How Does 1,000 Jobs Impact 10,000 Lives?

Did you know that 1 in 4 members of our community are living below the poverty line? To be exact, that is 30,000 households in Wilmington, NC alone that maintain an income below the federal poverty level.

Over the last 16 years, StepUp Wilmington has created and implemented proven solutions to the poverty epidemic by moving individuals into jobs with a livable wage, and out of poverty.

On average, it costs $32,252 each year to keep one person incarcerated in North Carolina and approximately $18,369 to provide welfare for one individual, a system that involves a high cost and a negative impact. It costs StepUp Wilmington just $1,500 to train and place one person into work and the process has a positive influence on not only the individual but 10 others including family members, the community, local businesses and more. A process with a relatively low cost but results in a large impact.

In 2018, StepUp Wilmington launched a campaign that aims to place 1,000 of our neighbors into work over the next four years. Through this employment, data shows that at minimum 10,000 lives will be impacted. How did we come up with that number?

Many members of our community have already joined us on this campaign. Will you?

Whether you are a current supporter, an employer or someone moved to take action, reach out to bethany@stepupwilmington.org to learn how you can join the campaign.