together we can make a difference

Women Supporting Women – Find out how you can make a real impact on your community by empowering and supporting the women and children in the Lewis County, Washington area. 

Who We Are

A vibrant group of women who bring passion, expertise and empowerment to improve the community we call home. We are bound together by the belief in each other, to United Way’s mission and to Lewis County.

What We Do

We are committed to positively impacting the lives of women and children living in poverty in Lewis County by encouraging self-sufficiency and empowerment.

Get Involved

Sign up below to learn more about how you can get involved and give back to your community!
Become a Sponsor!


Women United's Financial Mentorship Initiative

  • Women United is committed to positively impacting the lives of women and children by encouraging self-sufficiency and empowerment. Our new Financial Mentorship Initiative brings bankers with financial expertise, directly to the people who need it the most through nonprofit and community-based partnerships.

By pairing bankers with financial acumen with community members who desire financial guidance, the opportunity to share information about how to engage in the banking system safely and successfully is enhanced. This moves people away from alternative services that are often predatory, such as payday loans, rent-to-own agreements, refund anticipation loans, pawn shops and non-bank money order and check cashing.

The Financial Mentorship Initiative is a 4-to-8 week program designed to meet clients individually at the level of financial guidance needed. The goal is for individuals to successfully move through the program with strategies and tools necessary to attain financial freedom.

“After coming out of a costly divorce and bankruptcy simultaneously, I was feeling overwhelmed with my financial situation. Having the opportunity to meet with a financial advisor, ask questions, and set goals, has given me the tools to rebuild my credit and confidence to make sound financial decisions moving forward. I highly recommend this program!” – Zoe, a recent FMI participant.

What is the Career Closet?

Women working to lift themselves out of poverty often struggle over a variety of hurdles. Even something as simple as a job interview can be difficult if one lacks the appropriate attire to make a positive first impression. The Career Closet eliminates this hurdle, empowering women to attain financial independence in a new career by providing work-appropriate attire and resources.

A partnership between Women United and Visiting Nurses Foundation, the Career Closet allows
participants to select up to five items of professional business attire, in preparation for a job interview or first few weeks of work. These include business tops, pants, skirts and shoes.

How can I help?

Please donate new or gently used business attire. Donations can be dropped off at Visiting Nurses during regular business hours. You can also help by spreading the word about this important program. Business partners are also needed to display information about the Women United Career Closet and facilitate donations. For more information on becoming a business partner, please contact Angela French at Development@LewisCountyUW.com.

How do I sign up?

The Career Closet is here to help you land that new job. To receive a voucher to utilize the
program, please visit one of our community partners. These organizations can provide tools
and resources, as well as a required program referral:  Cascade Community Healthcare, Reliable Enterprises, Express Employment, Hope Alliance, WorkSource Lewis County, Housing Resource Center.  

Follow us at  Women United Career Closet on Facebook.

About Us

As Women United, our mission is to positively impact the lives of women and children living in poverty in Lewis County by encouraging self-sufficiency and empowerment.  Women United gathers local women who seek to understand the issues facing our community and then roll up their sleeves to help.  We operate as an affinity group of United Way of Lewis County and as such, we work within its mission to lift 30% of Lewis County families out of poverty by 2030.

Women United affinity groups exist across the nation with over 75,000 women involved in their local communities serving as an extension of their United Way organizations.  We are all committed to the success of our community, where we live, work and raise our families.  From Youth United to Retire United and Women United, affinity groups gather passionate and dedicated volunteers who form strong professional networks, working in the community accomplishing goals to create positive change in targeted segments of the community.

Diversity and Inclusion

Women United and United Way of Lewis County strive to be a model of equity, diversity and inclusion, with our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers reflecting the many faces, cultures and walks of life that make up the Lewis County community. We respect, value, and celebrate the unique attributes, characteristics and perspectives that make each person who they are. We also believe that bringing diverse individuals together allows us to collectively and more effectively address the issues that face our communities. It is our aim, therefore, that our partners, strategies, and investments reflect these core values.

Join Us & Get Involved!

  • You’ll be part of a community of like-minded women who contribute their personal passions, best ideas, and unique strengths to the mission of building a stronger community.
  • Volunteer engagement opportunities that make a lasting impact on children and families in our community.
  • Leadership opportunities through signature volunteer events and committees.
  • Network and collaborate with key business and community leaders.
  • Learn more about critical issues impacting our Lewis County.
  • Mentoring opportunities with new Women United members and women receiving services through our partner agencies.
  • No membership fees! We welcome involvement and we don’t want to limit participation. Donating time, lending expertise, donating financially and creating partnerships are all wonderful ways to contribute.
  • As a member you will build strong bonds with peers in the community, deepen your knowledge of community issues, and support women and children in crisis by sharing your wisdom, service, and generosity.

Our Mission

Committed to positively impacting the lives of women & children living in poverty in Lewis County by encouraging self-sufficiency and empowerment.

You Can Make a Difference

Stay in the loop on projects and initiatives that make a real difference. Women United is an extension of United Way, our sole purpose is to provide support for women and children in the Lewis County area to empower, and help them succeed. There are opportunities small and large for you to make a real difference, give back to your community in an impactful way. 

Meet our Steering Committee

Nancee Alvord

Cindy Malarz

Colleen Conway

Jacki Jewell

Angela French

Annalee Tobey

Founding Sponsors

We thank our Founding Sponsors!