Garage Sale was a huge success!

I want to thank everyone who made donations to our Ada Regional United Way garage sale.  Also, thanks to those who stopped by and purchased items.

In only 4 hours a total of $910 was added to our annual campaign!

I always find it amazing that we all tire of our personal items; however, if we simply take time to find those in need of those unwanted items we can make a difference.

There was so much donated that there was no way to sell all of it.  The folks from Re Run Junction came over and picked up everything that remained following the sale.

We chose this entity to take the remainder of the items because our local agencies have stated many times that Re Run Junction is a true partner to our local community.

So, thank you all again that played a part in this community partnership to raise a little more funds for our local agencies providing assistance for local folks in need!

And the thermemeter continues to rise...

Our community is well on the way to a successful campaign goal.  The Board of Directors of Ada Regional United Way voted to set a very conservative goal for this year's 2011 Campaign.

We have completed our Pace Setter Campaign with Ada Evening News, Citizens Bank, Peoples Electric Coop and Thompson Agency making a huge difference in holding an early employee campaign.

Several local volunteers worked on the annual Busy Blitz including the small businesses in our area.  The volunteers visited these businesses during the 2nd week of September.

Several additional businesses and organizations have made donations since then.

If you have not had time to contribute, please take a minute and send in your donation.

You can make a huge impact on the entire community by making a difference in one person.  No matter how large or how small - your contribution makes a difference.

Busy week @ ARUW

This is Friday, September 10th and it is almost the end of a very busy, but very productive week at the United Way office.
Tonight, I have the honor to partner with a lot of great community members during the 1st Ada High School football game.  Board of Directors assist with this evenings activities including: passing the buckets for donations which typically bring an additional $600 -$900 into the annual campaign from basically "pocket change", the throwing of mini-footballs and Frisbees and to end the festivities a t-shirt cannon is used to launch a few United Way LIVE UNITED t-shirts into the crowd.  Overall a great way to end a great week.  

Next week is our annual Busy Blitz which may prove to be even busier than this week, but hopefully will bring in additional funds from local volunteers contacting local small businesses for donations.  Annually, this three day project can bring in as much as $8,000 from small businesses making donations of $5.00 up to $300.00.  You know it does not matter what you give, only that you give. All contributions no matter how small or how large are all combined to make an impact on our local community.

Jet McCoy speaks at United Way

Jet McCoy speaks at United Way

Life happens...and then we go on living!

Well, the previous post was on the day I look my mom to a doctors appointment to find out exactly what was going on.  It is now August, that was February.  This post is a little different than my previous posts.  While much of my life consists of United Way activities.. the past few months have been involved with my family.  Mom after many doctor appointments, visits to the ER and all kinds of tests, was diagnosed with cancer.  In April when the diagnosis occurred, we really were not sure she would make it through the summer, but it's August and she is doing well.
Times like this make us (me) stop and realize that life happens no matter if we are ready or not.
Just before all this with mom happened, I was so overwhelmed with everything thinking that I made a difference and if I took a break....well things might not get done.  I have over the past few months "gotten over myself" :) We all make a difference, but not alone.  I have learned to ask for and accept help.  Try it as it is wonderful. People only ask if you need help if they really want to help.
Many personal things have changed in my life.  I have spent much more time with my parents over the past few months.  I have let go of what I should have let go along time ago. I have actually smiled more in the past three months that in the past three years.
We all make a difference, but we cannot make it by ourselves.  Take my well learned advice. Trust others, hold onto family (especially, if you have as great a spouse as I) and let life happen.  Personally, prayer does help. But again, I had to listen to the answers to my prayers.
This is my personal comments on life and that life happens, not the position necessary of United Way and/or the board.  Please take the comments as they were meant.  Life happens.. and then we go on living! But we have to be able to accept life.
Thanks for listening and look forward to more post ---regarding Ada Regional United Way of course, not my personal life.

Emergency Food and Shelter Program

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board met yesterday to allocate EFSP funds that were awarded to Pontotoc County for 2010.
Last year (2009) the following were recipients of EFSP funding:
AACES
Ada Area Youth Shelter
Crosspointe Church
Family Crisis Center
First Christian Church
Matthew 25 Mission
The Salvation Army 

It was decided yesterday during the Board Meeting that a new requirement would be added to each recipient - the agency/organization would provide a contact # for 24/7 access in the event of a crisis situation and/or emergency.  The potential LRO's (funded organizations/agencies) were given a deadline of Friday, February 26, 2010 2:00 p.m. to provide their request for funding including their contact numbers.

I will update the information following the deadline to let the community know who will be the LRO (recipients)  of the 2010 EFSP funding.  The amount awarded to Pontotoc County for 2010 allocations to LRO's is $16,111.


While this amount does not sound like much when we compare to the number of needs in our community, it is combined with all/any other funds to make a greater impact on those in need.


To finalize this post, I would like to say that personally, I think we have developed an excellent partnership in our community to meet as many needs as possible with the resources available.

Okay, sometimes things happen and I just don't get back to the blog....

So sorry that it has been a month since I have posted.  I promise to do a better job, but please know that when I am absent, it is for a good reason.  Busy, busy times at Ada Regional United Way lately.  Annual meeting was January 26th and with an absence of VISTA members for several weeks, tasks became quite large; so the blog took a back seat.  We now have Sandy Blackwood with us as a VISTA member, she moved to our site in January and is a welcome addition.  This week brought two more VISTA members, Brian Horton and Cortnee Reed.  We also have Megan Brockhoff back via Moving Into Tomorrow.  Once we all get going in unison, life will begin to be back to somewhat normal and I will do my best to keep up.
This week we are having our 2009 audit; so again a little busy.
I will stop whining for now and simply say that I will get back on task with blogging of agencies.
Thanks for being patient with me!!!!!!!