United Way sets this year's fundraising goal at 2009 level
As the United Way kicks off its 2012 community fundraising campaign, organizers say needs in the community have never been greater and member agencies are stretching their resources to meet a record demand for services.
“Many people in our community are struggling and our agencies are dedicated to helping as many of our neighbors as they possibly can,” said Sherry Stevens, executive director of the local United Way. “Your United Way contribution is an investment in your community.”
Advance the Common Good is the theme of this year’s campaign, which benefits a variety of nonprofit agencies throughout Northwest Montana.
The goal for the campaign is to raise $804,803. Last year’s drive raised $739,246.
“Our board decided to set the goal at $804,808 because that’s the amount we raised in 2009, the last time we met our monetary goal,” Stevens said. “The concept was to set the goal at a reasonable and attainable level, an amount that we had been able to raise in the community in other years.”
Many member agencies are facing huge increases in the need for their services, some as much as 40 or 50 percent over last year.
Last year, United Way agencies provided a variety of services, including:
• 13,524 individuals were served 2.175 million meals through donated food.
• 80,846 meals were prepared for 1,124 people in shelters and child and youth programs.
• 13,120 hours of tutoring helped 455 adults learn to read, do math, learn English or life skills.
• 4,080 youth, adults and senior citizens gave 72,062 volunteer hours to our community.
• 23,797 nights of temporary emergency shelter were provided to 799 men, women and children.
• 9,705 teen-agers participated in 27 alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention activities.
These statistics reflect just a tiny portion of the involvement and helping acts in the community by the United Way, its member agencies and affiliated organizations.
Last year, United Way Member Agencies helped 44,631 people in need. Ninety-nine percent of all money raised stays in local communities.
Current member agencies are Big Brothers and Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, Eagle Transit, Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Help Net — First Call for Help; 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 and Abbie Shelter.
Services supported by the United Way include CASA for Kids, Disaster Care Services, Gateway Community Center, Leaders of Tomorrow Montana 211 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, Lamplighter House Kitchen, Libby Food Pantry, Libby Food and Shelter Services, Mission Valley Food Pantry, Neighbors in Need, North Valley Food Bank, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Salvation Army Meal Program, Sanders County Coalition for Families, 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 local 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.
For more information on making a difference in our community through supporting the United Way, call 752-7266.