• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print

WAUKESHA - For Jasmine Flowers, La Casa de Esperanza's child care service in Waukesha is more than just a safe place to drop off her 4-year-old son Josue in the morning. Thanks to a United Way subsidy, Jasmine can afford to enroll her son in child care, so she can further her education and get a good job.

"I actually found out yesterday that I'm now accepted at Carroll University, Bachelor of Science," Jasmine says proudly. The 32-year-old hopes to eventually work in the environmental science field.

Meghan Sprager is the Communications Director for La Casa. She says the subsidy through the United Way is vital to many low income parents in the community. "Daycare is a strategy for people to find and keep employment," she explains.

Jasmine is just one of more than 60,000 people in the community currently getting help thanks to United Way. Jayne Thoma is the Executive Director of the United Way in Waukesha County. She says the need is greater than ever this year.

"With the recession, and the needs in the community, we anticipate that more people will be needing services and support," Thoma says.

United Way has high hopes for Waukesha residents. For the first time ever--the annual goal is over $5 million!

Thoma is hopeful. She says, "We'll achieve our goal if we get more businesses and organizations to participate in campaigns, and if more individuals give for the first time."

Jasmine is thankful to everyone who donates. "I give so much respect and gratitude for having people who actually take a moment, just a split second, to hand something to a funding community," she said.

The Waukesha County United Way Campaign started September 1 and runs through November 30.