United Way gives $70K to Tri-Cities nonprofits to help fill gaps

The United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties is giving more than $70,000 to seven Tri-Cities nonprofits to help fill gaps in their funding.

The grants help the smaller organizations provide social and educational services ranging from food to shelter, healthcare, diapers and support for domestic violence survivors.

Each organization will receive $10,000 to $15,000 per year for one program.

The organizations are all 501c3 or faith-based nonprofits with revenue under $1.5 million, according to a news release from United Way.

Funding these smaller nonprofits helps United Way focus on raising funds, setting priorities, vetting nonprofit partners and invest in programs that align with the needs of the community and their foundational goal of bettering the lives of local kids.

The 2025-2027 recipients include:

• The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia

• Elijah Family Homes

• SARC

• Grace Collective

• TROT

• Restoration Community Impact

• B5 Learning Center

United Way also continues to support the Tri-Cities Diaper Bank.

“By strategically investing in, supporting and overseeing a network of nonprofit organizations, we are able to magnify the reach and effectiveness of local services and educational programs,” Communications Director Jade Elliott said in the news release.

“Our partners — whether in early literacy, youth mentoring, family support of basic needs — are the boots on the ground, delivering day-to-day interventions that cumulatively shape stronger, more resilient communities.”

What will the grants help fund?

B5 Learning Center – B5 Reads

B5 Learning Center will help 100 students in grades K-8 whose first language isn’t English work to overcome the language barrier and become better readers. Students are given the opportunity to read with a trained tutor for 30 minutes twice a week. Strong reading skills help these students become life-long learners, committed to finishing high school and future success.

Elijah Family Homes – Transition to Success (TTS)

Elijah Family Homes will provide 75 children and parents/caregivers with stable housing, along with access to food, healthcare and transportation. TTS fills a vital gap in the local recovery landscape by supporting families after initial treatment, helping parents to focus on recovery and children to improve school performance and overall wellbeing.

Grace Collective – Life and Job Skills Training

Grace Collective will provide 75 survivors of poverty, trafficking, addiction, and incarceration with trauma-informed life and job skills training. As these women heal and grow, their children experience greater safety, emotional security and the stability needed to thrive. The support helps ensure an estimated 100 children will have consistent shelter, access to food and a stable caregiver.

Restoration Community Impact – Restoration Market PopUp and Satellites

Restoration Community Impact will help ensure 1,800 underserved children and families receive free food, hygiene items and clothing through the Restoration Market PopUp and Satellites program. The program eliminates transportation barriers to meet families where they are, in places such as schools, churches or community centers. These services address critical basic needs that directly impact the success of children.

Support, Advocacy and Resource Center (SARC) – Crisis Program

SARC will provide 300 children and parents or caregivers who are experiencing violence, abuse or other trauma access to free, trauma-informed advocacy. Children and their caregivers can receive 24-hour crisis response that helps stabilize families during periods of crisis, reduce further harm and support children’s ability to stay safe, housed and in school.

The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia – Let’s READ!

Children’s Reading Foundation will give 500 families with young children a book and educational tools, in English or Spanish, along with hands-on training from program staff, to develop their child’s early literacy skills. The kits will be distributed at free community events, targeted toward rural or underserved communities. Let’s READ! empowers caregivers, helping children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

Therapeutic Riding of the Tri-Cities (TROT) – Adaptive Riding

TROT will help 70 children with disabilities improve coordination, emotional regulation, and social skills through horse-assisted activities. Students receive individualized instruction in horsemanship and riding. The program enhances physical, emotional and social well-being for participants.

Tri-Cities Diaper Bank

The diaper bank will provide 500 children with diapers at one of its locations in Richland, Pasco, or Kennewick. Diapers will allow parents and caregivers to place their children in childcare while they continue working, attending school or participating in other job training programs.