Greater Longview United Way representatives presented an overview of the GLOW (Greater Longview Optimal Wellness) partnership and described several literacy and resource-connection initiatives during the Longview City Council meeting on April 10.

Reverend Dr. Evan Dolev, executive director of the Greater Longview United Way, told the council the organization supports 19 nonprofits and 32 programs across Gregg County and follows the ALICE metric (asset limited, income constrained, employed) to identify households just above the federal poverty line. Dolev said the combined ALICE and poverty populations in the county are roughly 44 percent, meaning many residents face tight margins for basic needs.

Dolev highlighted literacy programs including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (which he said has delivered "over 50,000 books" locally and enrolled "over 2,400 kids" in Gregg County), and a book-vending-machine program placed in local elementary schools ("almost 21 machines" and "over 9,000 books" distributed). He also described the county’s 2-1-1-style info line, which fields about 1,500 calls a year and helps connect residents to rent, utilities, prescriptions and other assistance; the United Way receives annual grants from the city and county to support that service.

Council members praised the vending-machine literacy effort and asked about United Way’s small staff; Dolev said four staff run the programs, supported by volunteer grant-review teams. He thanked the city and county for partnership funding and noted Dwayne Archer of Public Works serves as this year’s campaign chair. The presentation concluded with staff offering to answer questions and encouraging nonprofits to apply for current grants.