February 12, 2009 Issue
Help the United Way’s Fund Drive Finish Strong
The donation thermometer sign at the Wendy’s intersection hovers around 65% of the United Way’s goal.
There isn’t really a place you can turn recently without hearing something else about how the economy is doing. Jobs are a little scarcer, money is a little tighter, and we’re being constantly reminded of all of it. During these kinds of times, some of the things that get left by the wayside are local nonprofit organizations.
The High Country United Way, which serves Watauga and Avery counties, has a yearly goal of raising $625,000. As the March 31st deadline gets nearer, the funds are only to $424,000.
While there has always been a reliable stream of money coming in to the organization, the turnout this year is much less impressive than previous years. The familiar thermometer on the signs up around town is slowly rising higher, but the pace may not be enough to make the goal amount, if things don’t pick up soon. United Way director Linda Slade said, “We’re down, like many nonprofits are right now. We hope that people can see that their neighbors and community members who have not needed as much help before need help now.”
The United way is an organization that raises funds and then distributed them to local charities and nonprofit organizations. This service helps local organizations by doing their fundraising for them. This leaves the limited staff of these agencies free to spend their time providing much needed services to the community, not worrying about where their money is going to come from. The goal, as Slade put it, is “to help agencies that are meeting the community’s needs and making this area a better place to live.”
The United Way strives to address the needs and issues in a community by searching for and catering to the root of the problems that arise. The High Country United Way funds many local organizations, including The Children’s Council, the Hospitality House, the Hunger Coalition, Mountain Alliance, OASIS, WAMY and many more.
If you would like to make a contribution to the High Country United way (and yes, most donations are tax deductible) you can write a check, make a pledge, set up a bank draft or use a credit card. You can even specify an organization you’d like to support, if you’d like to designate your donation. For more info call the High Country United Way office at 265-2111 or stop by in the RBC Bank building on King Street. It is your own community you’ll be supporting.
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