Local United Way campaign aims to raise $825,000 this year
“Listen to Your Heart” is the theme of the 2010 United Way fund drive, which benefits a variety of nonprofit agencies throughout Northwest Montana.
The goal for the campaign is $825,000.
Contributions to last year’s United Way fund drive were down significantly due to continued economic challenges in the Flathead Valley.
Meanwhile, many agencies are experiencing ever-increasing demands for services, some as much as 35 to 40 percent.
“More of our neighbors need help, and we are committed to providing the funding that our member agencies require to serve their clients,” said Sherry Stevens, executive director of the local United Way.
“We have an extremely generous community, and we trust that people truly will listen to their hearts and reach out to help their neighbors through the United Way campaign.”
Member agency representatives will have booths in the Kalispell Center Mall the week of Oct. 13-20 to showcase their services and answer questions about available resources. A full day of entertainment, balloons for children and give-aways is scheduled Saturday, Oct. 16, at the mall.
A recurring theme of the campaign is encouraging community residents to “be involved, be passionate and be generous” to improve the lives of everyone in the Valley, meeting the everyday needs of everyday people.
The United Way has a variety of suggestions for ways that people can improve the world around them. “Join hands, open your heart, lend your muscle, find your voice” are just a few of the ideas for touching a life.
Donations benefit United Way member agencies and services in Flathead County, serving thousands of local individuals and families with a variety of needs.
The United Way also provides community resources including the annual Answer Book, a counseling directory, the Montana 211 project and a Volunteer Center.
Last year, member agencies helped nearly 46,000 people in need. Ninety-nine percent of all money is spent locally.
Current member agencies are Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, Eagle Transit, First Call for Help-Net, Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Literacy Volunteers, Mental Health Crisis Line, Nurturing Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Samaritan House, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center and the Violence Free Crisis Line/Abbie Shelter.
Services supported by the United Way include CASA for Kids, Disaster Care Services, Gateway Community Center, Leaders of Tomorrow Montana 2-1-1 Database Project, the United Way Volunteer Center and Youth Suicide Prevention Project.
The United Way also supports the following emergency food and shelter programs in Northwest Montana: Bread Basket, Community Harvest Food Bank, DOVES, Helping Hands, Hot Springs Food Pantry, Lake County Mental Health Center, Libby Food Pantry, Mission Valley Food Pantry, Neighbors in Need, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Salvation Army Feeding Program, Thompson Falls Food Pantry and Troy Food Pantry.
Donors may choose how to donate, including cash, payroll deductions, charging to a credit card, direct billing or through automatic bank transfers.
Donors also may designate which member agencies or non-affiliated partner agencies or the Montana Shares Federation they want to receive their gift.
For more information on the United Way campaign, call 752-7266. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 7217, Kalispell, MT 59904.
Local volunteers determine where the donations are spent. Last year, more than 100 community members participated in the Citizens Review Panel process to allocate funding and set the monetary goal.