Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

United Way drive nearly halfway to $6.45 million goal

Upcoming events to highlight needs in community

The United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, which takes in seven Georgia counties and Russell County in Alabama, is at 47.3 percent of this year’s goal, campaign chairman Billy Blanchard said after a Thursday morning meeting.

The percentage amounts to slightly more than $3 million.

“Companies are kicking off their campaigns a little later this year, so we are a little behind as a year-to-year comparison,” Blanchard said in a statement.

“This is a very generous area,” he added. “I am confident that we will continue to make progress on achieving our goal” of $6.45 million.

“When people give to the campaign, their money stays here at home to help those that need it the most,” Scott Ferguson, president of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, said in a statement.

To help bolster enthusiasm, Columbus Water Works is holding a 5K race Saturday to benefit the campaign, and Kodak is sponsoring a yard sale Oct. 31 at the Gateway Walmart.

Three new employee campaigns just kicked off this week: Kudzu, Coca-Cola and Columbus Specialty Hospital.

The agency is sponsoring its first “Live United Youth Camp” for 12 seventh-grade students — one from each of the 12 Muscogee County School District middle schools. It starts today and ends Sunday. Students will receive a Live United T-Shirt and a Camp T-shirt. They will also keep a journal about their experiences. The camp begins at Open Door Community House on Second Avenue.

Recent statistics show that with the continued economic climate, there is an increase in need. For example, the Homeless Resource Network has seen a 30 percent increase in people asking for help, and Feeding the Valley Food Bank is helping provide food for 22,985 individuals a month and serving 9,000 meals a month to children, according to information from the United Way.

“We must reach our goal,” Ferguson said. “If not, people go without the basics of life, children don’t get the help they need and quality of life for all suffers.”

United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley serves 47 programs and 25 agencies in Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Stewart, Talbot and Taylor counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama.

For more information, call 706-327-3255.