whom to elect. We can encourage people to register and vote, and provide voter information, as long as those efforts remain neutral and do not favor or oppose candidates or political parties. Your vote belongs to you You may hear us discuss hunger, literacy, housing, transportation, or other issues affecting local families. You may see us meeting with elected officials to help them understand what is happening in our communities. Those conversations are about the people we serve. They are not candidate endorsements. We encourage you to ask questions, examine reliable information, learn about candidates, and make your own informed choices. The neighbors who turn to us for help have different backgrounds, beliefs, and political views. So do the donors, volunteers, and partners who make our work possible. Helping our community takes all of us. Election season will come and go. Our commitment to Wayne and Holmes counties continues regardless of the outcome. We encourage all of you to vote, and vote for who you think is the best candidate! Early voting begins October 6, 2026 through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. To find where you should go to vote Click Here. Go VOTE!!