United Way kicks off campaign

By Phil Cobb | September 19, 2017 |

Lynette Harbin Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Director

United Way kicked off its fundraising campaign Friday morning at the Nodaway County Senior Center with a goal of reaching $85,000.

“We’re starting off our campaign and we’re just really excited and we want everyone else to be excited,” Tiffany Whipple, Executive Secretary/Treasurer. “If they have any questions, they can call or email us.”

United Way President Wayne Maness said the reason United Way was created, was to help a lot of organizations that were trying to find funding for things they needed in a disorganized way.

“So, this way we’ll raise money in a united way, it’s helped someone in that way,” Maness said. “Yet in recent years it seems like it’s kind of gone back the other way.”

Board members needed

A new issue the group is facing is lack of board members.

“We’re really hurting right now for board members,” Maness said. “I think we have eight or nine board members and we can have up to 36.”

The board has five members with terms ending in December.

“I’m an outgoing board member, said Fred VonBehren, United Way board member. “My six years is up.”

He asked that people take the time to sign up and said that it’s not a very heavy time commitment. “That’s about six meetings a year that last about an hour,” said VonBehren. “It’s not very much, but we do need some decision makers.”

Anyone can be a board member, he said.

“If there’s anyone who wants to be a board member, I would just urge them to attend a meeting.”

The meetings are usually held the first Tuesday of every other month, the next one is Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the Maryville R-II School District superintendent’s office at 6 p.m.

Agencies helped

Agencies from Nodaway County showed up in force to express gratitude and praise for United Way.

Lynette Harbin, program director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nodaway County said her organization really benefits from United Way.

“I think that United Way provides, obviously great financial support for our organization, but also they offer a level of exposure for us as well she said. “Just as they’re going through the campaign, the exposure we get from that is really great.”

I think ours is very much an organization where it takes several interactions before people are willing to commit. So, the more times we are able to put our name in front of them it just keeps getting it on their mind, ‘you know maybe I should do that. Maybe I should be a big, or a donor.’”

“We are in desperate need, and I don’t use that word lightly,” Harbin said. “We have 33 kids sitting on our list waiting.

“The organization’s greatest need is in the outlying communities. There are children in Hopkins, Ravenwood, Quitman and Burlington. Our primary focus is men. We need men to be willing to step up and give an hour or two a week. Of those 33 kids, probably 80 percent are boys.

“I think there’s so many important organizations in this town that are helped by United Way. They’re a valuable partner for a lot of us,” Harbin aid. “I’m just thankful that the community is willing to support the United Way, because I don’t think people realize how many organizations they’re helping with that one donation.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters will hold an event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 25 at Carsons. There will be information available for people who are interested in mentoring.

Other organizations represented at the kick off included Girl Scouts of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri. Carmen Brown-Jenco supports Nodaway County troops and volunteers.

“The local support from United Way is just invaluable,” Brown-Jenco said. “It allows us to travel and be here and support those volunteers … helps train the volunteers in really what we’re all about which is building girls of courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place.”

An organization that provides educational recreation and crafts for young adults with disabilities meets two times a week and the United Way helps support its goals. The organization helps create a connection between university students and young adults, many with disabilities.

“Those can be life-changing experiences,” Dr. Nancy Foley said. “It’s a service to our community and to the university (Northwest Missouri State University). It can help create awareness and develop a sensitivity.”

She said United Way provides all of their group’s funding. “We’re probably one of their (United Way’s) smallest budget items.”

Much of the overhead cost is taken care of by the university, such as location and upkeep of facilities. The funds from United Way go to a small scholarship for a young adult to take part in Special Olympics and supplies for the classes themselves.

Yet another organization that is helped by United Way is a group of school nurses who were at the breakfast showing the new audiometers purchased with funds from the United Way.

“Some of the cost of these wouldn’t be in the nurse’s budgets,” said Terry Runde, school nurse at Northeast Nodaway. “It’s been wonderful. All of these schools are in our consortium so to say.”

The nurses work together to make sure equipment needed in one location is purchased that year with the United Way funds.

Wayne Maness Nodaway County United Way President

Tiffany Whipple Nodaway County United Way Executive

SKYE POURNARAZI/DAILY FORUM
Nurses Karie Ogle, Maryville High School; Cara Shell, Horace Mann and Leet Center; Megan Redden, Jefferson; and Terry Runde, Northeast Nodaway were at the United Way kick-off event Friday to show new audiometers that were purchased with funds from United Way.