“I was raised in a family where volunteering was not only promoted, but it was expected and I fully believe in that,” says Toby Dayton.

As a United Way board member and chair of the Basic Needs impact area committee, Toby gives a lot of his time to helping the community and it shows: he’s become an expert on some of the tough challenges facing the community.

Toby is especially concerned with the growing number of families with jobs who just aren’t making enough to get basic necessities like food or clothing. Of course, as the president of local job search engine, JobDig, thinking about jobs and employment are part of his daily life.

During his involvement, the Basic Needs committee has been responsible for developing an ambitious new strategic plan that tackles the most critical basic needs in the community and works to eliminate them. It requires not just a shift in thinking, but in funding.  “At the end of the day, we can serve more people and make a meaningful impact,” he says.  “That requires making tough choices.”

As Toby has become more aware of the working families facing increased struggles in financial stability, it’s given him even more insight into the disparities felt by people of lower socioeconomic standing.  It’s an understanding he encourages others to adopt. “With that awareness is the ability to address issues in a meaningful way.  Without that awareness, our capacity for success is greatly diminished,” Toby says.

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