United Way tops donation goal

In the Monroe County community, nearly 14,000 neighbors have difficulties paying for food, according to last year's United Way Community Services of Monroe County's annual report. With the help of United Way funds, the Community Kitchen of Monroe County served more than 120,000 meals in 2004, one-third of those to children. A Community Kitchen client said in the report, "It has helped me out because I haven't had a job in a while, but I am trying to get back on my feet." \nThis year the United Way will continue funding its member agencies thanks to its 2004-2005 "Neighbors Helping Neighbors -- Growing Together" campaign, which exceeded its goal of raising $1.6 million. After double-checking the final donated amount, UWCS announced this year's campaign raised $1,614,475. \nBarry Lessow, UWCS executive director, said community participation this year was tremendous. \n"(The participation was) an expression of how the community cares about the people living here," Lessow said. \nThis year more than 110 organizations and thousands of individuals participated in the campaign, and 15 percent of the organizations experienced a growth in donations from the previous year. \nSix new workplace contributors also helped push UWCS beyond its goal. IU, Bloomington Hospital and Healthcare System and General Electric pitched in with impressive efforts and received the Pillar Award for contributing $50,000 or more to the campaign, Lessow said.\n"[United Way] was thrilled with the response," Lessow said of the campaign information insert placed in the Herald-Times. The insert included a preaddressed envelope, making donations easier for those wanting to give. Many people throughout the community learned about the campaign through this advertisement and called to find out how to donate. \nThe success of the campaign also stemmed from the more refined message that UWCS presented to Bloomington and the surrounding communities. Lessow said UWCS was not changing what it had done but made its message clearer. \n"People want a sense of whose life is being supported and improved ... We were able to demonstrate the needs [of the community]," Lessow said. \nStatistics helped people understand the importance of these services; for example, one in every three people from the Bloomington area is in need of or has used services funded by UWCS.\nThe campaign's mission is not only to raise money for the following year's programs but also to generate "an opportunity to educate the community about services that are available," Lessow said. \nWhen visiting organizations that participate in the campaign, a UWCS spokesperson brings a member agency associate to offer first-hand accounts of the number of clients the agency has helped and how its services, which were made possible by United Way funding, have changed lives. \nUWCS grants monetary allotments to 25 local certified member agencies. These agencies include the American Red Cross (Monroe County Chapter), Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, Community Kitchen of Monroe County and Middle Way House. \nIf the campaign had not reached its goal, the agencies would have received less money, resulting in eliminated programs and fewer people able to receive aid. \nThe allocation committee, responsible for distributing funds to member agencies, was pleased with the campaign's success. "It was very heartening for them recognizing there were more funds available," Lessow said. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Melissa Swyers at mswyers@indiana.edu.