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United Way of Southwood and Adams Counties outlines 211, diaper drive and spring fundraisers
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Summary
Terry Johns, CEO of United Way of Southwood and Adams Counties, described local programs including a 24/7 211 contact center serving 13 counties, a community diaper drive and the 'Power of the Purse' fundraiser on March 10 to support early-grade literacy.
Terry Johns, CEO of United Way of Southwood and Adams Counties, used a February 23 community media appearance to highlight local programs aimed at people the organization classifies as ALICE — asset-limited, income-constrained, employed — and the group's efforts to connect residents with services.
Johns said the local United Way funds 27 partner programs in 2026 and operates a 24/7 211 resource-and-referral contact center based in Wisconsin Rapids that serves 13 counties. "If there's no program, sometimes there's an unmet need," Johns said, describing 211 as a conduit that connects callers to existing programs, a web search, texting and an app.
Johns described several community initiatives the United Way is promoting this spring. The organization will run a community diaper-drive/"community baby shower" from Mother's Day to Father's Day and maintains a diaper pantry at Focus Food Pantry with support from the local Elks Club. "We started the diaper drive because we were hearing from partners that diapers were a need," Johns said.
He also previewed "Power of the Purse," a Women United benefit on March 10 at Bullseye Golf Club that raises money for early-grade learning and literacy programs, including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Johns said the event typically draws about 130 attendees and 24 purses will be in the silent auction; during the interview he said the event "typically raises about $1,012,000," framed as the guest's description of past fundraising results.
On fundraising partnerships, Johns outlined Community Shred Day, hosted by Prevail Bank on Lincoln Street on April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. He said two boxes are shredded free, additional boxes cost a $5 donation each, and Prevail Bank donates $1 per pound for the first 1,000 pounds; the transcript also records a second bank donating $1 per pound for the second 1,000 pounds. Johns said United Way typically leverages about $2,500 from the shred event to support community initiatives.
Johns emphasized the organization's role as a community convener that funds partner programs, adapts to local needs and reinvests funds into initiatives that promote literacy, youth opportunity and community resiliency. "We design and tailor our work around the specific community that we serve," he said.
For more information, Johns and hosts provided the United Way's local website (uwswac.org) and reminded listeners that dialing 211 connects residents to the statewide resource line.
