Something exciting is happening across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties this month. United Way of Southwest Michigan's Campaign Season is officially underway, and a group of local organizations we call our Pacesetters are the ones setting things in motion.

Summer camp is officially back in session, and this year it floats! United Way of Southwest Michigan’s ROCK THE BOAT, Presented by Honor Credit Union, paddles back into the St. Joseph River Channel at the Inn at Harbor Shores on Thursday, July 16 beginning at 5pm! The whole riverfront becomes one giant day camp, and here is the best part, camper: you do not have to build a boat to join the fun. All the fun is right here on the riverfront, and it is free to attend and cheer on our teams.

Every spring, our VITA volunteers get a front-row seat to something genuinely special. They watch their neighbors walk into a tax appointment a little unsure, and walk out with a weight lifted off their shoulders. That's what United Way of Southwest Michigan's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, VITA, does for this community, and this year was no exception.

How many people does it take to change a community?

If you guessed thousands, you're absolutely right. Staff, board members, sponsors, grantors, event volunteers, investment teams, impact committees, employee campaign coordinators, municipal partners, community partners, impact partners... The people connected to United Way are everywhere, and every single one of them plays a role in making Southwest Michigan a better place to live.

Across Southwest Michigan, nonprofits, schools, and community partners rely on volunteers to help meet critical needs. These needs range from fighting hunger to supporting families during the holidays. At United Way of Southwest Michigan, Volunteer United exists to make those connections easier by bringing together organizations with needs and teams of volunteers ready to help. I’d like to tell you about one of those teams: Gast Manufacturing of Benton Harbor.

Southwest Michigan is a community powered by people who step forward—often quietly—to make life better for their neighbors. From mentoring youth and organizing food drives to serving on nonprofit boards and responding in moments of crisis, volunteers are the heartbeat of our region. Their commitment strengthens families, supports nonprofits, and creates lasting change.

This past week many Americans paused after the swirl of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to support Giving Tuesday — the global generosity movement that began in 2012 as a simple campaign to redirect holiday energy toward giving, volunteering, and community support. But just because the calendar has turned doesn’t mean the spirit of generosity has to end. There’s still time to make a difference by supporting United Way of Southwest Michigan, keeping your charitable dollars local!

When the heat goes out in the middle of a Michigan winter, or when a single parent has to choose between groceries and rent, there’s one number that can offer hope: 2-1-1.