United Way of NEA leader describes COVID-19 impact

As a child, Rachel Guerin watched her dad help a lot of people. At times, it frustrated her that he spent so much time tending to others’ needs. When she became an adult, she soon discovered that her future was in the service of others as well, she said Wednesday (July 27) at the Kiwanis Club of Jonesboro meeting.

Guerin was appointed as the United Way of Northeast Arkansas executive director in January.

“It’s a new, big role for me,” she said.

The United Way of Northeast Arkansas has existed for more than 65 years. United Way currently funds more than 20 local non-profit programs that have a focus in the areas of education, health and financial stability. United Way of Northeast Arkansas currently serves all or parts of nine counties – Clay, Craighead, Cross, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Poinsett, Randolph and Mississippi.

Last week the organization allocated more than $301,000 in grants to nonprofits for myriad programs and projects. Those that received grants include The Children’s Shelter, the Northeast Arkansas Food Pantry, Breaking Bonds, Casa in both the second and third judicial districts, and many others.

There have been a number of new problems the organization has noticed since the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, she told Talk Business & Politics. Months of missed in-class school led to literacy score drops. Children don’t always have the supplies they need, and educators often don’t have the resources they need to accommodate these new problems, she added.

Isolation during the pandemic has led to a spike in people suffering from mental health issues. The problem in this regard is again a lack of resources, she added.

“It’s actually very alarming. There’s a lot of people in crisis,” she said. “We are beginning to see some serious problems due to COVID.”

One thing she noticed when she became the director was that the nonprofits she helps to support in the region are good at providing services, but it’s difficult for these organizations to communicate with one another. A new program, dubbed 211 will make it easier for these nonprofits to work with each other and those in need.

For example, if a family calls and needs food, and educational assistance, it might take two who have more organizations to fill those needs. Those in need could contact the 211 program. It will streamline a lot of what is already being done, she said.

Another problem that developed during the pandemic was funding sources for United Way. A bulk of its funding came through workplace giving programs. When companies started sending employees home to work or had to lay them off, that funding source plummeted. Corporate and event giving has been able to take up some of that slack.

Prior to her work with United Way, Guerin served as the associate director of Planned Giving for the Arkansas/Oklahoma Division of The Salvation Army. She also served as the executive director of market development for The March of Dimes. Guerin has years of experience in development, volunteer management, and strategic planning.

Guerin has volunteered with the Downtown Jonesboro Alliance, St. Bernards NICU, the Foodbank of Northeast Arkansas and Jonesboro Young Professionals Network. She is a native of Northeast Arkansas and currently resides in Jonesboro

United Way has several fundraisers on tap in the coming months. On Aug. 6th, the organization will hold its annual “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive. The “Day of Caring” event will be held Sept. 30. As many as 500 volunteers will be assembled to do beautification and other projects for non-profits in the region.

A favorite story that describes best how she views nonprofit work is the Boy and the Starfish story.

One day a boy was walking along the beach and whenever he encountered a starfish he threw it back into the sea. A man saw what he was doing and he asked him why.

“The tide is going out and if I don’t throw them back into the sea they will die,” the boy replied.

The man explained to the little boy that there were miles and miles of beach and thousands of starfish. He couldn’t possibly make a difference. The boy, holding a starfish, threw it into the ocean.

“I made a difference for that one,” he said.