Based on this model, the United Way focuses on education, income and health.

Other organizations have followed the lead of the United Way and have started restructuring their operations. According to DeVoe, prioritizing for basic needs and collaboration between agencies have become the keys.

“We have to prioritize the grant writing more than ever before,” she said.

Additionally, agencies are working together to form a collaborative system to pull all of the community’s resources together.

“We are beginning to see that no one organization can do this alone,” Vaughan said. “We need more communication between agencies, and we all need to work as partners.”

To learn more about the Madison County Community Foundation and the United Way of Madison County, visit:

http://www.madisonccf.org

http://www.unitedwaymadisonco.org