Local United Way campaign underway

Myra Callahan, Family Counseling Center, Inc. (FCC), CEO, donates funds from the FCC Delta Fair Booth to Sarah Jo Morgan, United Way (UW) Vice-chairman, center. Also pictured is, from left: Jane Marshall, FCC Director of Human Resources; Shawn Sando, FCC Chief Financial Officer and United Way Board Chairman; Faye Westmorlan, FCC Purchasing Agent; Jill Rickman, FCC Director of Community and Program Development and UW Board Member; Callahan; Morgan; Eky Combs, UW Board Member; Linda Carver, UW Board Member; Jennifer Nigut, UW Board Member; and Elizabeth Hively, UW Board Member. Photo provided

"Since the United Way is dedicated to our local people and community, it just makes sense that United Way is represented at our community events," Sando said. "United Way is a community-wide effort to voluntarily raise and allocate funds efficiently and effectively by getting local money to meet local needs. This is how together we can truly make lasting changes right here where we live."

According to the chairman, there were three fundraising activities revolving around this year's Delta Fair and Missouri Waterfowl Festival, including drawings for gas cards, which was donated by The Store, and a Walmart gift card, donated by Walmart.

During the Delta Fair, Sando said Myra Callahan, CEO of Family Counseling Center, Inc., donated all of the proceeds of the FCC food booth sales, totaling $6,307, to United Way.

"Recently, at the Missouri Waterfowl Festival, United Way held a drawing for a St. Louis Sports Package that included Rams and Blues tickets as well as sports items and autographed memorabilia," Sando said. "The package was put together with donations from Hibbett's, The St. Louis Blues organization, and anonymous donors.

Sando said the winners of the drawings were Chris Brannan (Wal-Mart gift card), Ray McElwrath (The Store fuel card), and Scott Anderson (sports package).

"The initial fundraising efforts are reflective of the United Way's slogan, 'Results You Can See,'" Sando said. "These efforts have put our fundraising at the start of this new campaign to just over $14,000 of our $40,000 goal. These funds go directly to a number of core community services and programs."

Sando said the United Way Board prepared this year's goal of $40,000 in order to provide continuing financial support to several non-profit organizations in the community, including: Helping Hand, American Red Cross, Family Counseling Center, Migrant Whole Health Outreach, Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, Bootheel Area Independent Living Services, Girl Scouts, Dunklin Day Activity Center, and the Center for Family Resources.

"In addition, this year the board will also be providing funding for the Dunklin County Court Appointed Special Advocate (C.A.S.A.) and the D.A.R.E programs," Sando said. "As you can see, the United Way is all about our community coming together to make our home a better place to live for all families. Your donations stay local and impact local individuals and families of all ages and income levels. That is why your donation to United Way is a 'Result You Can See.' But we still have a lot of work to do to make sure that these essential programs remain available to our community."

By supporting local organizations, the Kennett branch of the United Way helps to bring people together from areas ranging from community government, business, faith groups, non profit organizations, and local citizens to tackle issues in the community.

The United Way's mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. Their vision is to build a stronger America by mobilizing communities to improve people's lives.

Local residents can monitor the progress of the United Way Campaign on the thermometer, located at the Dunklin County Courthouse.

Donation to the United Way can be mailed to Campaign headquarters, P.O. Box 61, Kennett, Mo. 63857.