Fundraising campaign wraps up on Thursday

 The United Way of Northwest Montana and its member agencies help thousands of individuals and families in a variety of ways, from providing meals and emergency shelter to supporting healthy families.

The United Way’s annual fundraising campaign ends Thursday.

The monetary goal is $850,000.

Great Things Happen When We Live United is the theme of the 2015 fund drive, which benefits a variety of non-profit agencies that help our neighbors throughout Northwest Montana.

The United Way connects individuals to agencies and services through publications and community outreach programs, provides administrative support to programs and services and connects volunteers who want to make a difference.

During the past year, United Way member agencies provided a variety of community services:

•  20,588 nights of temporary emergency shelter touched the lives of 541 people.
•  1,731 children participated in after-school enrichment programs.
•  15,832 hours of tutoring helped 152 adults learn to read, do math or learn English.
•  41,851 hot meals were prepared for 628 people in emergency shelters.
•  1,844 Montana taxpayers of low to moderate incomes had their tax returns prepared for free.
•  5,260 agency volunteers donated 447,310 hours of their time to help the community.
•  7,231 teenagers participated in 19 alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention activities.
•  9,814 crisis line calls provided urgent help and support.
•  9,823 individuals received donated food to prepare nutritious meals.

United Way donations stay in the community, touching neighbors and friends. Ninety-nine percent of all money raised stay in local communities to help local citizens.

Administration and fundraising account for just 10 percent of the United Way’s budget. The administrative and fundraising fees are paid for by the United Way Cornerstone Project, local businesses that agree to offset United Way’s overhead costs.

To donate to the United Way campaign, call 752-7266 or mail donations to P.O. Box 7217, Kalispell, MT 59904.

Donors may choose how to donate, including cash, payroll deductions, charging to credit cards, direct billing or 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 gifts.  

Current member agencies are Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, CASA For Kids, Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Literacy Center of Northwest Montana, 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 Disaster Care Services, Gateway Community Center, Leaders of Tomorrow, United Way 2-1-1 Montana Database Project, Grocery Delivery Program, Teens in Crisis, AARP Tax Service, Best Beginnings Community Council, Good Grief Camp and the United Way Volunteer Center.

The United Way also supports the following emergency food and shelter programs in Northwest Montana: Bread Basket, Community Harvest Food Bank, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Helping Hands Fund, Hot Springs Food Pantry, Libby Food Pantry, Mission Valley Food Pantry, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Salvation Army Meal Program, Samaritan House and Troy Food Pantry.

For more information on making a difference in the community through supporting the United Way, call 752-7266.