United Way of Meriden and Wallingford raises and distributes money to support local nonprofit social-service agencies. It is one of approximately 1,400 independent United Way organizations across the country. United Way uses a team of twenty-five to thirty trained volunteers to allocate money to agencies that need it most and would use it most effectively to do good in the community. In addition to funding, United Way provides local agencies with training, technical assistance and other forms of support. United Way of Meriden and Wallingford's Volunteer Center matches needy families with corporate sponsors that "adopt" and shop for those families during the holidays. This United Way also administers the community service program for the Meriden Superior Court. The organization coordinates the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program that provides more than $70,000 to local agencies like the American Red Cross, the Meriden Soup Kitchen and the Salvation Army. In addition, United Way collects and distributes clothing, furniture, computers and other in-kind assistance for local agencies.