The United Way of Eastern Idaho hosts ‘Live United’ summer concert series every year, providing educational opportunities for children and families and service opportunities for the community.
Arial Howell, the community impact director at the United Way of Eastern Idaho oversees the concert series. She says the family friendly event is held at the Waterfront at Snake River Landing in Idaho Falls.
“We have free music, it’s free entry.” Howell said. “We have a lot of fun activities for kids.”
Howell says it’s a great place for kids to learn in a safe environment.
“There’s also this huge grass area that’s all fenced in; its enclosed, so the kids can kind of wander, but it’s still super safe,” Howell said.
There is live music, the “Ready, Set, Read” program, S.T.E.M. tables, a mobile classroom where children can build their own Legos, robots and flashlights or play with Play-Doh, a kid’s zone with yard games for the whole family, food trucks and craft beer for the adults. All the activities are free except the food trucks and the craft beer.
The United Way stresses that they keep it that way because they want to provide an activity to the community that’s free to come to.
“That’s really important to our board of directors,” Howell said.
The Ready, Set, Read program benefits children. Every concert a child attends, they can receive a free book.
And for the older kids, they can start a book series with a board member from the United Way. Howell says they can receive each book by coming to the concerts.
“They can come to concert number one and get book one and then they can come to concert number two to get book two,” Howell said.
If the child misses a concert, the board member will make sure they get the full series before the summer’s over.
“It’s just a great opportunity to get some of our programs we do, in house, out to the community during the summer,” Howell said.
The S.T.E.M. tables are a unique way the United Way helps educate children. The acronym stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
The United Way of Eastern Idaho has a trailer made into a mobile classroom that serves the nine different counties in the area. In previous weeks, children have built robots and Legos. This upcoming week, they can build flashlights and play with Play-Doh.
“We give a variety based off their ages,” Howell said.
Howell says the boots on the ground programs are rooted in their mission — centered around A.L.I.C.E. It stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed. The United Way helps families who work hard, but barely make ends meet.
“They also make too much to qualify for any state assistance,” Howell said.
Howell says when families in those situations receive unexpected bills from auto repairs to medical costs, it throws the whole budget off. Throughout the nine counties the United Way of Eastern Idaho covers, 45% are considered A.L.I.C.E.
“We’re 5% short of 50%.” Howell said. “You’re talking about your child-care providers, your waitresses, those who are working in your big box stores.”
That’s the reason the United Way provides these free activities for the community. Many events the organization hosts are volunteer based. You can help your community by volunteering with them.
Visit their website at www.unitedwayei.org, or go to www.justserve.org for opportunities.